Ep 2: Walking Safely on the Road

There are two kinds of pedestrians... the quick and the dead. Thomas Dewar That might sound like a shocking quote to begin a podcast but it’s deadly serious and necessary. In 2021, there were nearly 7,500 pedestrian deaths in the United States, equivalent to roughly 20 deaths each day. Let me repeat that, in 2021, there were nearly 7,500 pedestrian deaths, equivalent to roughly 20 deaths each day. It's a major part of a growing problem which has seen a steadily increasing trend of pedestrian deaths. More and more, both drivers and pedestrians are distracted. It’s been well-documented that drivers are distracted by their devices leading to a rise in traffic crashes. Website: Walking for Health and Fitness Top 3 Causes of Pedestrian Deaths: The number one cause is speeding. The number two cause is failure to yield. Distractions are the number three cause of pedestrian fatalities.  As pedestrians, we have no control the first two factors. So, let’s focus and learn what we can do to avoid distractions on the roads to stay safe and put these safety practices into action. Taking precautions is a must when walking. Let’s face it, you most likely will be walking in your neighborhood and whether urban, suburban, or rural, a good deal of the time you will be walking on or very near a road.  Also, you may find yourself walking at night, or walking in un-crowded isolated areas. Fact: Nearly 70 percent of all pedestrian accidents happen at night. Don’t become a statistic! Before you head out on your next walk, put these 22 walking safety tips into practice. One of them may save your life. 22 Walking Safety Tips Walk Facing Traffic Be Seen Crossing Safely at Intersections is Your Responsibility Walk Single File on the Road When You are with a Partner Be “Boring” Walk Defensively Always carry Identification and Important Medical Information Don’t Walk Alone at Night Keep in Contact Be Alert Don’t Wear Lots of Jewelry or Carry Much Cash Beware of Strangers Protection Devices Keep Your Earbud Volume Down Avoid Distracted Walking If You Walk Your Dog Keep the Leash Short Be Aware of Sun Glare! Watch and Listen for Runners Watch and Listen for Bicyclists Know Your Walking Limits Program 911 into Your Cellphone Weather Considerations for Walking Summary: In this episode we covered Safety First! This is the most important consideration when you go out for a walk. You need to stay safe. As I talked about in the opening, taking precautions is a must when walking so let’s learn these 22 walking safety tips and begin putting them into practice. I’ll repeat myself, If you take away only two things from this episode it’s this: Always walk facing traffic. If you walk at night wear a reflective vest and carry a flashlight or headlamp. These two steps alone will greatly reduce pedestrian fatalities.   More Walking Information Links from this Episode: Free Downloads from this Episode: Walking Logbook Journal:  Weekly Insights 1, 2, & 3 Walking Inspiration Newsletter Get Out the Door Checklist Products of the Week: TCCFCCT Reflective Vest GOANDO Headlamp Rechargeable Learn My Core-Four Health and Fitness Principles:Walking for Health and Fitness Complete Program National Weather Service links to heat index and wind chill: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/heatindex.shtml https://www.weather.gov/epz/wxcalc_windchill Links to Frank's Walking Videos: In Case of Emergency Medical ID | Walking Tip of the Day How Much Water Should You Drink Every Day Benefits of Drinking Water Tips to Increase Your Water Intake Walking in Cold Weather Properly Dressed in Layers Other Links Mentioned in the Episode: My Virtual Walk Around the United States Mapitpedometer.com Google Earth Map My Walk - Website   Social Media Links for Walking for Health and Fitness: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walkingforhealthandfitnessprogram Your First Walking Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/yourfirstwalkingclub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkingforhealtha