Experts tell us that identifying unsafe behavior and educating our youth on how to keep themselves out of harm’s way is a critical element of crime prevention. In this vein, enforcement activities become more effective when parents make sure that children know and follow safety rules.
In addition—it is not realistic to believe that all drivers are paying attention when on the roadways. And most people would agree that helping pedestrians and bicyclists take proper precautions to ensure their own safety has the potential to save human lives.
Because of a shared passion to protect kids from unnecessary accidents involving motor vehicles, some people assert new efforts to improve safety should focus on students’ behavior on the route to school. This way, risks are minimized when students, pedestrians, and bicyclists travel our roadways.
For example, at Saferoutesinfo.org one may find the Safe Routes to School Online Guide.
Basically, the guide works as a comprehensive online reference manual that is designed to support the development of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs.
After looking at just a few chapters, I realized that the publication was clearly developed by those concerned for the safety of America’s younger generation as well as anyone who is either on foot or riding a bike. The authors include the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) in collaboration with SRTS experts from around the country and support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE).
Below are just a few unsafe behaviors that are of particular significance and hence, worth sharing:
Unsafe pedestrian behaviors include:
§ Not following the directions of the crossing guard or traffic signals.
§ Not looking left, right and left again before crossing the street.
§ Crossing a street at an undesirable location.
§ Darting out between parked motor vehicles.
§ Wearing dark clothes when there is poor lighting.
Unsafe bicyclist behaviors include:
§ Riding into traffic without looking left, right and left again.
§ Riding against traffic instead of with the traffic flow.
§ Turning left without looking and signaling.
§ Not obeying traffic signs and signals.
§ Riding out from driveway or between parked vehicles.
§ Not wearing bike helmet.
§ Not being visible at night when riding in road.