A pedestrian is “a person who goes or travels on foot; walker.”
I have discovered through personal experience the dangers of being a pedestrian.
The crosswalk: These painted lines on the road are meant to be a protection to pedestrians, but are they? From personal experience, this is sometimes not the case. How do you stop the contact between human flesh and a metal car? First, make sure it’s your turn. If it’s a red hand, STOP. As you cross the street, continue to be observant the whole way over.
Bad weather: It’s sure not fun to be a driver during bad weather, but what about the pedestrians? Be extra cautious during the rain or snow; these two cause slick spots that could cause serious accident. Also, some people just become even crazier drivers during storms, so the person walking may have to be the one who uses the most “street” smarts.
Time of Day: We are very blessed with the Sun, but sometimes it can make it very hard to see pedestrians, depending on the time of day and the angle. From a pedestrian’s viewpoint, realize that drivers may not be able to see you as well as they normally can. Be extra cautious, especially if the sun is behind you just right enough to blind the person driving for the four seconds it would take to hit you.
Alcohol: Not only is this a danger for the drivers of the car, but being intoxicated can increase your chances of accident as a pedestrian. Be careful about how much you drink, especially if you know you are going to end up walking. Better yet, avoid drinking all together. Then you will have your wits about you.
Aggie Bull-evard: With all those crosswalks, you’d think people would be safer. But no. Especially with traffic between classes, it can be the most frustrating part of being a pedestrian.
These are just a few of the dangers of being a pedestrian. Overall, just play it safe. It is possible for drivers and pedestrians to live in mutual happiness.
You be the judge: to be a pedestrian, or not to be a pedestrian?
