Guidelines for Pedestrians

The most important safety tip to reduce pedestrian injuries and fatalities is to pay attention. You can significantly reduce your chances of being in a collision with a motor vehicle by obeying traffic rules and being aware of dangers posed by cars in your vicinity. Make eye contact with drivers if possible and make sure that they can see you.

Pedestrians must

• Where possible, avoid walking next to the kerb with your back to the traffic. If you have to step into the road, look both ways first.
• Wear or carry something light coloured, bright or fluorescent in poor daylight conditions. When it is dark, use reflective materials (e.g. armbands, sashes, waistcoats and jackets), which can be seen, by drivers using headlights, up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials.
• Young children should not be out alone on the pavement or road ( see Rule 7 ). When taking children out, walk between them and the traffic and hold their hands firmly. Strap very young children into push-chairs or use reins.
• Always walk on the footpath, they are meant for you. Where there is no footpath, walk in the right side margin of the road so that you can see the traffic coming in the opposite direction.
• Cross roads where there are pedestrian crossings. They have been painted at great cost for your convenience.
• Where there are no pedestrian crossings, watch the traffic on both sides and cross when it is safe.
• You MUST NOT walk on motorways or slip roads except in an emergency.
• Never walk on the main carriageway, it could be fatal.
• Do not read newspapers or look at hoardings while walking on the road.
• Do not greet friends on the road. Take them to the footpath or the side margin.
• Do not come on to the main road while waiting for a bus. Stay on the footpath at earmarked bus stoppage.
• Where there are barriers, cross the road only at the gaps provided for pedestrians. Do not climb over the barriers or walk between them and the road.
• Do not run after a moving bus. Follow safety rules on the road and live long.
• You MUST NOT get on to or hold on to a moving vehicle.
• Don't "Drink and Walk." If you've been drinking, take a cab or a bus, or let someone sober drive you home.
• When walking at night, wear retroany type of crossing you should always check that the traffic has stopped before you start to cross or push a pram onto a crossing . Always cross between the studs or over the zebra markings. Do not cross at the side of the crossing or on the zig-zag lines, as it can be dangerous. You MUST NOT loiter on zebra, pelican or puffin crossings.

We must follow the six-step crossing code whenever we have to cross the road

THINK
What is a safe place to cross? Where can I see all the traffic properly? Make sure you are not hidden behind a parked car.

STOP
At the edge of the road where you have decided to cross.

LOOK and LISTEN
Look both ways, many time, to see if there is any traffic coming.

WAIT
For all the traffic to pass, and for road to be clear.

CROSS
Walk straight across the road.

KEEP LOOKING and LISTENING
Keep looking in all directions as you cross the road until you get to the other side.

Situations needing extra care

Emergency vehicles
If an ambulance, fire engine, police or other emergency vehicle approaches using flashing blue lights, headlights and/or sirens, keep off the road.

Buses
Get on or off a bus only when it has stopped to allow you to do so. Watch out for cyclists when you are getting off. Never cross the road directly behind or in front of a bus; wait until it has moved off and you can see clearly in both directions.

Railway level crossings
Do not cross if the red lights show, an alarm is sounding or the barriers are being lowered. The tone of the alarm will change if another train is approaching. If there are no lights, alarms or barriers, stop, look both ways and listen before crossing.

Street and pavement repairs
A pavement may be closed temporarily because it is not safe to use. Take extra care if you are directed to walk in or to cross the road.