LAKEWOOD, Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 -- In an effort to save lives, the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds motorists to watch for pedestrians during National Pedestrian Safety Month.
The awareness month is from Oct. 1 to 31, a time when Coloradans traditionally spend time outdoors, especially when celebrating Halloween by trick-or-treating.
When driving remember these eight safety tips:
- Be on the lookout for pedestrians at all times.
- Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions, such as nighttime or bad weather.
- Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or entering a crosswalk
- Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back from the crosswalk to give other vehicles an opportunity to see the pedestrian crossing so they can stop too.
- Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where you can’t see.
- Never drive under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
- Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, in school zones and in neighborhoods where children are present.
- Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.
In 2020, more than 6,500 pedestrians were killed in traffic collisions in the U.S. with over half of the deaths occurring during low-light hours, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
In Colorado, the state has seen a steady increase in pedestrian fatalities with 2020 having the highest number of pedestrian fatalities — 93 pedestrians which accounts for 15% of all traffic-related fatalities according to a Colorado Department of Transportation report.