Lifestyle

10 Pedestrian Safety Tips That Could Save Your Life

Published

3 years ago

January 18, 2023

For the most part, walking is good for you. But there are times when it can be dangerous—specifically when walking near traffic.

Consider these sobering statistics published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

In 2020, there were 6,516 pedestrians killed in traffic crashes, the highest since 1990 and a 3.9% increase from 2019. On average, a pedestrian died every 81 minutes in 2020 — accounting for 17% of all traffic fatalities.

Why does this happen? Pedestrian traffic deaths have many causes, but according to NHTSA data from 2013, most occur in urban areas (73%), in non-intersection locations (69%), and when it’s dark (72%).

In this article, we’ll go over the best safety tips to help ensure you don’t get hurt as a pedestrian or hurt someone else as a driver.

Let’s get started!

When you’re walking …

Stay on the sidewalk

The sidewalk is one of the safest places to be as a pedestrian because it’s made specifically for walking. So use it as much as possible.

If no sidewalk is available, see if you can take an alternate route that has a walking path. Walking on the side of the road should be a last resort, but if you must do it, stay as far away from traffic as possible and walk facing it so that you can better see oncoming vehicles.

Use crosswalks

When it comes to crossing the street, use the crosswalk. Again, crosswalks are made for pedestrians. It’s where drivers will most expect to see you. So avoid jaywalking and wait until you get to a designated crosswalk (usually located along intersections and corners).

Before crossing, wait for the crosswalk light to turn green (if there is one). Then look both ways. Look left, then right, and then left again. Stay alert for traffic until you get to the other side of the street.

Put your phone away

It’s no secret that for many, phones have become a huge distraction. And that’s true for when people walk, too.

According to a study by New York’s Stony Brook University, participants were 61% more likely to veer off course when using their cell phone while walking and 13% more likely to overshoot a target placed a few meters away.

That means if you’re looking down at your phone while walking, you are more likely to accidentally walk into traffic or a parked car. So put the phone down and pay attention to where you are going.

Don’t walk drunk

Though you may be tempted to walk home drunk to avoid driving under the influence, don’t. Walking home drunk can be just as dangerous.

According to the NHTSA, in 2020, an estimated 47% of fatal pedestrian crashes involved a pedestrian who was drunk.

So instead of taking the risk of getting involved in an accident, get a cab or have a sober friend give you a ride home. It’s safer for you and other drivers.

Make yourself visible

One simple way to lower the risk of getting hit as a pedestrian is to make yourself more visible to drivers. You can do this by walking during the day, wearing bright or reflective clothing, or carrying a flashlight when it’s dark.

Whatever you do, don’t assume that drivers see you.

And if you ever get hit by a car as a pedestrian, hire an experienced car accident attorney. They can help you get the compensation you deserve for any injuries, lost income, and more.

When you’re driving …

Keep an eye out for pedestrians

Pedestrians can be hard to see, especially when it’s dark. So watch out for them.

Be especially cautious around neighborhoods and school zones, where children can sometimes dart out into the street unexpectedly. Stay alert and drive extra slowly.

Yield to crossing pedestrians

Anytime a pedestrian crosses the street, it’s your job to yield as a driver. They have right of way, not you.

For the same reason, you should never try to pass another vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. They may be yielding to a pedestrian that you can’t see from your angle.

Get rid of distractions

In 2020, 3,142 people were killed by distracted driving, and that includes pedestrians. Whether it’s texting, eating, drinking, or talking to other passengers, distractions can take your eyes off the road and increase the risk of an accident.

So give your full attention to the road. Everything else can wait.

Keep the speed limit

Speeding also increases the risk of a pedestrian accident.

According to the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA), the percentage of pedestrian fatalities involving speeding in 2020 rose to 8.6%, a notable increase from 7.2% the year before. The organization also notes that the average risk of death for pedestrians increases exponentially the faster a vehicle is traveling, from 10% at 23 MPH to 90% at 58 MPH.

Why? For one, speeding gives you less time to react to pedestrians on the road, so you are more likely to hit them. Secondly, speeding exponentially increases the impact of a crash, leading to more serious injuries or death in the event of an accident.

So keep the speed limit. It’s there for a reason.

Never drink and drive

Lastly, never drink and drive. It impairs your depth perception, your reaction time, and your ability to drive overall. In short, it’s a recipe for disaster.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of all the people who died in crashes involving alcohol-impaired drivers in 2020, 38% were passengers of the alcohol-impaired drivers, drivers or passengers of another vehicle, or nonoccupants (such as a pedestrian).

Driving drunk is extremely dangerous. That’s why it comes with serious legal consequences. It can lead to hefty fines (up to thousands of dollars), jail time (up to a year in some states), and losing your license.

Whether you are a driver or a pedestrian, make pedestrian safety a top priority. It could save your or someone else’s life.

Lifestyle

When the Body Speaks: How Maryna Bilousova Helps Clients Heal Beyond the Physical

Published

1 day ago

March 6, 2026

Michelle Langton

Our bodies hold onto what our minds try to forget until they speak up through tension, fatigue, or illness. It’s easy to overlook signs like tight shoulders, restlessness, or headaches. But often, these signals are connected to something deeper. Maryna Bilousova has built her work around helping people listen to what their bodies are really saying.

Like many of her clients, Maryna spent years in a high-stress environment, constantly pushing through. She knew how to perform, meet goals, and keep everything running. But peace was missing. Her body carried the weight of unspoken stress. That realization changed not only her life, it shaped how she supports others today as a transformation coach and subconscious pattern specialist.

Instead of focusing only on what’s visible, Maryna helps people look inward. She works with individuals who feel stuck in cycles they can’t explain, like burnout that does not go away or stress that feels out of proportion. Often, the root is not just a busy schedule. It’s emotional tension that’s been buried and ignored.

Looking Deeper Than Symptoms

Many people come to Maryna after trying traditional methods. They have done meditation apps, therapy sessions, or self-help routines. Still, something feels off. That’s where her work begins, not with fixing, but with listening.

She helps clients connect the dots between their physical symptoms and unresolved emotions. It’s not always about big trauma. Sometimes, it’s small moments that were never processed, guilt, grief, frustration, or shame. Over time, those emotions settle in the body.

Maryna recalls one client, a long-term cancer survivor, who returned years later with ovarian cysts. The physical fear was real, but so was the emotional weight she had been carrying from a past relationship full of betrayal and silence. Through their sessions, they uncovered and released that emotional residue. Weeks later, the cysts were gone. It was a reminder of how deeply the body can reflect our inner state.

Patterns That Keep Us Stuck

Maryna’s approach is not about chasing positivity or trying to fix everything at once. She focuses on patterns, how people speak to themselves, how they respond to stress, how they make decisions. Often, what feels like self-sabotage is actually an old belief playing out.

For example, someone who always avoids conflict might be carrying a belief that their needs don’t matter. Another who keeps overworking may feel that slowing down means they are falling behind. These beliefs often form early and show up in adulthood in ways that quietly run our lives.

Rather than offering surface-level solutions, Maryna holds space for clients to explore what’s really behind their choices. Her calm presence allows people to soften, reflect, and begin making changes that come from clarity, not pressure.

A Path Back to Yourself

The people Maryna works with are not looking for a quick fix. They want to feel lighter, clearer, and more like themselves again. Her clients often say that what changes is not just their mindset, it’s how they feel in their own skin. They start resting without guilt, setting boundaries without apology, and making choices that actually feel good.

Maryna believes that healing is not about doing more. It’s about slowing down enough to notice what your body and mind have been trying to say all along. When people start listening, they stop feeling like they have to fight themselves, and that’s when real change happens.

In a world that pushes us to ignore discomfort and keep going, Maryna offers something different: a place to pause, reflect, and reconnect. Because sometimes, healing does not start with doing, it starts with listening.