A few days ago, on our social media, we reported on some rather worrying data regarding traffic accidents suffered by the most vulnerable road users : pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists. At Help Flash, in keeping with our primary goal of improving road safety, we bring you the " Pedestrian Manual ," with useful information on how this group should use the road properly.
The data
Pedestrians, motorcycle or moped users and cyclists , the group known as Vulnerable users, surpassed the halfway point of traffic victims last year for the first time, totaling 927 deaths, 53% of the total.
The data, which also includes urban accidents and fatalities in the 30 days following the accident, not just the 24 hours afterward, provide a comprehensive overview of road accidents in our country.
Pedestrians
According to the General Directorate of Traffic, a pedestrian is a person who, without being a driver, travels on foot on public roads. Pedestrians are also considered to be those pushing any other small non-motorized vehicle or people with reduced mobility who move at speed using a motorized or non-motorized wheelchair.
When interacting with vehicles, drivers must be able to act in the best possible way for their own safety and that of others, knowing the general traffic regulations for each type of road.
General rules for pedestrian traffic on public roads
Pedestrians should always walk in the center of sidewalks , neither too close to the edge of the roadway to avoid collisions, nor too close to buildings in case there are access points to garages. They should also never walk on the curb or encroach on the roadway, except to cross it.
If there are no sidewalks or there is an obstacle and it is absolutely essential to cross that section, you will walk as close to the wall as possible and, if possible, facing the traffic, in order to see approaching vehicles head-on.
Young children should always be accompanied by adults, and special attention should be paid to the use of tricycles or bicycles, which should never be used on the road or when playing ball.
Likewise, animals should not be carried loose, as they can escape and pose a danger to other road users.
On urban roads
Pedestrians must cross at designated crossings, marked by traffic lights, or traffic officers . If none exist, they should choose the most visible areas, i.e., corners, and avoid crossings between parked vehicles.
Before crossing, you should look first to the left, then to the right, and finally to the left again.
At traffic lights, even when they are green, it is vital to ensure that drivers have realized they need to stop and wait for them to do so. You must also signal to drivers with your hand that you intend to cross.
If you intend to cross a roundabout or square, you will do so by going around it and never crossing it in the middle.
On roads outside of town
It is vitally important for pedestrians to exercise extreme caution when traveling on these types of roads, as increased vehicle speeds exponentially increase the risk of injuries in the event of a collision. Thus, a pedestrian has less than a 20% chance of dying if struck by a car traveling less than 50 km/h, but almost a 60% chance if struck at 80 km/h.
On these types of roads, pedestrians should walk on the left so they can see approaching vehicles head-on and detect risks in time and take appropriate measures.
You may only drive on the right if, due to any circumstance of the road or traffic, it is easier or safer to do so this way. Those pushing or pulling a two-wheeled bicycle or moped, handcarts, or similar devices, any group of pedestrians led by a person or forming a procession, and people in wheelchairs will also walk on the right.
Always drive on the shoulder . If there is no shoulder, drive on the road, as close to the edge as possible. Several people drive in single file.
Between sunset and sunrise, or in adverse weather conditions that significantly reduce visibility, pedestrians must wear some approved luminous or reflective equipment and should wear light-colored clothing to be as visible as possible to drivers. The DGT (Directorate General of Traffic) compares the difference that wearing reflective clothing or not wearing reflective clothing can make on the risk of being hit by a car:
The scenario conditions would be as follows: a vehicle with dipped headlights (halogen), artificial lighting on the road and dry asphalt.
- A pedestrian wearing dark clothing and without a vest: the visual range is less than 20 meters and at 40 km/h the driver would not be able to stop within his visual range.
- A pedestrian wearing light-colored clothing and without a vest: the visual range is less than 40 meters and at 65 km/h the driver would not be able to stop.
- A pedestrian wearing a vest: the visual range is more than 150 meters and at 100 km/h the driver could stop within his visual range.
On motorways and dual carriageways
Pedestrian traffic is prohibited on these types of roads.
Only in the event of an accident, breakdown, physical discomfort of its occupants or other emergency for which it is necessary to request assistance , the driver or another occupant may exit the vehicle, without the rest of the occupants being able to travel on the road.
Despite the restrictions on pedestrian traffic on motorways and dual carriageways, we still experience almost weekly accidents on these types of roads. Many of these accidents occur after an accident or breakdown, when the driver is exiting the vehicle to address the incident. In these cases, and especially in low visibility or heavy traffic, the use of a V16 warning light such as Help Flash is recommended , as it will allow the vehicle to signal to other drivers in a matter of seconds and at a distance of up to 1 km, increasing the safety of its occupants.
If you're interested in more information on this topic, you can consult the official documentation from the Directorate General of Traffic at the following link: http://www.dgt.es/PEVI/documentos/catalogo_recursos/didacticos/did_adultas/peatones.pdf or by accessing the DGT's Road Safety Education section.
