By Vanessa Santos, Boston MA
Drivers that cause accidents while under the influence of alcohol most often occupy a space in the news, but pedestrians can also become a problem if under the influence of alcohol, drugs, fatigue or stress that can affect their motor skills and judgment to the extent that they become a danger to themselves and to motorists. Collisions with pedestrians who are under the influence has become quite common, as one out of 10 pedestrians killed in New York city each year by automobiles are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. This impairment, or even a distraction such as a cell phone can prevent a pedestrian from taking the proper precautions when crossing a roadway or even when walking near a roadway. Situational awareness is very important to pedestrians walking near busy roads and this awareness can be severely compromised by alcohol or drugs. Drivers should take note of this and be prepared to take evasive action if a pedestrian exhibits unpredictable behavior.
Many people underestimate the deleterious effects that medications can have on judgment and motor skills as well. This includes prescription medications and over the counter drugs. Many over-the-counter drugs contain substances that cause drowsiness. If you are taking medications that warn of drowsiness as a side affect, make sure you take special care when walking near roadways. It is advisable to walk with someone in case you find yourself dizzy or drowsy. Find an alert friend that can accompany you to your destination as a precaution.
Another other helpful idea to keep you safe as a pedestrian is to consider the point of view of motorists on the roadway. Remember that they are moving much faster than you, which makes their reaction time much more important. If they have a distraction of any kind their reaction times will be slowed, increasing the likelihood of an accident. Remember also to never assume the driver of a car can see you, especially if you enter the roadway from between parked cars. This scenario would offer a driver no chance at all to react and avoid hitting a pedestrian.
Weather conditions play a very significant role in visibility as well and you should always consider that it is several times more difficult to see pedestrians in rain, snow or fog. As a pedestrian, try to avoid wearing dark clothes during the evening hours or during inclement weather. Ideally, reflective clothing should be worn. There are numerous products including vests, pants and hats that are designed to offer a reflective signal to motorists in order to offer good visibility. There are many manufacturers of small, lightweight blinking lights for walkers, joggers and cyclists to wear to increase visibility.
Drivers must be wary of pedestrians. Intersections are the most common places for collisions between autos and pedestrians so motorists must take special care when navigating through turns that pass through crosswalks. Also, recognize when children or the elderly are walking in or near the roadways as the highest percentage of pedestrian deaths come from these two categories.
Although drunk drivers are known to cause many severe accidents every year, drivers must be aware of the dangers posed by pedestrians. There are many things that drivers can and should do to identify potential dangers involving pedestrians and be prepared to act swiftly to avoid colliding with a person. Even sober and alert drivers must take special care to pay attention to their surroundings and the potential problems that can occur, particularly if you come across a pedestrian under the influence, as there many dangerous and unpredictable behavior that can make it difficult to avoid an accide
