Staying safe on our roads

Last week, an 85-year-old man died after being struck by a truck while attempting to cross a four-lane highway in Conception Bay South.

According to media reports, the man had purchased some goods at a convenience store around 7 p.m. and was on his way back home to a nearby seniors' residence - and the collision occurred roughly 20 m away from a pedestrian-activated crosswalk. It was said roads were wet at the time and the man was wearing dark clothing. By the end of the week, police said they didn't expect to lay any charges regarding the accident.

If nothing else, pedestrians and drivers should take away a few lessons from this tragic accident. In addition, the Georgian crew has seen some near-unfortunate mishaps in and around the Bay St. George area, so we thought it a good idea to find some safety tips people could keep in mind while utilizing roadways at home and elsewhere.

While the Georgian couldn't find a list of safety tips on the province's Department of Transportation and Works website, we did find a set of directives for both pedestrians and drivers on the Ontario Ministry of Transport web page.

As a pedestrian, here are some things to keep in mind:

Wear bright or light-coloured clothing or reflective strips, when walking in dusk or darkness;

Cross at marked crosswalks or traffic lights - not in the middle of the road or between parked cars;

Make sure drivers see you before you cross the road;

Cross when traffic has come to a complete stop;

At a traffic light, cross at the beginning of a green light. Do not cross once the Don't Walk sign begins to flash or once the light has turned to yellow. Never cross on a red light;

Watch for traffic turning at intersections or entering and leaving driveways.

Motorists should keep these things in mind:

Be patient, especially with older pedestrians and others who need more time to cross the road;

Always look for pedestrians, especially when turning;

Stay alert and slow down on residential streets and through school zones;

Drive within the posted speed limit.

In addition, the Ministry's website says parents and caregivers should teach their children the proper techniques for crossing a roadway, staying alert at all times, and stressing the importance of sidewalks or walking as far away as possible from the travelled parts of the road.

Accidents are by their very nature unexpected. But by keeping our thoughts clear and being alert, we can do our best to avoid any unwanted incidents on our roadways.