587-819-1279

BLF AB LAW

FREE CASE EVALUATION | 1-800-375-7939

How Drivers And Pedestrians Can Limit The Chances For An Accident In Alberta July 11, 2019

Both the drivers traveling on the road and the pedestrians that might be walking across the street have chosen to perform a specific task. Each of them should feel obligated to do that job in the proper fashion. Those residents of Alberta that elect to ignore that obligation increase the chances for an accident in their Canadian Province.

Comparing the driver’s and pedestrian’s job:

The driver should keep an eye out for any people walking across the street. Those on foot ought to focus on the objects in their surroundings. Their awareness of those objects, helps them to stay safe. A pedestrian has joined a group of 3 types of vulnerable road users- Cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians.

Actions that interfere with a driver’s job:

• Driving while distracted
• Speeding
• Not using common sense in bad weather
• Ignoring traffic signs or traffic signals; the most frequent example of that action gets displayed when a motorist drives through a stop sign.
• Not yielding the right-of-way to someone in a cross-walk
• Not stopping before turning at a red light
• Driving while under the influence of drugs or alcohol

Actions that work to ensure the safety of a pedestrian:

• Noting the speed of traffic before crossing the road.
• Looking both ways before crossing the street.
• Making sure that all traffic has stopped, if crossing a road with multiple lanes in both directions.
• Wearing bright clothes on a rainy day, or at times when rays of sunlight are limited or missing.
• Taking the hand of a small child, when crossing the street with that same young person.
• Refusing to jay walk, even if it means walking quite a distance, in order to get to a cross-walk.
• Trying to make eye contact with a driver that has stopped at an intersection, especially one that does not have any posted signs.
• Watching for drivers that plan on making a turn.
• Crossing as quickly as possible; not loitering.

A pedestrian that obeys this one rule copies more than one half of the actions listed above:

Personal injury lawyer in St. Albert advice that you need to keep your eyes on any approaching vehicles. In other words, do not focus on what has appeared on the screen that is part of a hand-held device. Do not expect drivers to be watching for someone that has chosen to walk across the roadway while staring at a small, lighted screen.

A pedestrian’s readiness to obey that rule about the eyes’ correct position can keep him or her from displaying 2 foolish moves at the same time. For instance, it makes no sense to cross a street during the hours of dusk, while wearing dark clothes and paying close attention to some message on the screen of a mobile phone.