Pedestrian Safety Month: Prince William Police Offer Tips For Avoiding Reckless Drivers

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA — The Prince William County Police Department is reminding pedestrians to watch out for speeding cars and instructing motorists to slow down in high-pedestrian traffic areas in October as part of Pedestrian Safety Month.

The police department joined with the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles and the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to urge drivers to respect pedestrians, especially in the age of the pandemic, which has seen motorists driving faster and more recklessly.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has found that thousands of people die annually across the U.S. due to pedestrian accidents. Many of these accidents are caused due to the negligence of drivers.

In 2021, several pedestrians have died or been seriously injured in Prince William County after getting hit by vehicles.

In Washington, D.C., two girls, ages 6 and 8, and their father were injured on Wednesday when they were struck by a vehicle while walking to school on "Walk to School Day," an event held by schools across the nation the first Wednesday in October. The event emphasizes safety for students while walking to school.

The state DMV offers these tips for pedestrians in dealing with aggressive and distracted drivers:

• Plan a route with safe crossings, such as marked crosswalks.
• Dress to be seen, but do not assume drivers see you.
• Wear reflective clothing and carry a blinking light or flashlight at night.
• Walk on sidewalks facing traffic and, if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and stay as far from traffic as possible.
• As you walk, watch for cars backing up, especially in parking lots and driveways.
• Only cross streets at crosswalks or intersections; places where drivers expect pedestrians.
• While crossing, look for cars in all directions, including those turning left or right, and make eye contact with turning drivers before proceeding into the street.
• Turning vehicles can be especially dangerous at intersections. If there is no crosswalk or intersection, go to a well-lit area with the best view of traffic, wait until there is enough time to cross safely, and continue to watch for traffic while crossing.

Parents and caregivers should teach children to be safe pedestrians. Young children are impulsive and active, and they may need guidance when walking near roads, according to the Prince William County Police Department. Older adults may need to be reminded to wait for a walk signal or a green light before crossing streets to give them ample time to cross.

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