How to Prevent Car Accidents & Injuries: Be Safe & Be Seen!

Know the Risks and Remedies.

We all need to be careful.

When everyone is courteous and cautious, it’s safe to get around on foot, by bike, with skates, in wheelchairs or even via scooters.

But, sharing public spaces with vehicle traffic takes extra care and attention by everyone, to avoid risky situations. Follow these tips to make sure we all get where we’re going to safely!

Close Encounters of an Unwanted Kind.

More than 5,000 pedestrians die each year in the United States because they are hit by vehicles or bicycles.

In Michigan, awareness campaigns and safety solutions have helped reduce the pedestrian toll steadily from 173 deaths in 2002 to 139 in 2005.

Overall, accidents involving Michigan pedestrians or others not using vehicles fell from 2,724 in 2004 to 2,565 in 2005. We all can help continue these trends by making safety a top priority.

Everyday Dangers.

Where accidents happen.

To be safe when sharing sidewalks and streets, it is important to be aware of your surroundings. By taking precautions, you can prevent injuries and possible death. This is what the majority of pedestrians were doing when hit by a vehicle in 2005:

• Crossing a road but not at the intersection (jaywalking)
• Walking in the road, not the side of road
• Traveling in the same direction as moving vehicles

Who’s at risk?

Michigan statistics for 2005 show that pedestrian accidents affect all age groups:

• Age 0 – 10: 266 injuries and 11 deaths
• Age 11 – 20: 633 injuries and 15 deaths
• Age 21 – 34: 442 injuries and 24 deaths
• Age 35 – 54: 624 injuries and 51 deaths
• Age 55 & older: 262 injuries and 37 deaths
• Age unknown: 71 injuries and 1 death

Source: Michigan Office of Highway & Safety Planning. Statistics exclude bicyclists.

Driver Safety Tips

• BE SAFE: Slow down, look, anticipate.
• Careful driving starts when you turn the ignition key.
• Driveways and parking areas are hazardous. Pull out slowly, watching on all sides for pedestrians or any passers-by.
• In public garages, drive-through businesses and commercial lots, watch out for those on foot or two wheels. Look in each direction, especially when they are crossing sidewalks and marked paths.
• Before turning right on red lights, drivers must stop fully.
• Make sure no pedestrian, jogger, bicyclist or wheelchair user is crossing or waiting to cross. They have the right of way.
• Motorists turning left on green lights also must yield to anyone crossing.

Pedestrian Safety Tips

• BE SEEN: Avoid common traffic dangers.
• Wait for drivers to stop and make eye contact before crossing a street. Don’t assume they see you.
• Cross at a corner or marked walkway, following traffic signals.
• Sidewalks obviously are safer than roads, but watch for driveway traffic.
• If there’s no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
• Bicyclists should ride with the flow of traffic, preferably in marked lanes.
• Look left-right-left before crossing any street, and keep looking until across.
• Don’t start crossing if a red signal is blinking.
• When crossing on a green light, watch in all directions for turning cars.
• Put a safety flag on a wheelchair, motorized cart or stroller for visibility.

For more information on pedestrian safety, see the Michigan Secretary of State’s website at: www.Michigan.gov/sos.

Get Help If You are Hurt in a Car Accident