Slow Down and Be Alert

By Ryan Booth, Mobility Manager at Rock County Council on Aging

This article was originally published on LinkedIn by Ryan Booth.

Yesterday I had a hard time at work after hearing sad news being reported in Rock County. The morning news I heard was that a young pedestrian was hit by a motor vehicle in Janesville. A few hours later I learned that another pedestrian was struck and killed in Evansville. Two pedestrians struck by motor vehicles in Rock County in a single day is shocking. As I sit here today, I wonder how many pedestrians were struck in the month of September in Wisconsin. Lastly I ask myself, what can I do as a Mobility Manager?

Earlier this year I worked with the Janesville Police Department and Lamar Advertising to create and distribute a brochure in Rock County about “Pedestrian Right of Way” and Wisconsin’s state statutes on the topic. This brochure covers the following:

·       Crossing controlled intersections or crosswalks

·       Crossing at uncontrolled intersections or crosswalks

·       Crossing at places other than a crosswalk

·       Blind pedestrians on highways

Information on the above, and more, can be found on the Council on Aging website at http://www.co.rock.wi.us/mobilitymanagement.

In closing, I would like to share a few safe driving tips:

·       Watch for pedestrians and cyclists––stop and allow pedestrians to safely cross the road, and give cyclists extra room

·       Be alert and aware of your surroundings, especially when you are not familiar with the area in which you are driving

·       Things we do without giving much thought to (e.g., playing the radio and conversations with passengers) can lead to distracted driving––pay attention to the road

·       Avoid talking on your cell phone or texting when driving––the conversation can wait until you reach your destination

Image by John Pastor, Flickr, CC