Taslim Ahammad :
Pedestrians make up all groups of road users, simply because all are pedestrians at some point, whether walking for fitness or leisure, going to work, heading to school, the local shops, walking to access public transport or elsewhere. Everyone has responsibilities and rights when it comes to road safety, hence, pedestrian should familiarize with rights and responsibilities.
In general speaking, a pedestrian is considered any person afoot. Conversely, it also considers other people pedestrians as well, such as, persons pushing or pulling a handcart as well as persons on roller-skates, coasters, or scooters. All of these activities are considered foot traffic. Some others consider anyone engaged in anything other than foot traffic not to be pedestrians, such as, roadside workers and individuals attending to a disabled vehicle.
It is important that people understand the description of a pedestrian specific to the country so people are aware of the parameters of the term. Depending on the activity they engaged in, people may think who is a pedestrian when, in fact, both fall into a different category.
Pedestrian rights and duties vary from country to country and even from locale to locale. That is why it is important to look up and know the rights and responsibilities specific to the particular area. Knowing these will help people determine how to respond in certain situations.
In general, a pedestrian has the rights to travel along any public road with responsibilities. Also, unless otherwise stated in statutes or printed road signs, pedestrian rights include the freedom to travel along a highway as well. Many jurisdictions, however, have laws in place to prevent pedestrians from doing so, or require them to walk on the extreme left side of the road facing traffic. However, pedestrian rights usually only include legal and physical protections in crosswalks. In crosswalks, drivers are required to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians. Ideally, pedestrians should always use crosswalks, as crosswalks are the safest areas of crossing. Most importantly, crossing outside a crosswalk or foot bridge is unsafe; in many places it is legal as well. However, drivers are required to stop and remain stopped for pedestrians in crosswalks and turning vehicles are required to stop for pedestrians, even on green lights.
Safety tips for pedestrian: (i) Pedestrians must look both ways before undertaking a street crossing and do so several (ii) Pedestrians are held to a higher degree of care than if they are crossing in an area other than a crosswalk or intersection (iii) Pedestrians must exercise due care under the circumstances (iv) On streets without sidewalks, walk facing traffic. Cars cannot avoid you if they can’t see you (v) If walking after dark, wear light coloured (vi) Or reflective clothing. It is wise to carry a flashlight as well (vii) Walk on sidewalks whenever possible (viii) Pay attention and all senses should be active when attempting to cross a road or when walking near traffic. Avoid talking on cell phones, listening to music or texting while walking in the road or crossing streets. (ix) Push the walk button, if available. You may have spent time wondering whether these buttons actually do anything, in fact, they do. Pushing these buttons activates pedestrian signals and increases the amount of crosswalk time (x) Reject alcohol or drugs, as these can impede your ability to walk safely (xi) Pedestrian must use foot-over-bridge wherever available.
Last but not least, to avoid personal injury or even death from a collision with vehicle traffic on a roadway, all pedestrians should follow the three-part adage our elders taught us when crossing the street: (1) Stop (2) Look and (3) Listen. In addition, if vehicles are oncoming, be sure to make eye contact with the driver of the vehicle in whose path you are crossing. Such action could not only save pedestrians’ months of recovery time, pain and financial losses, it could also save pedestrians’ life. Remember and it is crucial that our roads are a shared zone and to ensure the safety of all road-users, we must respect and adhere to the rules and responsibilities.
(Taslim Ahammad, Assistant Professor, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj, Bangladesh)
