Summer is in full swing and I am headed outside every chance I get. With our long summer days, I spend a little longer out walking the dog in the evenings and my kids are constantly asking if we can get out and ride our bikes in the neighborhood or, better yet, on the local trails.
I admit, when I am driving home from work, I sometimes do not give much thought to road safety. Yes, I pay attention to the road, drive the speed limit, and slow down for playground zones, but otherwise I am just enjoying the warm sunshine filtering through my sunroof as I drive along, feeling safe and enclosed in my car.
When I'm walking the dog with a couple of children who are blissfully unaware of potential hazards, though, I find myself acutely aware of road safety. I keep an ear open for an approaching car and am checking each driveway to ensure there is no one about to back out. People who walk, jog, and ride their bikes are road users. Vulnerable road users. Even people who ride motorcycles are considered vulnerable because they do not have an enclosed vehicle for protection. In Northern Health, people who ride motorcycles and those who choose to walk are at the most risk for hospitalization or even death in the event of a crash with a vehicle.
I learned several interesting facts in the Provincial Medical Health Officer's report: Where the Rubber Meets the Road.
Did you know?
- A person walking has a 90% chance of surviving a crash with a car if the car is driving 30 km/hr.
- A person walking has a 20% chance of surviving a crash with a car if the car is driving 50 km/hr.
- Children who are struck by a car were most often not playing in the street and were usually struck mid-block.
- Older adults walking our roadways are the most vulnerable and have the highest rates of injury of all age groups.
Walking, cycling, and jogging along our northern roads is part of the reason we all love to live in the North. We love to get outside and enjoy the long summer days with our friends (and good old dogs!). All of us in our many roles as road users have a responsibility to keep our roadways safe.
Keep in mind
- Older adults may need a little more time than the crosswalk light provides.
- Playground speed limits save lives. Slow to 30 km/hr or slower between dawn and dusk.
- Families may be out walking so take the time to double check before backing down the driveway.
Together we can all have a fun and safe summer in the great outdoors!
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