Pedestrians, motorists share roads Published Aug. 23, 2011 By Amy E. Medley 87th Air Base Wing Safety JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- There were 4,092 pedestrians killed in 2009 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and almost one-third of these victims are children under the age of 15. Everyone is a pedestrian at one time or another, and is obligated to abide by the same traffic laws to ensure safety whether walking, bicycling or driving. Parents are also obligated to teach children the importance of traffic safety, especially in housing areas where streets have a tendency of being smaller. Here are a few pedestrian safety tips to follow: · Walk on the sidewalks - Stay on the sidewalks and crosswalks. Avoid walking in traffic if there are no sidewalks or crosswalks. Walk facing the traffic if these options aren't available. · Look both ways for vehicles when crossing the road - Stop at the curb and look left, then right, then left again. Stopping at the curb signals drivers you intend to cross. Cross in marked crosswalks and obey the signals. · See and be seen - Stay out of the driver's blind spot. Make eye contact with the driver when crossing busy streets. If walking at dusk or dark, wear reflective gear and carry a flashlight. Vision is more impaired at night. · Watch children - Do not let children play in the streets or close to the roads. Don't let them cross the roads without supervision. While walking through the housing area, be aware of any cars pulling out of their driveways, especially if they are backing out because their vision may be limited. Children are small, unpredictable and cannot judge vehicle distance and speeds. Start teaching children at an early age about traffic safety. Teach the colors and meanings of all of the traffic and vehicle lights. Educate the importance of not darting out on the road, even to chase a ball. As motorists on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, do not always assume the people around you are paying attention. Sometimes their attention can be diverted, especially if they're children. Motorists may encounter a pedestrian anytime and anywhere, even in places where they are not supposed to be. They can be hard to see, especially at night or while it's raining. If visibility is limited, slow down. Stop for pedestrians who are in the crosswalks and make sure vehicles are far enough back for cars in the other lane to see the pedestrian in time to stop. If vehicles are stopped in the street, be cautious when passing them, they maybe waiting for a pedestrian to cross the road. When turning right on a red right, always look to the right as well as the left to make sure pedestrians are not crossing. If a pedestrian is spotted wearing headphones or using a cell phone, be attentive since they may not hear vehicles. Remain vigilant at all times, especially in areas where children may dart out unexpectedly into traffic areas. These include base housing, school areas, bus stops and around ice cream trucks. While backing out of driveways, always look out the back window as well as your mirrors to ensure no children are behind the vehicle. Walk around the vehicle before driving out if needed. One last tip to keep in mind; if a child is in the front yard or near a curb, always assume they will dart out on the road. If motorists keep this in mind, it will lessen the chances of a child being struck. By paying attention to surroundings, whether pedestrian or motorist, it could make a life or death difference.