Staying safe as a pedestrian can be challenging. Particularly if you live in an area where sidewalks are not common, the simple act of walking along the side of the road can turn into a deadly exercise very quickly.
Understanding how to protect yourself as a pedestrian is vital. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, as a pedestrian you should be aware of your walkways, pay attention in parking lots and look out for trucks with wide loads.
Walking safely
Make sure to stay on the sidewalk or a crosswalk whenever it is present. You should always cross with the walk signal and never jaywalk. When you are waiting to cross the street, it is a good idea to step back a little bit from the corner because sometimes larger buses or trucks may run up onto the curb as they turn.
Parking lots and wide load trucks
Parking lots are extremely dangerous places to walk because traffic control is not as regulated as it is on the street. You should also be extra alert at gas stations and rest stops. It is possible that larger vehicles in these small spaces may not see you when they maneuver.
Wide load trucks have very limited visibility and they do not handle very well. They make wider turns then most other vehicles and thus need more space to turn and more space to stop. If you see a truck with a wide load on the road you are walking on, make sure to keep plenty of distance between you and the truck.
