The State Automobile Inspectorate reminds: mutual courtesy and attentiveness are the key to reducing road accidents!

According to the Traffic Regulations, pedestrians must move along sidewalks or pedestrian paths, and in their absence, along the shoulders, bicycle path, or in a single file along the edge of the roadway. Outside populated areas, when moving along the edge of the roadway, pedestrians must walk towards vehicles.

If a pedestrian is leading a bicycle, they must follow the direction of traffic. Crossing the roadway is no less a pressing issue. This should be done at a pedestrian crossing. In their absence, the roadway can be crossed at intersections along the line of sidewalks or shoulders. In places where traffic is regulated, to cross the roadway, one must be guided by the signals of a traffic controller or a pedestrian or traffic light. At unregulated pedestrian crossings, one can enter the roadway, after making sure that the crossing will be safe.

Visibility while driving is essential for the safety of those driving vehicles and pedestrians. Many accidents occur because road users enter the field of vision late or do not notice each other. Very often, in reality, a driver notices a pedestrian on the roadway from a distance of no more than 25 - 30 m, and even at a speed of 50 km/h, the stopping distance of a car exceeds this distance. In the evening and at night, when streets and yards are poorly lit, drivers notice a pedestrian with reflective elements from a significantly greater distance. If the car is moving with low beam headlights, the distance increases from 25-40 meters to 130-140. If with high beam, the distance increases to 400 meters. This will give the driver additional time to make the most correct decision to avoid a possible collision with a pedestrian road user (thereby reducing the risk of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian by 85%). The braking distance of a car moving at a speed of 80-90 km/h is 35-40 m. Since a person is constantly moving, light rays do not fall directly on them (like on a bicycle), but at different angles. The special filling of reflectors allows light to be reflected in the same direction from which it falls. A reflective element will always be visible.

The State Automobile Inspectorate also reminds that clause 116 of the Traffic Regulations obliges drivers, when approaching an unregulated pedestrian crossing, to reduce their speed, up to stopping the vehicle, to give way to a pedestrian. As for regulated pedestrian crossings, drivers should be guided by traffic light signals and not violate the Traffic Regulations.

Alexander Orekhov, Head of the State Automobile Inspectorate of the District Executive Committee's Internal Affairs Department