You Don't Know the Sun

The Sun:

The sun was shining bright late this afternoon when I was walking my dog. Walking back towards my house I noticed how bright the road ahead looked. The trees seemed to be lit up and I could see several deer crossing the street far ahead. What a wonderful bright picture the sun made as it was shining from the back of me and slowly lowering in the sky. During the early, to mid-morning hours the sun is also low but rising.

What wonderful times of the day to be out walking, BUT,
while the sun is at your back it's also shining in the windshield of the approaching cars, blinding or, at least, severely reducing the driver's vision; therefore, he may not see you . . . WHACK, YOU'RE DEAD.

Tip: If the approaching car is not moving away from you, you move away from it by stepping off of the travel portion of the road.

Note:  Some people recommend that you always walk with the sun facing you, even though you'll not be facing traffic.  I prefer, as recommended, that you always walk facing traffic.  It's your choice.  It's your safety.  (This is not an issue if there are sidewalks).

You Walk On The Wrong Side Of The Road

Persons walking on the travel portion of a roadway, must walk towards/facing oncoming traffic.  This, of course, is so you can see the oncoming cars and take proper steps to avoid being hit.  Whether the oncoming car should slow down or move into the other lane is a matter of supposition, and sometimes law.

But, if a pedestrian encounters, is struck by, a car, the pedestrian, which is you, will always lose;  therefore, it is incumbent upon youself to also look out for your well being.  As I've stated in another Post, there are 70,000 pedestrians hit by cars in the United States and 4,000 of them are killed every year.

When crossing a street, most pedestrians walk across diagonally instead of in a perpendicular route of travel.  Perpendicular travel is the shortest distance from one side to the other: straight across.  Diagonally is a straight line that's set at an angle from one side to the other.  By walking at an angle you remain on the roadway up to 35% longer, giving yourself a greater time to be hit by a car.

Whenever you're on foot, walking, you're a pedestrian.  People don't appreciate this and think that it only pertains to roadwaays.  You're also a pedestrian when walking in a parking lot and coming out of a store travesing a white-lined pedestrian zone.  Just because the crosswalk at an intersection or just outside the store is marked doesn't mean that a car can't hit you.  

Didn't your mother tell you to look both ways before crossing the street?  Well, you should also look both ways before stepping into a crosswalk, or stepping out into a parking lot when exiting a store.  While we're trying not to get hit by a car in a parking lot, one should observe the back lights on the cars, whether they're off, red, or white.  White means that the car is in reverse and ready to back up into you.

Another dangerous practice often engaged in by pedestrians is when they have earphones on and listening to music.  This prevents them from hearing the oncoming cars.  This practice is especially dangerous when walking on the wrong side of the road.

You're A Pedestrian And Don't Consider The Sun

The Sun:

The sun was shining bright late this afternoon when I was walking my dog. Walking back towards my house I noticed how bright the road ahead looked. The trees seemed to be lit up and I could see several deer crossing the street far ahead. 

What a wonderful bright picture the sun made as it was shining from the back of me and slowly lowering in the sky. During the early, to mid-morning hours the sun is also low but rising. What wonderful times of the day to be out walking, BUT,
 
While the sun is at your back it's also shining in the windshield of the approaching cars, blinding or, at least, severely reducing the driver's vision; therefore, he may not see you . . . WHACK, YOU'RE DEAD.

 Tip: If the approaching car is not moving away from you, you move away from it by stepping off of the travel portion of the road.

United States Statistics:  Seventy thousand are hit by cars every year with 4,000 of them being killed.

You Don't Follow Pedestrian Rules

No pedestrian shall walk along and upon a roadway where a sidewalk adjacent to such roadway is provided and the use thereof is practicable. Where a sidewalk is not provided each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk only on the shoulder thereof and as far as practicable from the edge of such roadway. Where neither a sidewalk nor a shoulder is provided each pedestrian walking along and upon such roadway shall walk as near as practicable to an outside edge of such roadway. (If you're walking abreast you're not walking near the outside edge). If such roadway carries motor vehicle traffic traveling in opposite directions each pedestrian shall walk only upon the left side of such roadway. (You're facing traffic).
A pedestrian crossing a roadway at any point other than within a crosswalk or any unmarked crosswalk shall yield the right of way to vehicles. If there is a tunnel or overhead pedestrian crossing vehicles have the right-of-way. (Use the pedestrian walkways). Forbidden to cross diagonally unless there is a pedestrian-control signal or a police officer. No pedestrian shall cross a roadway between adjacent intersections at which traffic or pedestrian-control signals are in operation except within a marked crosswalk. (Jaywalking). When in a crosswalk walk to the right half whenever possible. (This allows room for pedestrians crossing in the opposite direction).