"They're a crucial part of pedestrian and cyclist safety, and more people should practice them, says Ryan Sharp, a transportation consultant with Alta, a transportation design firm. "It means paying attention to your surroundings and having a constant awareness of the environment so you can anticipate potential hazards," he says. Because if you're a biker or a pedestrian and you get hit by a car, you're likely to be the more injured one."
"According to estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about 7,100 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the U.S. in 2024. In recent years, more than 1,000 cyclists have been hit and killed annually. But casualties are preventable. Sharp and Julia Kite-Laidlaw, a pedestrian and cyclist safety advocate with the National Safety Council, share their top do's and don'ts for walkers and bikers. 1. DO look left, right and behind you."
Defensive walking and cycling require constant awareness of surroundings to anticipate hazards. Pedestrians and cyclists sustain more severe injuries in collisions with cars; about 7,100 pedestrians died in U.S. traffic crashes in 2024 and over 1,000 cyclists are killed annually. Key practices include looking left, right and behind before crossing and turning to scan for hidden threats. Visibility and predictability matter: never assume a driver sees you. Most pedestrian deaths occur after dark and many fatalities happen where sidewalks are absent. Walk on sidewalks or, if none exist, use the street shoulder facing traffic to see oncoming vehicles.
Read at www.npr.org
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