October is National Pedestrian Safety Month!

This October is National Pedestrian Safety Month! Traffic safety partners encourage everyone to remember that we all are pedestrians and to always be on the lookout for people walking.

The number of pedestrians killed has grown by about 50% over the past decade, with 6,283 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes nationwide in 2018, or one traffic-related pedestrian death every 84 minutes.

Excess speed, poor lighting, crossing outside crosswalks and impairment are the main factors that lead to a pedestrian being struck by a vehicle.

The California Office of Traffic Safety encourages drivers and pedestrians to follow these safety tips:

Safety Tips for Drivers

• Slow down on busy streets and intersections.
• Always look for pedestrians in intersections. Stop and allow pedestrians to cross. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at all marked or unmarked crosswalks.
• Stay off the phone and avoid other distracting behaviors such as eating, grooming, or using in-dash touch screens.
• Do your best to not block crosswalks making a right-hand turn.
• Keep headlights on at night and be extra careful when pedestrians are harder to see.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

• Obey signs and signals. Try to cross at marked crosswalks, preferably at stop signs or signals where cars expect to see pedestrians.
• Be seen. Let a driver know you see them, and they see you.
• If you need to briefly walk into the street to maintain social distancing on sidewalks, look both ways for passing cars.

Pedestrian Safety Resources

Explore our sampling of resources from traffic safety partners and advocacy organizations throughout the state and beyond!

• California Office of Traffic Safety: Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety, Go Safely CA

• California Highway Patrol: Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety
• California Walks
• Explore our Advocacy Groups Inventory for organizations throughout the state working to make communities safer for walkint
• America Walks
• NHTSA: Pedestrian Safety