From my last post, I promised to write about safety guidelines for Pedestrians. Here it is. You have it. But before we start, we will just give a few definitions about terms that will be involved.
Who are the Pedestrians?
Pedestrians are people who walk on foot. Anybody at any point in time can be a pedestrian, whether you are a car owner or a bike rider. Once you step out of your car to get something, you automatically become a pedestrian for that brief moment.
Pedestrian bridge?
A pedestrian bridge is a an overhead bridge built across expressways or speed lanes to ease the movement of pedestrians.
Zebra crossing?
It is a place designated for pedestrians to wait for vehicles to stop before crossing the road. Once a driver sees people at the edge of the Zebra crossing, he /she is automatically obliged to stop and allow them to cross.
Ok. Lets get to the main point; safety guidelines for pedestrians. What are they? They are written below.
Safety guidelines for pedestrians
I. A pedestrian must walk on the left hand side of the road facing the oncoming vehicle. This should be done to reduce the uncertainty of a vehicle running towards you that is spinning out of control. In that way, you will be able to make quick decisions on where to run to to avoid being hurt or involved in an accident.
II. Pedestrians should wait at the edge of the Zebra crossing if is available on the road where the driver will see them and allow them to cross without any hassle.
Source: Pixabay
III. In the case where there is no Zebra crossing, look to your left, then to your right, and to your left again to ensure there is no oncoming vehicle before crossing the road. We've always told our children: look to the left, to the right, and to your left again, of which that statement is not yet complete. There should be no oncoming vehicle before a child should cross the road.
IV. In the case of school children crossing the highway, they should seek assistance from traffic wardens or kindhearted citizens to cross the road. My sister did it when she was very young, I helped two little kids do same last year on their way to school as a kindhearted citizen.
V. Wear reflective and not dark clothes at night. This will make a driver see you from afar before making an informed decision on where to drive through.
VI. Trek or walk using the pedestrian lanes or walk ways if available.
VII. A Pedestrian should board vehicle at designated stops or bus stop to avoid "stories that touches the heart", potential kidnapping and other vices.
VIII. Pedestrians should make use of the pedestrian bridge if available.
IX. A pedestrian should not use earpiece or take a call while crossing the road. You remember the movie: ME BEFORE YOU? That was what incapacitated the protagonist in that movie. Such a brain left for dead because of one careless decision. If the call is so important, wait at the pedestrian lane and receive the call or do so when you get to your destination.
Source: Pixabay
X. A pedestrian should not walk alone when he/she is not feeling too well. Walk in the company of others.
XI. A pedestrian should not board any unregistered taxi so as prevent " stories that touches the heart" like kidnapping, ritual killings and all sorts of things.
XII. Never board an overcrowded or overloaded vehicle. The probability of an accident occurring is very high because of poor balance. You see some vehicles squatting. That's extremely dangerous.
XIII. Finally, never board a vehicle where you already know the driver is drunk. That is a recipe for disaster. One Sunday morning when I was hurrying to Church, I boarded a vehicle, but on getting close to the driver, I saw that He was drunk. I left immediately without thinking twice. As a pedestrian, you must know whose hands you are putting or entrusting your life into. Very important. Such a person's judgment is clouded already with a wrong influence. For those of you who studied Chemistry, you know what it is for something to be in its excited state. Its surely going to return to base. Such a driver will not have the right sense of judgment at all. As a pedestrian, please stay safe. Abide by the rules and lengthen your days. This is Kenneth signing off. Good day.
