Pedestrian Safety: Sharing the Road and Protecting Lives
When drivers fail to yield, pedestrians are often the ones who suffer the consequences. As intersections become busier and daylight hours get shorter in the fall and winter, drivers need to be especially alert and prepared to share the road safely.
Changing weather and reduced visibility can make pedestrians more difficult to see. In B.C., 42% of pedestrian-related crashes occur between October and January. Intersections are another major concern, accounting for approximately 79% of crashes involving pedestrians.
Whether it means putting away your phone, slowing down or yielding the right-of-way, every road user has a role in preventing pedestrian crashes and keeping B.C. roads safer.
If you are involved in a crash with a motor vehicle as a pedestrian, ICBC provides care and recovery benefits to help support your recovery.
Tips for Drivers
Stay Focused
Keep your attention on driving and put your phone away. Even a moment of distraction can prevent you from seeing a pedestrian in time.
Watch Carefully for Pedestrians
Be especially alert at intersections, crosswalks and transit stops. Before turning, check carefully for people who may be crossing.
Give Pedestrians Plenty of Space
When driving near or passing pedestrians, leave as much room as possible. Maintain at least:
- 0.5 metre where there is a separated and protected sidewalk
- 1 metre where the maximum speed limit is 50 km/h
- 1.5 metres where the speed limit is above 50 km/h
Slow Down
Reduce your speed whenever pedestrians are nearby. Lower speeds give you more time to react and can reduce the severity of injuries if a crash occurs.
Allow Extra Travel Time
Don’t rush because you’re running late. Plan ahead and give yourself enough time to deal with traffic, delays and unexpected situations. Arriving a little later is safer than making rushed decisions.
Get Your Vehicle Ready for Poor Weather
Before driving in fall and winter conditions, make sure your headlights work properly, your tires are correctly inflated, your windshield wipers are in good condition and you have enough windshield-washer fluid.
Tips for Safer Walking
Be Extra Careful at Intersections
Before crossing, watch for vehicles turning left or right. A driver may be concentrating on other traffic and fail to notice someone in the crosswalk.
Use Crosswalks and Follow Signals
Cross at designated crosswalks and obey pedestrian signals and traffic lights. Look around before stepping into the road and make sure approaching vehicles have stopped.
Make Eye Contact
During rain, snow, darkness, or other low-visibility conditions, pedestrians can be harder for drivers to see. Whenever possible, make eye contact with drivers—but never assume that a driver has noticed you.
Put Away Distractions
Take off your headphones and put your phone aside while crossing. Stay focused on your surroundings until you have safely reached the other side.
Be Visible
Wear reflective or high-visibility clothing or accessories, particularly during rain, snow, dusk, and nighttime. The easier you are to see, the more time drivers have to react.
Safety Starts With Everyone
Pedestrian safety is a shared responsibility. Drivers need to slow down, stay focused, and yield when required, while pedestrians should remain alert, use designated crossings, and make themselves visible.
At Drive With Ali, we believe safe driving goes beyond passing a road test. Understanding how to safely share the road with pedestrians is an essential skill every responsible driver should develop.
Stay alert. Slow down. Look twice. Help keep every journey safe.