Nighttime poses a high risk for pedestrians, with the Federal Highway Administration (FHA) reporting that 76% of pedestrian fatalities happen after dark. Given the heightened risk of accidents during these hours, adopting additional safety measures is crucial for your protection when you need to go out at night without another form of transportation.
Discover essential tips for navigating the dark safely on foot and find out how a pedestrian injury lawyer in Miami can assist you if you are injured due to a driver’s negligence.
Why Is it Dangerous to Walk at Night?
Pedestrians are vulnerable to injury in accidents with vehicles, no matter what time of day or night they happen, with 1,386 incapacitating injuries to pedestrians in Florida in 2022. Walking at night presents a higher risk for pedestrians due to the following:
- Reduced Visibility: Reduced visibility at night contributes to a higher risk of accidents with pedestrians. Drivers have a more challenging time seeing people crossing the road on foot, especially when they are wearing dark-colored or non-reflective clothing and in low-light areas.
- Impaired Drivers: Nighttime often coincides with social gatherings, leading to more instances of drunk or drowsy driving. Impaired drivers are less likely to react in time to avoid accidents involving pedestrians.
- Glare and Shadows: The glare from oncoming headlights and the shadows from nearby objects can make it more challenging for drivers to spot pedestrians. Similarly, pedestrians may be temporarily dazzled by intense lights from oncoming cars, affecting their ability to gauge their environment and respond to an approaching vehicle.
- Distractions: During the night, distractions can affect both pedestrians and drivers. Pedestrians absorbed in their smartphones or listening to music might not be fully alert to what’s happening around them. Meanwhile, drivers can be sidetracked by their navigation devices, engaging in conversations, or other in-car distractions.
Tips for Staying Safe While Walking in Miami
Whether you are a resident or a visitor, knowing how to stay safe when walking the streets of Miami is important. Here are a few tips if you head out on foot after the sun goes down:
- Wear Reflective or Light-Colored Clothing: To enhance your visibility, wear reflective clothing or accessories such as jackets, vests, or shoes with reflective strips. Light-colored clothing is also a good option, as it helps you stand out in the darkness.
- Stay Under Streetlights: Whenever possible, walk along well-lit paths or streets with functioning streetlights. Staying in well-illuminated areas reduces the risk of accidents.
- Use Crosswalks and Avoid Jaywalking: Always use designated crosswalks when crossing streets whenever they are available. When they are not, avoid walking out between parked cars where you may not be visible. Drivers are more likely to anticipate pedestrians at marked crosswalks, increasing your safety. Furthermore, in Florida, you must yield the right of way to vehicles to traffic if you cross streets outside of designated crosswalks.
- Stay Alert and Unplugged: Minimize distractions like texting, making phone calls, or listening to loud music when walking in the dark, since it can hide the sound of approaching cars. Staying alert and mindful of your environment is key to ensuring your safety.
- Make Eye Contact: Make an effort to establish eye contact with drivers when crossing in front of vehicles or interacting with them. This confirms they’ve noticed you and are aware of your presence.
- Walk Facing Traffic: When sidewalks are not available, walk on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic. This positioning improves your ability to see approaching vehicles and react accordingly.
- Never Walk Alone: Always walk with a friend or in a group, especially at night. Being alone decreases your visibility to drivers and increases your risk of being involved in an accident. Walking with others makes you more noticeable, and there’s someone to assist or call for help if an accident occurs.
- Stay Sober: Avoid drinking alcohol if you plan to walk at night. Alcohol can impair your judgment, coordination, and reaction time, making it more difficult to walk near traffic safely.
Hire an Experienced Pedestrian Attorney if You’re Injured in an Accident
Nighttime walking in Miami comes with added dangers, from lower visibility to the presence of impaired drivers. If you’re injured by a careless driver under these conditions, our South Florida car accident lawyers can review your case, establish who’s at fault, and assist you in pursuing a claim for compensation.
Contact us today for a free consultation to start your claim.