the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The Village of Ridgewood, Ridgewood Board of Ed and the Federated HSA want to keep our students and all pedestrians safe.
Stop, Look and Wave, Be Safe, Be Seen is a campaign designed to keep everyone safe by reminding drivers and pedestrians to look out for each other at intersections. Please read and follow the tips below.
FOR PEDESTRIANS
STOP – Stop at the corner before you cross. Never cross midblock – it is always safer to cross at an intersection. Every intersection is a legal crosswalk, even if it is not painted.
LOOK – Put away any devices and look left, right and left again. Be sure to look behind you for any cars that might be approaching (75% of pedestrian crashes involve left turning vehicles). Listen for any sounds coming from vehicles that might not be in your view yet.
WAVE – make eye contact and wave at any drivers near the intersection. Wait for them to wave back or at least make eye contact before beginning to cross the street.
As you cross, continue to look left, right and left.
FOR DRIVERS
STOP/PAUSE – Every intersection is a legal crosswalk, even if it is not marked, so pause (or stop if there is a stop sign). Once a pedestrian steps into the intersection, they have the right of way.
LOOK – Look for pedestrians as you approach each corner. Be especially careful if you are turning left. Left turning drivers account for 75% of all pedestrian crashes. 5 MPH is a safe turning speed.
WAVE – Wave to pedestrians to acknowledge that you see them and will wait for them to cross. Proceed after making sure that no other pedestrians have entered the crosswalk.
BE SAFE BE SEEN
- Wear colorful, reflective clothing to be more visible to drivers
- Always walk on the sidewalk
- Watch for vehicles turning out of driveways and parking lots
Sponsored by the Ridgewood Federated HSA
