REMINDER: October is Pedestrian Safety Month

October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and the Prince William County Police Department joins the Department of Motor Vehicles and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration in reminding pedestrians and drivers to respect each other to stay safe on the roads.

The state Department of Motor Vehicles offers these tips for pedestrians:

• Be predictable, follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
• Plan a route with safe crossings, such as marked crosswalks.
• Avoid distractions, including alcohol and drugs, and remain alert.
• Dress to be seen, but do not assume drivers see you.
• Wear reflective clothing and carry a blinking light or flashlight at night.
• Walk on sidewalks facing traffic and, if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and stay as far from traffic as possible.
• As you walk, watch for cars backing up – especially in parking lots and driveways.
• Only cross streets at crosswalks or intersections; places where drivers expect pedestrians. While crossing look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right, and make eye contact with turning drivers before proceeding into the street.
• Turning vehicles can be especially dangerous at intersections. If there is no crosswalk or intersection, go to a well-lit area with the best view of traffic, wait until there is enough time to cross safely, and continue to watch for traffic while crossing.

Parents and caregivers should teach children, and remind older adults, to be safe pedestrians. Young children are impulsive and active, and they may need guidance when walking near roads. Older adults may need to be reminded to wait for a walk signal or a green light before crossing streets to give them ample time to cross.

Pedestrians of all ages should work together with road users, using crosswalks and obeying signs and signals. Motorists should slow down, especially in areas with high-pedestrian traffic. Share the road so everyone returns home safely!