Pedestrian Safety

The best thing to remember when it comes to driving around pedestrians is that pedestrians always have the right of way. While pedestrians and drivers must follow specific rules, it is up to the driver to stay aware of pedestrian activity and to keep them safe as they walk the Illinois and Missouri roadways. Keep in mind that as soon as you step out of your vehicle, you become a pedestrian.

According to the Missouri drivers’ guide, you should never assume you have the right-of-way, and do not assume pedestrians will see you or will stop for you. Keep this in mind as you review the below pedestrian laws and safety guidelines.

Pedestrian Traffic Laws

Drivers must always yield the right-of-way to persons who are blind. When a pedestrian is crossing a street or highway guided by a dog or carrying a white cane (or a white cane with a red tip), vehicles must come to a complete stop.
Drivers must yield when a pedestrian is in a marked or unmarked crosswalk on or approaching their side of the road.
As you prepare for a right turn, especially on a red traffic signal, be cautious of pedestrians (or bicyclists) approaching on your right.
Drivers should not block the crosswalk when stopped at a red traffic signal.
Drivers should not cross a sidewalk or crosswalk without first yielding to pedestrians.
At intersections controlled by standard traffic signals, pedestrians must obey the same signals as drivers traveling in the same direction
Pedestrians should not start to cross during a red or yellow signal
When crossing with a green signal, pedestrians have the right of way over all vehicles, including those turning across the paths of the pedestrians
If a traffic signal changes to yellow or red while any pedestrian remains in the street, drivers must allow the pedestrian to complete the crossing safely
At “Walk”/“Don’t Walk" signals pedestrians and drivers must obey them rather than regular traffic signals.
The law requires drivers to use the horn whenever a pedestrian may be affected by a turn, stop, or start from a parked position.

Given all of the above guidelines, it is critical for the driver to remember that if the pedestrian does not stop, or follow the appropriate law, then the driver must.

Pedestrian Statistics:

The number of pedestrian deaths nationally in 1997 was 5,321, with a 13% drop in 2007 to 4,654 deaths.
70 percent of pedestrians killed in 2007 were males
Illinois saw 5,877 pedestrians hit by vehicles in 2008. 5,293 of the strikes resulted in injuries and 137 resulted in death.
In Missouri, 1,344 pedestrians were injured in vehicle accidents in 2008 with 66 resulting in death.

Sources:

Missouri Driver’s Guide
Walking Info.org
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration