Exploring City Streets: Top Tips for Staying Safe on Foot

A long walk around a major city can be a great way to see the sights, and to benefit from a low-impact workout. But getting the best from your travels on foot means taking a few precautions. Specifically, there are a few tips that pedestrians would do well to bear in mind. 

Understand Pedestrian Rights and Responsibilities

There are a number of laws governing the conduct of pedestrians in the UK. These are designed to keep you safe – mostly from road users and their vehicles. The best advice is to be found in the Highway Code. The first rule indicates that pavements should always be used where they are provided.

Stay Alert and Minimise Distractions

When you’re walking, it’s easy to put a pair of headphones in and listen to your favourite music, podcasts or audiobooks. However, this isn’t always the safest thing to do. When you’re immersed in a gripping narrative or drum break, you might not be fully aware of your surroundings. This can be disastrous at busy intersections. This danger is especially pressing if you’re using noise-cancelling headphones.

While you might baulk at the idea of walking around a city in silence, you might be surprised at the experience of doing so. When you aren’t listening to input from other people, including musicians and podcasters, you might feel more free to reflect on your own thoughts and feelings. That is part of what going on a long walk is all about.

Choose Safe Routes and Use Designated Crossings

Plotting the safest route through a city is essential, especially if you’re unfamiliar with it. This tends to mean sticking to well-lit areas with plenty of other people around, and using proper crossings where such crossings are available. 

It’s worth bearing in mind that different countries have different rules and conventions when it comes to pedestrian crossings. Make sure that you’re aware of them.

If you are involved in an accident, it’s important that you can demonstrate that you didn’t take any risks. For example, the driver of the car that hits you can be held accountable if they run a red light, but probably not if you walk out into the middle of a highway. Knowing your rights and responsibilities, and getting the right legal representation, might give you a better chance of extracting the compensation you need. 

Be Cautious of Emerging Vehicle Technologies

Many modern cities are protected by clean air rules. This is good news for levels of air and noise pollution. However, there’s a disadvantage for pedestrians, in that oncoming vehicles might be more difficult to hear. Recent studies confirm the fact: electric vehicles are more dangerous to pedestrians.