A Resident's Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities

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Resource Materials

Resource Sheet 8: Safety Tips for Pedestrians and Drivers

Safety tips for pedestrians:

Make yourself visible to drivers

Look for cars before stepping out near parked vehicles.
  • Wear retroreflective materials and bright/light colored clothing. Many people are unaware that they are virtually invisible to drivers at night. Clothing with retroreflective materials (such as vests for runners/bikers) can make you visible from up to 500 feet away.
  • Carry a flashlight when walking at night. Don't wear headphones. Use extreme caution when crossing the street—assume that drivers cannot see you.
  • Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars, or other obstacles so drivers can see you.

Avoid dangerous behaviors

Look for cars at driveways and parking lots.
  • Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic.
  • Be aware of the dangers of drinking and walking—walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
  • Watch for cars reversing in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces.

Look before you step

Look in all directions before crossing streets.
  • Cross streets at marked crosswalks or intersections if possible.
  • Obey traffic signals such as walk/don't walk signals.
  • Don't rely solely on pedestrian signals; look left, right, behind you, and left again before crossing a street or stepping into traffic.
  • Watch for turning vehicles; make sure the driver sees you and will stop.
  • Look across all lanes you must cross and make sure each lane is clear before proceeding.

Safety tips for drivers:

Watch for pedestrians at all times

Look for pedestrians at all times and don't drive distracted.
  • Scan the road and the sides of the road ahead for potential pedestrians.
  • Before making a turn, look in all directions for pedestrians crossing.
  • Don't drive distracted or after consuming alcohol or other drugs.
  • For maximum visibility, keep your windshield clean and headlights on.

Yield to pedestrians at crossings

Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and intersections.
  • Stop or yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, whether marked or unmarked.
  • Stop or yield to pedestrians when making right or left turns at intersections.
  • Do not block or park in crosswalks.

Drive the speed limit and avoid aggressive maneuvers

Be prepared to stop for pedestrians, especially in neighborhoods.
  • Never pass/overtake a vehicle that is stopped for pedestrians.
  • Obey speed limits and come to a complete stop at stop signs.
  • Always be prepared to stop for pedestrians, especially in residential areas and near schools.
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Tamara Redmon

202-366-4077

Dick Schaffer

202-366-2176

What's New

The FHWA Safety Office is continually developing new materials to assist states, localities and citizens in improving pedestrian and bicycle safety. The materials listed on this page were completed recently.

Examples of State/Local Pedestrian Safety Action Plans

Pedestrian Forum - Fall 2009

LTAP/TTAP Interchange, Tamara Redmon

Evaluation of the Focused Approach to Pedestrian Safety Program (PDF 225 KB)

“Not in Roadway” Pedestrian and Bicycle Crashes (PDF 132 KB)

How to Develop a Pedestrian Safety Action Plan (PDF 5.14 MB)

FHWA Guidance Memo Contains Provisions to Improve Pedestrian Safety

Toolbox of Countermeasures and Their Potential Effectiveness for Pedestrian Crashes

Pedestrian Safety Guide for Transit Agencies

Evaluation of Pedestrian Countermeasures in Three Cities: San Francisco, Las Vegas and Miami

Pedestrian Road Safety Audit Guidelines and Prompt Lists