| Show Pedestrian Invisibility Major l Factor in Traffic Accidents Driver Honestly Officer I didn't didn't didn't did did- nt see ste him until he was rl right ht under under under un un- un- un der my wheels Walker Walk r The mans man's crazy Officer Officer Of Of- ricer I could have read a newspaper by the light from his head headlamps lamps a e In all parts of the country night after night conversations like this are overheard And strangely enough enough en en- ough the drivers and pedestrians are both telling the truth No single factor contributes more to 10 the traffic accident than the pe- pe invisibility at night NoMe Noone No Noone one Me would save sa more lives in traffic than a solution solution solution tion of this insidious problem Official reports indicate that COper CO 60 COper per cent of all traffic fatalities occur occur oc occur oc- oc cur during the hours of darkness when there is ls but 25 per cent of traffic on the roads Where pedestrian pedestrian pede trian Irian deaths only are concerned the record is even more striking In many cities clUes and In some states stales as many as four out of five rive pedestrian pedestrian pedestrian trian fatalities are occurring durIng during during dur dur- ing the hours of darkness when traffic is relatively light The reason for this excessive death toll toU at night Is manifold Both Bolh drivers and walkers are less alert at the end of the day There Is more drunken driving and drunken walkIng walkIng walkIng walk- walk Ing at nt night There la fa often less polIce police pollee pol pol- ice lee protection during the hours of darkness But above all these stands the immutable fact that drivers simply do not see pedestrians soon enough to avoid hitting hitting- them The fault lies sometimes with the driver er just as often orten with the walker Few pedestrians and especially those who do not know how to drive realize how difficult it Is for approaching ap ap- approaching drivers to see them during durIng during dur dur- ing dusk and darkness If Ie the walker walk walk- er is ls wearing dark clothing less than five per cent of the light which falls on him Is reflected back to the drivers driver's eyes Rain wet pavements and glaring headlights may help to divert the drivers driver's at- at t- t Little LIlUe wonder then that headlights strong enough to all but blind the pedestrian may not even make him visible to the driver Adequate street lights and highway highway highway high high- way lighting will some day rescue the pedestrian from this ment Until that happy time comes drivers and walkers must collaborate collaborate collaborate rate on a program to help each other DRIVERS Remember that feW pedestrians realize how compari- compari invisible they are at nt night and let your driving compensate for this fast fact Double your caution at nightfall Triple your caution on unlighted residental streets Quadruple Quadruple Quadruple Quad Quad- ruple your caution in bad weather Keep your windshield clean Check your windshield wiper frequently Keep your headlights at top efficiency ef ef- ef PEDESTRIANS Never depend upon the drivers driver's ability to see you youat youat youat at night Wear something white carry something white or carry a aUght light On rural roads walk facing the oncoming traffic Cross the streets only at controlled intersections intersections inter inter- sections when possible Take ad advantage advantage advantage ad- ad vantage of all protective devices such as underpasses pedestrian lanes and foot paths which have been provided to help you Learn to Judge the speed of an approaching car Remember that absentmindedness is an important cause of pedestrian deaths and keep your our mind on safe walking |
