Today marks the beginning of Injury Prevention Week, a campaign ran by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers (APIL). The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness and work towards reforming and improving the law for victims of personal injury and road traffic collisions.
The focus for the campaign this year is on road safety for pedestrians, particularly in anticipation for children going back to school in September.
How to lower the risk: As a pedestrian
As a pedestrian, there are ways to minimise the risk of accidents to avoid or reduce potential hazards and risk of injury. For example, as a pedestrian, you should make sure to:
- Be aware of your surroundings, watch out for vehicles and cyclists, and be aware of the signs of reversing vehicles;
- Avoid wearing headphones, earphones or using your phone when using the pavement or crossing the road, as being distracted by your phone or music will reduce your awareness of any incoming or potential hazards;
- Avoid walking on roads by using the pavements and walkways provided;
- Cross the road when permitted by adhering to crossing light systems;
- Do not be a distraction to vehicles and other road users;
- Wear reflective clothing when walking in the dark to increase your visibility to road users.
It is so important to teach children road safety from an early age to ensure that they are also aware of the above points to avoid risk of accidents and injuries.
How to lower the risks: As a driver or cyclist
As a driver or cyclist, there are many ways of being cautious and minimising risks by driving safely and being aware of risks to pedestrians. For example, as a driver or cyclist, you should:
- Be extra cautious when driving through areas where there are schools and children crossing;
- Check for pedestrians around your vehicle when exiting an area or reversing;
- Adhere to the legal speed limits;
- Make sure your car is safe to drive and has passed its MOT;
- Use your headlights in the dark and be aware of pedestrians when visibility is reduced due to weather conditions or unlit areas;
- Make sure that everyone in the vehicle is wearing a seatbelt;
- Do not drive under the influence of alcohol;
- Do not use your phone when operating a vehicle;
- Do not drive when you are overtired and make sure you take regular breaks on long journeys;
- Keep a safe stopping distance between you and the vehicle in front of you.
How can we help?
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident as a pedestrian, driver or cyclist, we are here to help you.
We have a dedicated and specialist team who help clients every day to claim compensation following a road traffic accident in order to get the help and support that they deserve.
Please call us for an initial no-obligation chat to see if you have a claim on 01244 312 306.
You can also find out instantly what your claim is worth by using our website’s Claim Calculator.
