What You Need to Know to Stay Safe Pedestrian Safety 101 • Always use sidewalks. When sidewalks are available where you’re walking, it’s always better to use them and stay away from the road than walk near passing cars. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road facing oncoming traffic. That way, you can see everything coming at you. • Always use crosswalks. Using crosswalks may sound obvious, but darting across the street can be tempting if you’re short on time or see a break in traffic. No matter how late you’re running or how clear you think the roads are, wait for a crosswalk to give you a proper signal while traffic is completely stopped. • Make eye contact with drivers before crossing. This is important on roads and in parking lots because it’s the only way to know a driver has seen you and is aware of your presence on the road. • Look left and right before exiting a car or bus. Other drivers may assume that when a bus or car stops, it’s safe to pass them to keep driving. This results in a dangerous surprise for the driver and the pedestrian exiting the vehicle. So, always look both ways to see if a vehicle is trying to pass. • Be mindful of parked cars or other obstacles which may block your view. When walking or driving near parked vehicles, it can be hard to tell when the car beside it is backing up into your way. When you can’t see ahead of you or around a corner, stop and slowly approach the area you can’t see until you know nothing is coming.
We’ve all heard the saying, “Pedestrians have the right of way.” But it’s not always true, and these misunderstandings often lead to deadly accidents. Pedestrian deaths still account for 1 out of 5 traffic fatalities in Texas, according to the Texas Department of Transportation, and “in 2021 alone, there were 5,370 crashes involving pedestrians, resulting in 843 deaths, a 15% increase in pedestrian fatalities over the previous year.”
Most importantly, always be aware of your surroundings. While pedestrians have the right of way in some instances, it’s always best to err on the side of caution.
So, what can pedestrians do to stay safe near roads and parking lots?
Texas-Size LAUGHS
GOAT CHEESE AND THYME STUFFED CHICKEN
INGREDIENTS
• • •
2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• • • •
4 pieces of thin-sliced bacon
3.5 oz firm goat cheese
Olive oil
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves, plus 2–3 sprigs
2 zucchinis, thinly sliced 1 large tomato, thinly sliced
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. Split the chicken breasts almost in half along the long side, open them like a book, then flatten the sides out. 3. Put the goat cheese on the “open book” side of the chicken and sprinkle with thyme leaves. Fold the chicken over to enclose the cheese, then wrap each breast in 2 slices of bacon. 4. Lightly oil a shallow gratin or casserole dish, then arrange overlapping rows of zucchini and tomatoes on the bottom. Drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, then set chicken on top. Place thyme sprigs on chicken. 5. Bake for 40–45 minutes until the bacon is crisp and golden and the zucchini is tender.
Inspired by BBCGoodFood.com
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