Share the road
Share the road
By Dallas Hammit
State Engineer/Deputy Director for Transportation
Sharing the road needs to be a focus year-round, and right now, as many children head back to school, it’s the perfect time for all of us (motorists, pedestrians and cyclists) to review and improve our habits.
Luckily, there are a number of resources available offering guidelines and safety tips that illustrate how each of us can safely and legally share the road.
“Sharing the Road with Pedestrians” and “Share the Road” are both available on the ADOT website and each publication offers up a comprehensive look at how to be safer out on the road. The guides give rules for several different scenarios and also provide information on Arizona traffic laws.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School website includes good tips for walking to school safely – parents should review it and share it with their children. This article from the National Safety Council is another one that’s focused on back-to-school safety tips for motorists and students.
Last year in Arizona, there were more than 1,500 pedestrian-involved crashes and about 1,700 that involved cyclists. Combined, those crashes resulted in 185 fatalities and more than 2,500 people who were injured.
The statistics remind us just how crucial it is for everyone to do their part. To get those numbers down, we all need to pay attention, stay alert and share the road.