Stay a step ahead of driving to keep all pedestrians safe

Everyone has different preferences when it comes to transportation, but at one time or another, everyone is a pedestrian. Pedestrian safety relies on motorists and those on foot to obey traffic laws, stay alert and be mindful of what’s ahead. Walking should always be a safe transportation option. As the season changes from summer to fall, daylight hours will increasingly get shorter, which can make it harder to see pedestrians. It’s important for everyone to keep pedestrian safety top of mind.

In 2023, 45 pedestrians were killed on Wisconsin roads. Nationwide, a pedestrian is injured every eight minutes, and killed every 70 minutes, in a crash, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The Wisconsin State Patrol’s October Law of the Month, focuses on eliminating crashes that cause pedestrian injuries and deaths.

“Walking and running, are some of the best forms of exercise and transportation – they’re fun, healthy and completely free,” said superintendent Tim Carnahan. “When you’re behind the wheel, keep an extra eye out for pedestrians, especially as our daylight hours become shorter. Small actions can save a life.”

State laws aim to keep pedestrians safe by creating a protected space to cross streets. Drivers must do the following: • Yield to pedestrians in a sidewalk, alley or driveway.

• Yield to pedestrians who have started crossing at an intersection or crosswalk, on a walk signal or a green light.

• Yield to pedestrians crossing the highway in a marked or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, where there are no traffic lights or control signals.

• Not overtake, nor pass a vehicle that stops at an intersection or crosswalk, for a pedestrian or bicyclist.

Pedestrians are required to do the following:

• Yield to drivers when crossing a road where there is no intersection or crosswalk, or where the pedestrian does not have a walk signal and vehicles have a green signal.

• Not suddenly move into the path of a closely approaching vehicle that does not have sufficient time to yield.

• Walk on the left side of a road, when not on a sidewalk. Before heading out, go over safe walking habits with children, which include always looking left, right, then left again, before crossing the street; waiting for vehicles to pass or stop completely before crossing; and in areas with crosswalks, not crossing in the middle of the street.

Drivers, remember to keep an extra eye out for children, especially on, and around, Halloween. Children are often smaller and harder to see, and they are more prone to quickly darting out into the middle of the street. Keep eyes on the road and reduce speeds through neighborhoods.

Visual impairment affects over 100,000 Wisconsinites. White Cane Safety Day is a national observance, Oct. 15 of each year, that celebrates independence and mobility for people with vision loss. Wisconsin law requires drivers to stop at least 10 feet from someone who is using a white cane or guide dog.