If you’re looking for more eco-friendly ways to get around or just looking to ditch the stresses of driving in traffic, then you may have opted for moving around your local area, city, or neighborhood on foot. Or maybe you’re even planning to do a little traveling and want to know how to stay safe as a pedestrian in a new, unfamiliar area.
Exploring on foot is a great way to get around, but it doesn’t mean you’re exempt from any risks associated with busy streets, roads, traffic, and other hazards.
Here are some of the key ways you can stay safe when moving around as a pedestrian.
Try Not to Look at Your Phone
It’s always tempting to want to scroll through your phone while you’re making a journey, including while you’re walking. You may want to quickly check your emails, scroll through your messages, browse your playlist or check social media.
However, having your eyes glued to your phone can lead to a number of issues. You may trip, fall, bump into somebody else (or something else), not pay attention to the correct route you’re supposed to be on, or even increase the risk of being a victim of theft if somebody notices your phone.
If you do need to check your phone, stop and step aside to a safe spot, preferably against a wall where nobody can move behind you.
Stay Aware of Traffic Around You
Unfortunately, being a pedestrian doesn’t mean you can avoid any risk of being involved in a traffic accident. Other drivers can still injure you as a pedestrian. Stay aware by checking the traffic around you, don’t rush across busy roads, pay attention to the way traffic is moving, and try to walk on the sidewalk at the furthest point from the road.
If you do end up involved in a car accident as a pedestrian, you can always look for legal support, such as with lemgarcialaw.com.
Think Wisely About Playing Music with Headphones
Taking a long walk on foot is the prime time to listen to your favorite music, and in most cases, it’s completely fine. However, knowing when a good time to have headphones in and when it isn’t is key to personal safety.
If it’s an area you’re familiar with during daylight hours, using headphones shouldn’t be a problem. However, if you’re traveling in an unknown area or traveling at night, it’s better to have your wits about you by using your hearing to stay aware of anything approaching, like traffic, other people or anything else going on around you.
Research Ahead of Time Any Unfamiliar Areas or Streets
Planning a walking route ahead of time in a new area is always a great idea, in order to flag the safest and busiest streets, and to avoid any backstreets or unsafe areas.
Only Move Around in the Daytime
As a final tip: if you do have a choice, always try to make your walking journeys during daylight hours, when traffic and foot traffic is busiest, and when you can best be seen (and best see everything around you, too).
