FHP safety tips for time change

The daily commute to school and work is darker for most area residents.

Daylight Saving Time began Sunday at 2 a.m. and clocks were wound an hour forward. Pedestrians should make themselves more visible and take extra precautions.

In 2008, there were more than 8,400 vehicle crashes involving pedestrians in Florida. The Florida

Highway Patrol offers the following tips if you are walking or driving to school or work or waiting at a bus stop.

Things pedestrians should do:

• Wear reflective materials and bright/light-colored clothing and carry a flashlight when it is dark.

• Eliminate distractions, such as wearing headphones and talking on the cell phone while walking, especially when

crossing the street.

• Stand clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before stepping into the street.

• Always walk on the sidewalk. If there are no sidewalks, walk facing traffic.

• Stay sober. Walking impaired increases your chance of being struck.

• Do not assume vehicles will stop. Make eye contact with drivers and wait until they show signs of slowing or

stopping for you.

• Obey traffic signals. Only cross the street when the appropriate signal is lit.

• Do not rely solely on pedestrian signals. Look before you cross the road.

• Watch for cars backing up in parking lots and near on-street parking spaces.

• Cross streets at marked crosswalks or at intersections.

• Look left, right, behind and left again before crossing a street or stepping into traffic.

• Watch for turning vehicles. Make sure the driver sees you and will stop.

• When crossing multiple lanes of traffic, look across all lanes you must cross and visually clear each lane before

proceeding.

Things drivers should do:

• Keep an eye out for pedestrians. Scan the road and roadside ahead of you.

• Look in all directions before you make a turn and yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, whether marked or

unmarked.

• Eliminate distractions, e.g. texting or talking on a cell phone, eating or applying make-up.

• Do not park in, or block, crosswalks.

• Pay close attention to motor vehicles stopped for crossing pedestrians. Do not pass the stopped vehicle.

• Know when to stop for a stopped school bus. Visit the Department’s website for related laws.

• Come to a complete stop at stop signs and signals and always be prepared to stop for pedestrians.

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles provides highway safety and security through excellence

in service, education and enforcement. The Department is leading the way to a safer Florida through the efficient and

professional execution of its core mission: the issuance of driver licenses, vehicle tags and titles and operation of the

Florida Highway Patrol. To learn more about DHSMV and the services offered, visit www.flhsmv.gov.