Statistics indicate that people aged 65 years and over are over-represented in fatal and serious injury pedestrian crashes. Older people also fall more than other age groups while walking on the road network. This increased risk relates to a number of factors usually associated with the effects of ageing:
- reduced eyesight or hearing can reduce a pedestrian's ability to identify hazards quickly
- older pedestrians may have slower decision-making and be physically slower
- medication can also slow an older pedestrian.
Here are some tips to help you compensate for the effects of ageing and be a safe and confident pedestrian.
Be safe and be seen: make yourself visible to drivers
- Wear bright/light colored clothing and wear reflective materials.
- Carry a flashlight when walking at night
- Cross in a well-lit area at night
- Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing so drivers can see you
- Catch the driver's attention by making eye contact or waving.
Be alert: avoid dangerous behaviour
- Use footpaths where provided. Where there is no footpath, walk facing oncoming traffic, as far off the road as possible.
- Plan your trip to avoid hazardous conditions and busy traffic times.
- Be predictable.
- Watch out for reversing vehicles especially in residential and urban communities. Look for reversing or brake lights and listen for engine noise.
- Take additional care in parking areas, especially supermarkets and malls where cars are reversing and there are many distractions. Be alert to engine noise or reversing lights on cars.
- Wear shoes that give you a good footing.
- Stay sober; walking while impaired increases your chance of being struck.
- Don't assume vehicles will stop; make eye contact with drivers, don't just look at the vehicle.
- Don't rely solely on pedestrian signals; look before you cross the road.
Be careful crossing: look before you step
- If the pedestrian crossing is controlled by lights, only cross at the beginning of the green pedestrian light. If you are concerned about the length of time traffic lights allow for crossing then watch one light cycle to ensure you know the time available to cross. If you want to cross diagonally consider crossing two separate roads (two shorter crossings).
- If there is a pedestrian refuge, or traffic island, in the middle of the road, cross to halfway then check traffic from the left.
- Be especially careful when crossing roads with several lanes going in the same direction. It may be difficult for drivers in the inner lane to see you, if a car in the outer lane has crossed.
- If crossing where there are no pedestrian crossings be especially vigilant. Always stop on the kerb and check traffic in both directions (even when crossing one-way streets). Remember to look and listen for traffic from all directions.
- Watch for turning vehicles; make sure the driver sees you and will stop for you.
- Don't wear headphones or talk on a mobile phone while crossing.
- Use extra caution when crossing multiple-lane, higher speed streets.
