CHARLESTON AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. –
If you ever find yourself at a crosswalk with signs on either side that read, "Yield to Pedestrians" or "Pedestrians Have the Right of Way," do not automatically assume that you can just start walking across the street.
About 84,000 people suffer nonfatal injuries and almost 6,000 pedestrians are killed by automobiles every year.
Almost one-third of these victims are children younger than 15 , but that's only about 15 percent of the U.S. population. While you may have the "Right of Way," the right to remain unharmed should be higher on your priority list.
We must educate others and ourselves and begin to change our attitudes and behaviors. It is also equally important to serve as good role models for children when we cross the street. The rules we all learned about crossing the street still apply, even though we are adults now and at crosswalks here.
When you cross the street remember that you will be a lot safer in a crosswalk than in the middle of the road. Drivers expect pedestrians to cross at intersections and crosswalks. Crosswalks are designed to funnel people to a "safer" location to cross the street.
However, the reality is that pedestrian fatalities are more common in crosswalks than at other sections of the roadway.
Perception is "the process of acquiring, interpreting, selecting and organizing sensory information." We see signs that tell us how things should be, but then something different happens.
The reality is, when you come to a crosswalk, do not step out in front of a truck and expect it to stop. The truck operator may not see you or may not be able stop before striking you.