Pedestrians
As a pedestrian, there are many things you can do to help look after yourself and your families as road users.
The Highway Code isn’t just for cars, there are lots of things in there that can also help pedestrians. The changes to the Highway Code made in January 2022 are designed to put pedestrians at the top of the road user hierarchy; to make it safer for people not in vehicles.
Is your Highway code knowledge up to date?
Watch this short video from the road safety charity, Brake.
Checklist for pedestrians
- Wear light, bright clothing. Particularly reflective items in the dark or poor weather conditions. Think about this for your family and pets too.
- Choose a safe place to cross, use pedestrian crossings where available, don’t cross between parked vehicles, or where visibility of traffic is poor.
- Wait for vehicles to stop before starting to cross the road.
- Walk straight across the road, not diagonally.
- Use the footpaths wherever possible.
- If there are no footpaths available, remember to walk in the direction of oncoming traffic.
- Remember alcohol and drugs, including prescription drugs, can impair your ability to walk. Take extra precaution when under the influence.
- Distractions can be hazardous when walking, put your phone away, and put your volume on low in in your headphones, to help you listen out for vehicles.
- Look out for road signs, these aren’t just for drivers, and can help pedestrians, too. Think about signs for shared facilities with pedestrian and cyclists.
- If you can hear or see an emergency vehicle, do not attempt to cross a road, even if you are at a pedestrian crossing with a green man. Emergency vehicles can go through red lights when on an emergency call.
- Be aware of vehicles which may be reversing, look for white reversing lights, or audible warnings, wait for them to reverse safely, before crossing.
- A flashing green man at a pelican crossing means do not start to cross.
- If you are walking with children, you can find lots of tips in our Parents and Children’s page.
Mobility Scooters
NTU See and Scoot training highlights the hazards which mobility scooter users may encounter whilst out on the roads. It was developed by the Transport Research in Psychology group at Nottingham Trent University as part of a two-year research grant from the Road Safety Trust.
The 20-minute video should be useful for both new and existing users.