Tips For Spotting Pedestrians in Tricky Places

Playing “eye-spy” is a game played by many people as they continue along during a road trip, but when it comes to driving safely in general, it’s become more like a necessity in today’s world. It’s a skill that is needed when referring to safe driving practices. It takes effort from drivers to keep themselves safe on the road and help keep cyclists and pedestrians safe.

Learning how to constantly move your eyes 360 degrees to help spot absolute problems and potential problems can be used just about anywhere that you’re driving. It’s recommended to use this technique at intersections before making a turn, especially while waiting before making the turn to ensure the maneuver can be done safely.

Making Left Turn

While waiting to make a left turn in most jurisdictions, your vehicle is often far enough forward at the intersection that pedestrians and cyclists may suddenly appear in the crosswalk slightly behind your peripheral vision just before you complete the turn. While waiting for a gap in the traffic that you’re able to drive through, most drivers will tend to focus their attention on the oncoming traffic, looking for that gap. It makes sense since the only reason they’re waiting is to look for that gap to drive through, right? Not exactly.

Pay Attention To Sidewalk

While your attention is up the road toward oncoming traffic, it can be very easy for a pedestrian or cyclist to come up behind you along the sidewalk from your left. You may not see them if you’re not looking for them and as you make that turn they could step directly into your path. Remember, you never find what you’re not looking for.

The “A” Pillar

Pedestrians can easily hide in the “A” pillar as they walk through crosswalks. The “A” pillar is the pillar or post that separates the windshield from the driver’s door and the front passenger door. Drivers who spend more time looking ahead and not regularly checking the crosswalk to their left can miss seeing these pedestrians as they approach behind the “A” pillar area. The “A” pillar is wide enough to block the view of a pedestrian if you happen to look in that direction at the specific time the pedestrian happens to walk in that area.

Make Sure the Path is Clear

As a driver, it’s your responsibility to ensure the intended path is clear before making any turn. This also includes checking for anyone who happens to be in the crosswalk. Many drivers will often begin the left turn, only to stop partially across the road because a pedestrian or cyclist was crossing directly in their path. Keep in mind that the pedestrians had the “walk” symbol and were doing what they were allowed to do. Also keep in mind that some pedestrians and cyclists are not drivers and therefore will not think like drivers. You need to take on that responsibility and watch out for them since they will not always watch out for you.

The more you gain driving experience the more you can learn how to anticipate the actions of pedestrians and cyclists as they approach the crosswalk and intersection. As you approach the intersection, look for pedestrians and cyclists in all directions that may be approaching that area so you can anticipate if they will be in your path as you prepare to make the turn.

Avoid Peer Pressure

Keep in mind that as you wait for pedestrians who may be crossing the road, the drivers directly behind you may not see them and therefore sound their horn to get you moving. Do your best to avoid the peer pressure coming from them to get you moving along. If you begin the turn, only having to stop before the crosswalk, you would leave your vehicle in the path of an approaching vehicle and could cause a high risk of collision. Not everyone looks for pedestrians and if you are a regular pedestrian, you know this type of risk as a fact.

Poor Visibility Conditions

Once you add poor visibility conditions, such as nighttime to the mix, it can become very difficult for drivers to spot pedestrians in or near the crosswalk. Many pedestrians feel that if they can see the driver then the driver can see them. That’s not always the case, especially if the intersection is very poorly lit and the pedestrian is wearing dark clothing.

At Night

It can be difficult to spot pedestrians in or near the crosswalk at night if they are stationary. Once they begin to move, it can become easier to spot them. To help you with this, keep scanning the intersection you are approaching to look for pedestrians who may be at the corner waiting to cross the road. Dark clothing at a poorly lit intersection can make it tough, but once you see any type of movement, the pedestrian can become easier to spot and you’ll be able to respond to them early.

Check Your Outside Mirror

Although we’ve been discussing when you’ll be turning left, pedestrians can also be hidden in the “A” pillar when you’re making a right turn as well. Before making any turn, it would be a good idea to check your outside mirror and then your blind spot to look for any pedestrians approaching. The difficult part of turning right is that pedestrians are much closer to your vehicle and could be hit immediately if you’re not careful. This is particularly true in poor lighting conditions.

Keep Your Speeds Under Control

Keep your speeds under control and avoid making any turns too quickly. Give yourself enough time to spot pedestrians by checking your blind spot – for both right and left turns – since some pedestrians can move very quickly toward the crosswalk just as you’re getting ready to make that turn.

Always take a few moments to look and think ahead while driving. Keep a watchful eye out for pedestrians and cyclists who may be in your path just a few seconds later. Becoming a proactive driver by learning to anticipate and respond early and smoothly is far better than becoming a reactive driver after the fact. Lives do depend on it.

Before you hit the road, sharpen your knowledge of road signs, traffic laws, and riding techniques with G1 Practice Test. It’s a smart and simple way to prepare for the tests and drive safely on the road.