Did you know?
Senior citizens are over represented in pedestrian fatalities and injuries, according to recent safety data!
Seniors often get hit within a step or two from the curb or stepping out from behind a parked car, or by being caught out in traffic!
Seniors are also more likely to die or suffer severe injuries than younger pedestrians when they get struck!
Seniors sometimes contribute to the accident!
While motorists are at fault in many senior pedestrian crashes, safety studies show senior pedestrians sometimes contribute to the accident by:
- not often picking the safest places to cross,
- not paying attention to traffic,
- not being aware of the timing of traffic signals and walk/no walk lights, and
- underestimating the time needed to cross safely.
What can I do to Walk more safely in Urban and Suburban Areas?
- Ask friends and neighbors which crosswalks they find safest and try to use them.
- Learn how traffic and walk signals are timed in your area.
- Cross only where traffic and walk signals are timed in your favor.
- Know your walking ability: Can you get across before the signal changes?
- Avoid intersections where you repeatedly run out of time getting across.
- Having trouble crossing safely? Ask someone to escort you across.
- Avoid using uncontrolled (no walk signals) crossings.
- Take extra care crossing early morning and at dusk when motorists will have the sun in their eyes or diminishing visibility.
- One-way streets are the easiest to cross safely. Use them whenever possible.
- Plan ahead so you can avoid crossing busy intersections more than once.
What Walking Strategies can help me in Urban and Suburban Localities?
- Be ready to go when the signal indicates.
- Cross with the pack, if you can.
- Always look left before stepping into the road. That is where vehicles come from first.
- Continue looking ahead and to each side while crossing.
- Wait for turning vehicles to actually stop on red and yield crossing zone to you!
- Always stay in the marked crossing zone! It is the only place where drivers are expecting to find you!
- Make yourself visible to drivers. Wear bright clothing, or carry something bright when walking.
- Make eye-contact with drivers, especially during the final stage of your crossing.
- Be alert for backing vehicles (watch for white back-up lights switching on) and for parked cars that may be about to move.
- Stop momentarily to look both ways when crossing in front of stopped buses and trucks so as not to step out into the path of moving vehicles.
Taking medications?
Medications can diminish your ability to judge traffic movement and slow your walking speed. Multiple medications can even interact to produce intoxication-like symptoms!
- Ask your pharmacist, physician or health care provider to explain how your medications may affect your walking speed and ability to judge traffic flow.
Foot wear and foot care:
- Your feet and footwear are like the wheels and tires on a vehicle. They too, require the right kind of care and equipment to allow you to walk comfortably, and avoid trips and falls.
- Do tell your health care provider you walk regularly.
- Ask for advice about foot care, foot wear, and what you can do to maintain your mobility and safety while walking.
- Do get a comfortable pair of walking shoes. Double knot if lace-up type to prevent tripping from laces that have become undone.
- Do keep your shoes in proper repair.
Seniors Walking Safely
is an initiative of the
New York State Office for the Aging.
For additional information, please contact your local Area Agency on Aging or the:
New York State Office for the Aging
2 Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12223-1251
In New York State call toll free 1-800-342-9871
Outside NY State call 1-518-474-5731
e-mail: Feedback@aging.state.ny.us
