Walking To Lose Weight – Essential Safety Tips

If you decide that you’d prefer to use walking to lose weight instead of joining a gym or sports centre then you’re going to spend much of your time outdoors and inevitably some of this walking will take place on or near roads.

The best way to avoid accidents is to be prepared and be aware of vehicles around you. While the law assigns pedestrians the right of way, it does not relieve pedestrians of using due care for their own safety.

Safety Tips for Pedestrians

• Walk on sidewalks. If sidewalks are not available, walk on the edge of the road or on the left shoulder of the road, facing the traffic flow. Use pedestrian bridges when they are available.   

• Cross at marked crosswalks or intersections. Pedestrians are most often hit by cars when they cross the road at places other than intersections.   

• Look left, right, and left for traffic. Stop at the curb and look left, right, and left again for traffic. Stopping at the curb signals drivers that you intend to cross. Always obey traffic signals.   

• See and be seen. Drivers need to see you to avoid you.   

• Stay out of the driver's blind spot.   

• Make eye contact with drivers when crossing busy streets.   

• Wear bright colors or reflective clothing if you are walking near traffic at night.   

• Carry a flashlight when walking in the dark.   

• Do not let kids play near traffic or cross the street by themselves.   

• In bad weather, take care that your umbrella or raincoat does not prevent approaching vehicles from seeing you.   

Watch your kids. Small children should not cross streets by themselves or be allowed to play or walk near traffic. Kids cannot accurately judge vehicle distances and speeds and may make unpredictable movements.

Drinking and walking? Alcohol can impair the judgment and motor skills of pedestrians just as it does for drivers. Don't take alcohol risks with walking, just as you would not with driving. Take the bus, take a cab, or have a friend drive you home. Beware of the effects of prescription and non-prescription medications and drugs, too.

Obey traffic signals. At intersections where traffic is controlled by signals or a traffic officer, pedestrians must obey the signal and not cross against the stop signal unless specifically directed to go by a traffic officer.

No matter where you choose to do your walking to lose weight, it's essential that you always consider the safety aspects of the places you choose to walk.

Click here to go back to Walking For Weight Loss