Preventing pedestrian crashes is easy if we all use common sense. The Office of Highway Safety is helping to educate the public about safe walking practices through its Walk Smart campaign. It involves a combination of enforcement and public awareness activities. However, OHS officials say the public awareness component is what will truly drive the success of this effort.

Billboards asking motorists to “Give Pedestrians a Brake” are being placed in New Castle and Sussex Counties along high crash corridors such as Routes 40, 13 and 113. Signage can be seen on city and county DART busses ask pedestrians to make sure they are visible to motorists. In addition, OHS will be distributing posters with safe walking tips to businesses and reflective blinking lights to those who walk and jog in low light conditions to the public.

The following police agencies who have identified high pedestrian crash areas within their jurisdiction will be conducting additional enforcement of pedestrian traffic safety laws: Delaware State Police, Dover Police, Millsboro Police, Newark Police and Seaford Police. Enforcement will continue through September and both pedestrians and motorists may be cited for violating state laws. Most violations involve a base fine of $25.00 but additional court costs can result in a total fine of nearly $70.00. Officers will also be provided with blinking lights and brochures to distribute to the public.

Did you know that in Delaware the average age range of pedestrians killed is between 20 and 54?  Did you also know that five times as many of the state's pedestrian injuries and twice as many of the state's pedestrian fatalities occur in New Castle County as opposed to Sussex County at the beaches as many may think. There are several primary factors in our state's pedestrian deaths, including:

• pedestrian crossing outside of crosswalks
• pedestrian crossing the road at night wearing dark clothing
• pedestrian walking in the roadway
• alcohol use on the part of the pedestrian

But motorists also have a responsibility to share the road safely and be on the lookout for pedestrians.

Know the following pedestrian laws and tips:

• It’s illegal to walk under the influence of alcohol and or drugs
• It’s also illegal to hitchhike
• Motorists must yield the right of way to pedestrians in crosswalks
• Motorists should actively look for pedestrians in neighborhoods, intense urban areas and the beach towns
• Pedestrians must cross at intersections when possible – and if they’re crossing outside of an intersection, they must yield the right-of-way to motorists
• If you can’t walk on a sidewalk, you must walk facing traffic…and walk as far off the edge as possible
• When walking at night you must carry a flashlight or other reflective item

Pedestrian injuries tend to occur to younger children ages 5 – 19. Motorists in neighborhoods should be on the lookout for kids who might dart out mid block or dart out to get balls or other items without paying attention. Parents should not allow children to cross the street on their own until they’ve practiced the basics with them hundreds of times Kids should stop at the edge of the curb or any object in the roadway (like a car) and look left, right, and left again before crossing Once you start crossing the street, keep looking from side to side until you’ve made it across safely Never blindly run out into the road