Walk+Bike+Roll Randolph

This week’s safety tip is for people walking. Vermont law requires people driving to yield to people walking in marked crosswalks, but there is some shared responsibility and ways to ensure your own safety. Make sure that people driving see you (make eye contact if possible). Vermont law requires that people walking don’t enter the street such that a vehicle won’t be able to stop for you. In other words, you can’t just walk into a crosswalk and assume that people driving will stop. Even once you are crossing, it is a good idea to keep looking in both directions – children are taught to “keep their head on a swivel”. Don’t step out into the street from between parked cars, where you may not be visible to drivers. People walking should be especially careful at night. Wear light colored clothing or clothing with some reflective material to enhance your visibility. If you are walking on a street with no sidewalks, it is generally safest to walk against traffic. This gives you a good view of oncoming traffic and also positions you further away from traffic approaching you from the back. Everyone using Vermont’s roads needs to be mindful of each other and to take steps to stay safe.