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PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
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The condition of our roads is known to all of us. They are bad most of the time - whether you are using it as a motorist, a cyclist or as a pedestrian. They are narrow, at times a lit too wide, dug up at every other corner and overflowing with people and vehicles. No one seems to be bothered about the other.
Zooming mobikes, screeching brakes, screams and crash are not uncommon on our roads. A state of utter chaos. A mad rush to nowhere. Poor hapless pedestrian has to face the brunt of all this mess.
A road has two elements, the carriageway for the movement of vehicular traffic and footpath for the use of pedestrians. But it is rare that our pedestrian has the footpath available to walk on.
It becomes the sole domain of hawkers, vendors and extensions for the regular shops. If you are lucky enough to have a footbath to walk on, it may still be a hazard with its uneven surface, potholes, fruit skins and other rubbish.
In real life situations we walk on the main carriageway and share it with all types of vehicles, big and small, No wonder, pedestrians' contribution to the 70,000 casualties per year on our roads is largest, around 40 percent.
Statistics are scary, and provide no solution to the problem. Perhaps, the best way to ward off the evil eye on the road would be to observe some simple, easy to follow rules, which are universal in nature.
On roads without footpaths, walk along the edge of the road, facing the oncoming traffic. This way you have a clear view of traffic coming towards you, the driver can also see you from the front and judge your movements easily. The likelihood of you being hit from behind is ruled out. When walking in a group keep yourself on the side, away from the road traffic.
If you are out on the road at night or when it is dark, wear light but bright coloured clothes so that you are easily visible from a distance. White and Yellow would be the best options. Wearing reflectors would be excellent.
In fact the Cooperative extension programme of Cornell University, USA, in a report "Actionwear: Clothing for fitness", states " Studies have shown that pedestrians walking along a road in dark clothing at night are first seen approximately 55 feet away giving the driver less than one second reaction time." A driver travelling at 60 MPH needs over 260 feet to come to a stop.
When moving around in rains, be more cautious. The visibility is pretty low and roads are water logged. In such conditions better use gumboots. Sharp objects like glass shards, wood chips and shavings, broken and corroded metal pieces, nails etc lying under the surface of water can injure your feet.
During rains, raincoat is preferable. It protects you better and your mobility in not restricted. An umbrella obstructs movement and visibility. In case of strong winds and crowds it is difficult to manoeuvre with an umbrella.
Don't emerge on the road from behind parked vehicles or from between parked vehicles. Some times for want of adequate playing space in our cities children tend to play on road sides. They loiter among cars parked on the roadside, play and sometimes run out on to the roads from behind them. At times a stationary vehicle might suddenly start up leading to tragic results.
You need to exercise special care while crossing roads. It is better to cross at a zebra crossing. Vehicles are required to stop beyond the zebra markings on the road to allow pedestrians to cross safely. Of course, if traffic signals are provided, follow them.
At times, there may be no zebra crossing, no police-man and no signal to help you cross the road. At such times follow the KERB DRILL. Choose a place where you can see the traffic coming from both the directions clearly. Stand on the kerb, look to your right, look to your left and then again look to your right, if the road is clear, walk quickly straight across, never run.
Remember walk quickly across at right angle to the kerb on the opposite side (keep your direction absolutely straight). Also be on the lookout for any vehicle that might not have seen the zebra crossing and tries to overtake a car that has stopped.
In case you are crossing a road that has a verge or divider in the middle, stop there and wait for the traffic on the other side to stop before you continue to cross. However, in case you have a foot-bridge or subway close by, don't feel lazy to climb up or go down. They are the safest way to cross a road.