How To Not Hit a Pedestrian

MoBikeFed President Rachel Ruhlen is a community blogger for Gatehouse Media. This article appeared Jan 29, 2015.

How to Not Hit a Pedestrian

Every time a car hits a pedestrian, I hear the same comments.

Pedestrians need to walk to every destination automobiles drive to

"Those dumb college kids step right out in front of traffic."
"I nearly hit someone the other day because the sun was in my eyes."
"Pedestrians should look."

People get quite angry about it, even though it is the pedestrian who suffers, NOT the motorist. (Unless it was a hit-and-run or involved drugs or alcohol, the motorist rarely suffers any penalties.)

Someone tried to explain to me once why motorists are offended when pedestrians get themselves hit.

"If I killed a pedestrian," he said, "I would feel so awful about it that my life would be ruined." The pedestrian's life would be over, but the driver's life would be ruined.

I don't want a pedestrian's death to ruin a driver's life. This is my advice in how to not hit a pedestrian.

1. Don't drive a car. Very few pedestrians die when a bicycle hits them or another pedestrian runs into them. Move to a place where you can walk, bike, or bus to all your destinations.

2. Stop at crosswalks.

3. Don't drive distracted or intoxicated. Texting and driving increases the risk of a wreck 23-fold. Drinking and driving increases the risk 4-fold. Talking on a cell phone while driving increases the risk 4-fold. Put the phone down.

4. Slow down. Collisions with pedestrians are almost never fatal when the car is traveling at 20 mph or less. They are almost always fatal at 40 mph or more. The speed limit is the maximum-- not 5 mph over the posted speed limit. It is also the maximum for perfect conditions. At night, in the rain, in the fog, and when the sun is in your eyes, slow down to below the posted speed limit.

5. Improve your driving skills through study, training, and practice. Take a Driver's Ed class or lessons from a good driver. Buy a black box dash cam and review the feedback on your sharp corners and hard braking. Drive like you have a brim-full cup of hot coffee on your lap.

6. Minimize how much time you spend driving in areas where there are a lot of pedestrians. In a parking lot, park in the first open spot you see. Park at the edge of downtown where it is easy to find a spot, so you aren't circling the square looking for an opening. Bonus! With this parking strategy, you'll spend less time in your car and you'll get a little extra exercise as you walk to your destination.

7. Learn where pedestrians are likely to be so you know where to watch for them. Most pedestrians cross at intersections. Even where there is no stop sign for you, keep an eye on the edges of the road. Since you aren't talking on your cell phone, this will be much easier to do.

Many of you have very good excuses as to why you can't follow some of this advice. You live too far away so you have to drive. You drive over the speed limit because you only have 10 minutes to make a 15 minute trip. Driving is your only chance to make a phone call.

Pedestrian's lives are more important than your convenience.

Rachel Ruhlen is President of the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation. Read more articles by Rachel on her President's Blog.