Road safety, including those in vehicles, on bicycles, or on foot, is a shared responsibility, and complying with traffic laws while remaining alert and cautious is vital. Motorists must remain careful, alert of their surroundings, and be prepared to stop for people on foot when necessary.
If you suffered bodily harm and other losses due to driver carelessness, you may seek compensation to cover your damages. Contact a practiced lawyer for questions regarding safety precautions for Inverness pedestrians.
Essential Preventative Measures
Motorists are legally obligated to share the roadway when pedestrians are out walking and jogging. Some of the essential preventative measures for pedestrians in Inverness to remember include:
- Ensuring they are visible by wearing bright clothes or reflective materials, especially during the hours from dawn to dusk
- Keeping flashlights available to increase visibility while walking in low-light areas
- Making eye contact with the individual behind the wheel to ensure they see them before stepping out into the roadway
- Crossing in designated areas when available and using sidewalks, pedestrian tunnels, and bridges
- Avoiding jaywalking at all times to prevent accidents and avoid citations and paying fines
- Obeying traffic signs, signals, and lights even when there appear to be no vehicles approaching
A knowledgeable attorney could answer questions about the recovery claims process.
What is Walking Defensively?
Walking defensively is a cautious and proactive approach for pedestrians to keep themselves safe. Like driving defensively, people on foot can reduce the chance of suffering harm by remaining aware of their surroundings, minimizing risks, and anticipating safety hazards. The approach requires them to stay focused on their actions and the actions of drivers and other people around them.
Stay Alert and Aware
As with motorists, distractions, such as smartphones and conversations with those around them, take the individual’s attention away from their surroundings and increase the risk of injuries. While walking, they must actively check for potential hazards and walk in a predictable manner while adhering to traffic safety laws.
Pedestrians Taking Control of Their Safety
While there is no possible way to control the actions of others, pedestrians can take control of their safety. Those on foot are at a disadvantage while sharing roads with vehicles, and that includes walking on sidewalks or paths, standing on corners, or crossing the street. They are not always visible to drivers, mainly when negligence is involved or during nighttime hours.
They are especially at risk because of low visibility for large commercial vehicles and buses. Large commercial vehicles require more stopping distance, make wide turns, have more blind spots, and are much larger than regular passenger cars.
They can decrease vulnerability and prevent accidents leading to harm by paying attention, remaining mindful of trucks and buses in the area, and being ready to step back from the roadway if necessary. Understanding pedestrian safety precautions allows people in Inverness traveling on foot to avoid sustaining damages in avoidable traffic events.
Speak to a Skilled Attorney About Pedestrian Safety Precautions in Inverness
With the always-increasing traffic congestion and number of distractions diverting the attention of motorists away from the road, people traveling by foot are at high risk. When careless drivers cause harm to pedestrians, they must pay for the cost of damages.
There is no way to avoid traffic incidents entirely, but you can reduce the chance and improve the odds by considering practical safety tips and precautions. Schedule a consultation to learn more if you have questions about safety precautions for Inverness pedestrians.
