A Pedestrian’s Perspective: How Being Mindful of Pedestrians Saves Drivers

Being a pedestrian is no easy task. There’s a whole slew of reasons as to why walking is entirely impractical. First of all, you’re at the mercy of the elements. Rain, snow, and wind can all transform a peaceful walk into a rush to get back home. Second of all, it obviously takes longer, and it certainly exerts more effort. A five minute drive can easily become a fifteen minute walk, and if it’s over rough terrain, add a couple (or ten) extra minutes to that walk. Finally, you’ve got to deal with the laws of the road. Making sure to walk on the sidewalks, or as close to the side of the road as possible, looking both ways, and being observant of crossing times is all important to being a safe pedestrian.

Doing all this still doesn’t keep pedestrians safe, though. That final responsibility revolves around drivers. Every year in America, over 34,000 people die as a result of driving. Each year, over 7,000 of those deaths involve pedestrians as well. But what can drivers learn from pedestrians? What can drivers learn from those outside of a car when it comes to keeping themselves, and others on the road, safe?

First of all, driving education is incredibly important. Making sure all future drivers attend driver’s education is the foundation to saving lives on the road. Arguably, driver’s education should be mandatory. In fact, bringing it back in the form of a class in secondary education would both increase the amount of students learning to drive, and also teach them in a much safer environment. Plus, if it was in a class format, students would be much more willing to work alongside their peers when it came to driving education. They would be more willing to learn.

Driver’s education is obviously an important part of driving safety, but what about other aspects to keeping people safe on the roads? Well, it’s mindfulness. Mindfulness to the fact that you are not the only person driving on the road, or even out and about in general. It’s also mindfulness to remind you to keep yourself safe. After all, all drivers have someone who cares about them. Be it a parent, significant other, friend, or even a pet, there is always someone waiting for a driver to return home safely from a trip out on the roads. And that applies for every other driver out on the roads. That semi-truck driver? She’s going home to her kids. That tractor driver? He’s coming home to his wife after a long day out in the fields. That college kid in the tiny Volkswagen Beetle? They’re returning home after a long semester at school, and they can’t wait to see their dog again. Keeping this in mind, it creates a humbling sense of awareness of the environment around the driver. Every other driver wants to get home, and they want to get home safe. By being mindful, drivers remember they aren’t the only people on the road. This also helps prevent road rage, which is a shockingly common contributor to car crashes.

But where do the aforementioned pedestrians come into play? They’re not on the road, so why worry about them? Well, pedestrians have a lot to teach drivers. I would know, because I am an avid pedestrian. Going for walks is just calming and peaceful to me, and no matter the factors like weather or terrain, I can be spotted walking around my town on any given day. There is always something to be concerned about when I am walking, though, and that’s the safety of the drivers around me.

I don’t like driving. Frankly, it gives me anxiety. But through my experience being an avid pedestrian, I become a better driver. I become safer on the roads when I see people walking out and about, because I know they’re trying to get home. Maybe they’re just out for a walk, or maybe they don’t have a mode of transportation as easily available as I do. Also, I take into mind that they aren’t in an enclosed car, with so many factors that contribute to my comfort on the roads. Again, they’re exposed to the elements and all sorts of difficult terrain. Also, I keep in mind that they are pedestrians constantly coming in contact with massive machines that could easily kill them. Yet, pedestrians still continue, and they’re some of the most mindful people on the roads.

When you’re on the roads, and you see someone walking, take a lesson from them. If pedestrians have to be mindful on the roads, so should drivers. All drivers should keep in mind that they really aren’t the only ones out on the roads, and that at the end of the day, everyone is just trying to get home safe. That’s how to keep yourself safe on the roads.