Road Safety Guidelines for Pedestrians

The most important safety tip to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities is to pay attention. You can significantly reduce your chances of being in a collision with a motor vehicle by obeying traffic rules and being aware of dangers posed by cars in your vicinity. Make eye contact with drivers if possible and make sure that they can see you.

Pedestrians must :

1. Where possible, avoid walking next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first.
2. Wear or carry something light coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions. When it is dark, use reflective materials (e.g. armbands, sashes, waistcoats and jackets), which can be seen, by drivers using headlights, up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials.
3. Young children should not be out alone on the pavement or road ( see Rule 7 ). When taking children out, walk between them and the traffic and hold their hands firmly. Strap very young children into push-chairs or use reins.
4. Always walk on the footpath, they are meant for you. Where there is no footpath, walk in the right side margin of the road so that you can see the traffic coming in the opposite direction.
5. Cross roads where there are pedestrian crossings. They have been painted at great cost for your convenience.
6. Where there are no pedestrian crossings, watch the traffic on both sides and cross when it is safe.
7. You MUST NOT walk on motorways or slip roads except in an emergency
8. Never walk on the main carriageway, it could be fatal
9. Do not read newspapers or look at hoardings while walking on the road.
10. Do not greet friends on the road. Take them to the footpath or the side margin.
11. Do not come on to the main road while waiting for a bus. Stay on the footpath at earmarked bus stoppage.
12. Where there are barriers, cross the road only at the gaps provided for pedestrians. Do not climb over the barriers or walk between them and the road.
13. Do not run after a moving bus. Follow safety rules on the road and live long.
14. You MUST NOT get on to or hold on to a moving vehicle.
15. Don't "Drink and Walk." If you've been drinking, take a cab or a bus, or let someone sober drive you home.
16. When walking at night, wear retro-reflective outdoor clothing or shoes or lights to make you more visible. Avoid wearing dark clothing.
17. At all crossings. When using any type of crossing you should always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing . Always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous. You MUST NOT loiter on zebra, pelican or puffin crossings.

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