In a recent pedestrian accident in Tamarac, a pedestrian was killed while trying to cross one of the busiest roads in the area.
The tragedy occurred when the Florida man walked into the southbound lanes of the Florida Turnpike, according to the Sun Sentinel. Florida Highway Patrol officials are saying that it happened just before 10:00 a.m. near the exit of Commercial Boulevard.
Because of the accident, three southbound lanes of that part of the Turnpike were closed.
Our Tamarac pedestrian accident lawyers understand the risks that pedestrians face. Our two-footed travelers are vulnerable when walking in our South Florida area. As a matter of fact, the state and our area of it serve as one of the most dangerous areas in the country for these kinds of accidents. Pedestrians are asked to be cautious when walking near vehicular traffic. They’re also asked to stay away and off of the Turnpike as well as other popular roadways. These kinds of accidents can be avoided with responsible travel habits. Consider following the tips below to help to make your on-foot travel a little bit safer.
To help to keep pedestrians safe, Broward County officials offer the following safety tips:
-Try to stay along roadways where sidewalks can be found. Avoid walking along the portion of a roadway paved for motor vehicle traffic.
-If there is no sidewalk available, be sure to walk on the side of the road facing traffic.
-No pedestrian should walk upon a limited access facility (freeway or interstate highway) or a ramp connecting a limited access facility to any other street or highway, as stated by Florida law.
-When walking during the evening, be sure to steer clear of vehicular traffic. During this time you always want to wear brightly-colored clothing to help motorists to see you more easily. Consider adhering reflective tape to your clothing or carrying a flashlight to increase visibility.
-Avoid wearing headphones, listening to music, talking on a cell phone and text messaging. Just as distracted driving is dangerous on our roadways, so is distracted walking.
-Try to cross the street at intersections.
-Make eye contact with drivers before attempting to cross the road to help to make sure that they see you.
-Avoid drinking or taking drugs. These substances can impair your ability to walk safely, just like they do a person’s ability to drive.
Unfortunately, pedestrians are oftentimes overlooked on our roadways. All in all, we ask pedestrians to make their moves as predictable as possible and to make themselves as visible as possible. We can’t always rely on other travelers responsible habits to keep us safe. We’ve got to be proactive travelers ourselves and work to make our roadways safe for everyone.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a pedestrian accident in Tamarac, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach or elsewhere in the surrounding areas, the South Florida personal injury lawyers at Freeman & Mallard are here to help you to understand your rights. Call today to set up a free and confidential review of your case. Call us at Call 1-800-561-7777.
More Blog Entries:
Pedestrian Accidents in Fort Lauderdale Increasingly Likely for Elderly Residents, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 6, 2012
Accident in Fort Lauderdale Kills Expectant Mother and Unborn Child, South Florida Injury Lawyers Blog, March 28, 2012