As summer transitions to fall, students of all ages in Vermont will be heading back to school. This usually means more traffic of all types, including more people walking and bicycling. With efforts such as the Safe Routes to School program (http://saferoutes.vermont.gov/), there are more school-aged children choosing to walk or bike to school. Many schools incorporate bicycling and walking safety education into their curriculum. However, this is a good time of year to remind all road users – pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers – how to share Vermont’s road safely. .
Many fall mornings start out foggy, so pedestrians and bicyclists need to make themselves as visible as possible. Wear brightly colored clothes and incorporate some reflective material, such as vests, arm-bands or leg-bands, into your morning apparel. Bicyclists should use headlights and taillights to add to their visibility.
If you are walking and there are sidewalks, it is safest (and actually required by VT law) to use them. If you are walking on a road with no sidewalks, the safest (and legal) place to be walking is on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.
Other safe walking tips are:
· Don’t dash across the road, especially where drivers don’t expect you, for instance from a driveway or from between parked cars (see the table for how long it takes a car to stop at different speeds).
· Follow directions from crossing guards (if present) or pedestrian signals (flashing “Don’t Walk” means don’t start).
· Always look left, right, left again before crossing.
· Use marked crosswalks to cross safely.
Safe bicycling tips are:
· Always wear a helmet to protect your brain in case something happens.
· Follow all rules of the road (as if you were a car), especially stop lights and stop signs.
· Ride with traffic.
· Watch for turning vehicles at intersections and driveways.
· Ride predictably – don’t weave in and out of parking spaces or on and off of sidewalks.
· If you ride on a sidewalk, don’t assume you are safe. Be especially watchful around driveways and intersections.
· Use hand signals (simply point left or point right) to let other traffic know you plan to turn.
If you are driving:
· Never drive distracted – No handheld device use – it’s illegal and dangerous.
· Be especially watchful for pedestrians and bicyclists near schools and in designated school zones.
· Never pass school buses discharging students – stop when you see busses with flashing yellow or red lights.
· Give bicyclists adequate space when passing them – VT law recommends a minimum of 4 feet.
· Slow down! Drive at or below the speed limit, especially in congested areas.
