Crosswalk safety to know for National Pedestrian Safety Month

October is National Pedestrian Safety Month and with school back in session makes it a perfect time to review crosswalk safety at busy intersections.

Around 3 p.m. on weekdays, the Blaine school district’s main campus can get a little chaotic. Cars, vans and buses enter and exit the parking lots while kids dart across the street on their way home from school. Accident risk is higher than other times.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration data, 6,516 pedestrians were killed nationwide, and an estimated 55,000 were injured.

Blaine Primary School paraeducator Lisa Newton, who started working the crosswalk in front of Blaine Elementary School on Mitchell Avenue, said she’s noticed some recent “close calls” with students crossing the street. She said she has seen students crossing the street on their phones, drivers speeding, lack of cautionary signage, and backups impairing driver’s and pedestrian’s view of the road. 

Below are safety tips from University of North Carolina Wilmington for pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers during the before- and after-school rush, and whenever in a heavily trafficked area.

Pedestrians:

• Cross at marked crosswalks when present. Otherwise, yield to vehicles when not crossing at an intersection.

• Obey any pedestrian signals and look left-right-left to make sure the road is clear in both directions before crossing.

• If a vehicle approaches, make eye contact with the driver to be sure they see you before crossing.

• Look before walking past stopped vehicles. Do not cross just because a driver waves you on. Be sure all lanes are clear first.

• Remember that bicyclists are not considered pedestrians unless they are walking their bikes. Otherwise, they are considered vehicles.

Bicyclists:

• Yield to pedestrians.

• Use marked bike paths or multi-use paths when available.

• Obey vehicular traffic signals and laws on the roadways.

• Use extra caution as you transition between bike paths, roads and sidewalks. Be aware that your actions are unpredictable to drivers and pedestrians.

Drivers:

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and at intersections.

• Be prepared to stop at all marked crosswalks. Stay alert and reduce speed in areas with crosswalks.

• Be alert for bicyclists and skateboarders whose approaches to the crosswalk may be much swifter than those of pedestrians.

• Come to a complete stop if pedestrians are crossing or preparing to cross.

• Wait until pedestrians have exited the crosswalk before resuming travel.

• Never pass another vehicle that has stopped or is slowing down at a crosswalk.

This article was updated to align with Washington state laws. We reget the error.