Look Both Ways

“Look both ways before you cross the street.”  This, along with the “golden rule” is one of the first rules I remember. I can still hear the concern and fear in my mother’s voice every time she said it. Luckily, I listened to her admonition, or just was lucky enough that no cars were passing by when I didn’t. Today, nearly 30 years later, I repeat the same refrain to my kids and have a much better understanding of the importance of obeying this simple rule. I shudder to think of what could happen if one of my kids ever forgets. It only takes one time to forever change, or end, a life.

Aside from the importance of listening to what our parents told us, did you know that there are actual laws regulating the conduct of pedestrians?  If you stop and think about it, of course you knew; we all know not to jaywalk and to only cross the street when the red hand turns to a green walking person. But there are other, much more specific laws, designed to keep us all safe. Many of these are unknown by most people and we can’t obey a law we don’t know about. Such lack of understanding creates an unnecessary danger not only to pedestrians, but to the motorists who must avoid them. Some of these laws are common sense, but even if you think you know them, it can’t hurt to review and make certain your understanding is correct—you’d be surprised at what you think you know. For example:

• Pedestrians must use sidewalks when they are available. If sidewalks are not available, pedestrians must walk on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic. RCW 46.61.250.

• No pedestrian or bicycle shall suddenly leave a curb and move into traffic so that the driver cannot stop. RCW 46.61.235.

• When crossing a roadway at any point other than within a marked crosswalk or within an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, pedestrians must yield the right of way to all vehicles upon the roadway. RCW 46.61.240.

Motorists, of course, are not free of responsibility to watch for pedestrians. Drivers must also follow and obey laws designed to protect people from harm:

• Drivers (and bicyclists) must yield to pedestrians on sidewalks and in crosswalks. RCW 46.61.261.

• Even though pedestrians have certain responsibilities, “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway.”  RCW 46.61.245.

• Vehicles must stop at intersections to allow pedestrians. and bicycles) to cross the road within a marked or unmarked crosswalk. RCW 46.61.235.

Common sense dictates that when these rules are not followed, the results are almost certain catastrophic injury. The past year our firm has represented more than a handful of pedestrians who were injured by people failing to follow these safety rules. Some incidents resulted in damages so severe and debilitating that even the multi-million dollar settlements we were able to obtain seemed but a drop in the bucket for them and their families.

Know the law. Follow it. Live to tell it. Tell it to your friends. Tell it to your kids. Tell it to your grandkids. Tell it ‘till they’re old enough to tell it.