The other week, I was driving back from working out when I saw that there was a huge accident. Later, I found out that a person walking along the sidewalk had been struck by a motorcyclist who had somehow lost control of his vehicle and had skidded onto the sidwalk. How scary is that? To think that we aren't even safe walking along the sidewalks! Is it because the speed limits are too high or too low? The fact of the matter is that people who get behind the wheel of a car, truck, bus or even a motorcycle don't always obey the posted traffic speed limits- let alone the laws of the roadways.
What is the point of having laws and rules that govern how we should behave as responsible citizens if no one follows them? Can we really be left to our own devices to trust one another's judgment? Think about it. If there were no rules for how we should drive, do you think that people would do the right thing? Would it be total chaos? It is a scary thought. There are, however, some precautions that we can each take when it comes to sharing the road. As a runner, I would always get annoyed when cars would cut me off as I tried to cross the street.
To put it another way, when you are behind the wheel of a vehicle, put yourself in the shoes of a pedestrian. As many of us are already aware, pedestrians always have the right of way (even when they're wrong). This is, in part, because vehicles can be used as deadly weapons and are much bigger and heavier than a person. When you approach a corner and there is a pedestrian, always pause to see what their body language indicates. You may have the green arrow to turn, but if a pedestrian's body language indicates that they are already moving forward, then you must yield.
It is also a great idea to try to make eye contact with pedestrians when you are approaching a stopped position or even an intersection. Usually, pedestrians will look for this same eye contact from you and will give some sort of a verbal or physical signal indicating that they understand your intentions for them to move ahead or stay where they are. If we all practiced a little more safety both in our driving habits as well as how we treat pedestrians, then it would be a much safer place to live and work in. Remember, when you're not behind the wheel of a car, you become a pedestrian. That being said, make sure that you treat pedestrians the way that you would want to be treated: with respect and courtesy!
