VOLUME 33, NUMBER 15 |
THURSDAY,
January 31, 2002 |
Committee offers
tips about pedestrian safety
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter on behalf of the Personal Safety Committee to heighten
awareness about pedestrian safety on campus. More people die each year in
pedestrian accidents than by drowning, fires or poison. Yet, pedestrian
safety often is overlooked.
A walk across
the street does not need to be an invitation to danger. By taking precautions
and learning some basic safety guidelines, one can make it safely to the
other side of the street. Pedestrians should remember:
- Always
cross the street in marked crosswalks.
- Stay
away from traffic after drinking alcohol or when taking medication that
causes dizziness or blurs vision. Call a cab if necessary.
- When
walking after dark, carry a flashlight and wear retro-reflective materials
that outline the human form.
- In foul
weather (rain or snow), allow extra time and distance for a vehicle
to stop. Do not let umbrellas or jacket hoods block your view of approaching
traffic.
- Always
look left-right-left whenever and wherever you cross. Keep looking left-right-left
until you have finished crossing.
Drivers should
remember:
- Yield
to pedestrians at crosswalks and come to a complete stop, if necessary.
- Do not
pass vehicles stopped at crosswalks.
- When
making a turn, take a last look for pedestrians and bicyclists.
- Watch
out for pedestrians when backing up in parking lots.
- Use extra
caution when driving at night. Pedestrians are very difficult to see
in the dark.
- In foul
weather, remember that your stopping distance is increased.
- Be patient
when an older adult or a physically challenged person is crossing at
an intersection.
Sincerely,
John Grela
Director of Public Safety
Ad-hoc Chair, Personal Safety Committee
Front
Page | Top Stories
| Briefly | Electronic
Highways
Kudos | Letters
| Mail
| Q&A | Sports
Exhibits, Notices, Jobs | Events
| Current
Issue | Comments?
| Archives
Search
| UB Home
| UB
News Services | UB
Today
|