Pedestrians, bicyclists, children, the elderly, and persons on skateboards, scooters or with mobility impairments are collectively known as vulnerable road users because they are at risk of severe injury or death if they are struck by a motor vehicle. Drivers are always responsible for operating their vehicles safely, but it is even more imperative when operating them near vulnerable road users. Driver safety begins with avoiding distractions and obeying all traffic laws, especially traffic signals (stop lights and stop signs) and speed limits.

 

Pedestrian deaths have been increasing steadily since 2009, even during 2020 despite a steep reduction in vehicle trips and miles traveled during COVID. This more than decade-long trend is illustrated in the table below from Smart Growth America. https://smartgrowthamerica.org/dangerous-by-design/

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

In the unfortunate event of a collision between an automobile and a pedestrian, vehicle speed is the greatest determinant of whether the pedestrian lives or dies, as illustrated in the graphic below. The higher the speed, the higher the fatality rate.

​

​

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

When drivers maintain safe speeds and practice other safe driving behaviors, safer walking environments are created for everyone. Perhaps the most essential and legally-required safe driving behavior is stopping for pedestrians (1) at all crosswalks – whether midblock, the end of a block, or crosswalks on adjacent streets a driver might turn on to – and (2) at any intersection on a road with a speed limit of 35 mph or less.  For more information on pedestrian rights and responsibilities in Virginia, check out the Article 16 of the Virginia Code: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title46.2/chapter8/section46.2-924/

 

Here are other driving safety tips from NHSTA to increase pedestrian safety.

• Look out for pedestrians everywhere, at all times.

• Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.

• Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.

• Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the crossing pedestrians so they can stop too.

• Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.

• Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

• Follow the speed limit, especially when around people on the street, in school zones, and in neighborhoods where children are present.

• Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.

 

Here are driving safety tips from NHSTA to increase bicyclist safety. They start from the premise that bikes are vehicles that have a right to use the road.

• People on bicycles have the same rights and responsibilities as people behind the wheel of a vehicle.

• Yield to bicyclists as you would motorists and do not underestimate their speed. This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway.

• In parking lots, at stop signs, when packing up, or when parking, search your surroundings for other vehicles, including bicycles.

• Drivers turning right on red should look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear. Stop completely and look left-right-left and behind before turning right on red.

• Obey the speed limit, reduce speed for road conditions and drive defensively to avoid a crash with a cyclist.

• Give cyclists room. Virginia law requires drivers to provide bicyclists a minimum of three feet of clearance whether they are in a dedicated bike lane or on the road.  Pass bicyclists as you would any other vehicle – pass only when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane.

 

Check out this link on Ten Rules for Drivers to Coexist Safely with Bicyclists:

https://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/coexisting-with-bicyclists-10-rules-for-drivers.html

 

Check out this video from Not Just Bikes on the wrong and right ways to set speed limits and design safer streets: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bglWCuCMSWc

Check out this resource from Smart Growth America on how to redesign a city’s most dangerous streets to save the most lives. https://smartgrowthamerica.org/how-to-redesign-your-citys-most-dangerous-streets-to-save-the-most-lives/