5 tips for safely crossing a street

As a pedestrian, there will be times when you need to cross from one side of the street to the next. Doing so sounds simple enough, but you can't take your safety for granted.

If you don't pay attention to what you're doing, you could attempt to cross the street at the wrong time. Subsequently, you put yourself at risk of being part of an accident.

Here are five tips for safely crossing a street:

• Only cross at street corners, when possible
• Use the pedestrian push button to your advantage, as this will stop traffic and allow you to safely cross
• Make eye contact with drivers of stopped vehicles
• Look both ways (twice) before taking your first step onto the road
• Make sure you are as visible as possible, such as by wearing bright clothing when walking at night

These are among the most basic safety tips for crossing a street, but they can go a long way in helping you avoid a serious accident that results in injury or even death.

The only unfortunate part about these tips is that they aren't good enough to completely eliminate the risk of an accident. It's still possible that a driver could make a mistake, such as running a red light, which results in a crash.

If a vehicle strikes you, stay where you are until help arrives. The treatment you receive upfront can go a long way in helping you avoid long-term health concerns.

Once you have a firm grasp of your health and what's to come in regards to your treatment, learn more about the cause of the accident and your legal rights as a pedestrian.

Source: Driveless, "HOW TO SAFELY CROSS STREETS AND AVOID HAZARDS," accessed March 08, 2018