As we head into summer, there will invariably be more kids, pedestrians, and bicyclists on the roads. People tend to leave the car at home and head outdoors for a walk or ride, and of course, with school out for the summer, the kids are everywhere. Many of these people are not totally paying attention to what is going on around them…especially where cars are concerned. It’s always a good idea, as drivers, to watch very carefully for these special hazards, all year long, but especially in the summer months. While accidents with pedestrians and bicyclists are not automatically the fault of the motorist, it is easy to feel guilt if you hit someone.
For parents, and for people in general, it is a good idea to understand your obligations when you take to the roadways. Bicyclists and pedestrians are bound by the same rules concerning traffic controls, be they lights or sighs. If you come up to a street that that has a traffic light, you must obey the signals, just as if you were in a car. This may sound self-explanatory, but you would be amazed at the number of times that I have watched a bicyclist or pedestrian cross against the light, and truth be told, I’ve done it myself. That may seem like a small thing to admit, but the reality is that if the bicyclist or pedestrian who crosses against the light is hit by a car, the fault will lie with the pedestrian or bicyclist, and not the motorist who actually had the right-of-way.
So, what of a bicyclist or pedestrian who comes up to a sign-controlled intersection? This is where things get a little gray. A pedestrian at a designated crosswalk is to be given the right-of-way, but the person on the bicycle is subject to the laws governing the motorist. If a pedestrian is at a designated crosswalk, the vehicle traffic should stop, but the pedestrian must not step out when they have not given the vehicle enough time to stop for them. When a pedestrian is not at a designated cross walk, he is to wait for all traffic to clear, and some place don’t even allow people to cross at a place that is not designated as a crosswalk. The bottom line here is to stay alert…both driver and pedestrian or bicyclist. If even one of you is watching, an accident can be prevented. Accidents happen when two people weren’t paying attention.