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Ohio Pedestrian Accidents Likely To Rise As Kids Go Back To School

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With Back To School Brings More Children And Adult Pedestrians And This Usually Means More Ohio Pedestrian Accidents.

As children go back to school, there are more pedestrians on the road, particularly during school bus loading and unloading. This increases the risk for pedestrian accidents, injuries, and fatalities. By taking steps to reduce the risk of pedestrian accidents, both motorists and pedestrians can stay safer on the road.

Nationally, children are involved in thousands of pedestrian accidents each year. Children under the age of 15 are more likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents than any other age group, but 34 percent of pedestrian accidents nationwide involve pedestrians who are drunk. Motorists can avoid being involved in a pedestrian accident by watching carefully for intoxicated pedestrians while driving late at night, particularly around 2-3 AM when bars are closing and on weekends. [http://www.cdc.gov/Features/PedestrianSafety/, August 2015]

According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, more children aged 0-15 are killed in Ohio pedestrian accident than in any other age group. In 2014, 455 children under age 15 were injured in pedestrian accidents on Ohio roadways and 13 resulted in fatalities. 10 children were killed in pedestrian accidents involving school busses. In most cases, motorists other than the school bus driver were at fault in all pedestrian accidents. The pedestrian was only in error in five of these cases, meaning that motorists can reduce nearly all pedestrian accidents by following Ohio laws for driver safety. [http://www.publicsafety.ohio.gov/links/2014CrashFacts.pdf, August 2015]

Use the following tips to reduce Ohio pedestrian accidents in Ohio as a motorists and as a pedestrian:

Advice for Motorists

  • Always look for pedestrians, even when you are not near a crosswalk.
  • Never pass a stopped school bus when it has flashing lights or an extended stop sign.
  • Look out for pedestrians in school zones, near churches, near bars, and in residential neighborhoods.
  • Watch out for crossing guards and police-controlled intersections.
  • Watch carefully for pedestrians during inclement weather, as visibility is much lower and accidents are likely.
  • Never pass other vehicles stopped to allow pedestrians to cross.
  • Watch for pedestrians crossing in front of parking lot exits.
  • Leave extra time to arrive at your destination so you aren’t rushing to get there.
  • Make sure your vehicle has appropriate safety lights and you signal all turns.

Advice for Pedestrians

  • Wear reflective clothing at night and in bad weather to increase visibility.
  • Cross the road only at crosswalks.
  • Teach children how to look for cars and how to load and unload from a bus safely.
  • Walk on the sidewalk when possible, or walk on the shoulder facing traffic.
  • Instruct children to follow directions from crossing guards.
  • Teach children to always look for oncoming vehicles.
  • Take extra care while walking in rain, snow, or other times of low visibility. Make sure motorists can see you while you walk.

By implementing these tips, Ohio drivers can significantly reduce the number of Ohio pedestrian accidents and fatalities that occur this school year. Safety should always be of top concern. Follow the steps outlined above and your school year will be much healthier and safer.