Melrose Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee Offers Tips on Safer Walking

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee, re-established by the City of Melrose in 2012 with support from Mayor Dolan, is working throughout Melrose to improve conditions for pedestrians and bicyclists and promote walking and bicycling as a viable, healthy, and fun means of transportation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in 2010, 4,280 pedestrians were killed and an estimated 70,000 were injured in traffic crashes in the United States. On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every eight minutes in traffic crashes.  

Almost three quarters of all pedestrian fatalities nationwide occurred in urban, rather than rural settings. Almost 90 percent of pedestrian fatalities occurred during normal weather conditions, but 70 percent occurred at nighttime.  In Massachusetts, according to NHTSA, 58 people died as a result of a pedestrian crash in 2010.

Now that the warm weather is upon us, there are more walkers and bicyclists in the city.  Road users, no matter what mode of travel, must share the roads safely and obey all traffic laws.

The Committee offers these tips to keep pedestrians safe:

• Drivers must yield the right of way to pedestrians crossing streets and need to be especially careful at intersections and when turning.
• Drivers should never drive distracted.  Pay full attention to the driving task.  Massachusetts has a texting while driving ban for adults and a handheld mobile device ban for all junior operators.
• Pedestrians should cross at marked crosswalks wherever possible and when the pedestrian walk sign is on.  Always stop and look to see if it is safe before crossing and never jaywalk.
• Pedestrians should not walk while texting or otherwise distracted by cell phones or audio players.  Wearing headphones can keep you from hearing vehicle horns.
• Make eye contact with the driver.  This is vitally important.  Sun glare can temporarily blind drivers.  If you see a sun flare on the driver's windshield, chances are they do not see you.   Wait until the vehicle is fully stopped before crossing.
• Be seen.  If walking after dark, carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing.
• Watch for cars backing out of driveways.

The Pedestrian and Bicycle Advisory Committee will continue to offer pedestrian and bicycle safety tips and welcomes input from the community.  Please visit http://www.cityofmelrose.org/Transportation.cfm or email melrosepedbike@gmail.com.