Street Safety Rules

Streets can be extremely dangerous places for those who are unaware of safety rules. It's important for people to learn the rules of street safety when they're young, but it's just as important that as people age, they remember the rules they learned in their youth and continue to follow them.

Checking

• It's best to follow the old adage of "look both ways before you cross the street." If there are no cars in the street, then it's perfectly safe to cross that street. However, whether it's strictly legal to cross that street is another matter. In some places, crossing the street in the middle of the block is considered jaywalking. In that case, even if there are no cars coming, you must only cross at appropriate intersections.

Signals

• It's important to learn traffic signals so that you can read the flow of traffic on the street. Seeing that a line of cars is stopped is one thing, but seeing a yellow light turning red and recognizing that means cars will soon be stopping is even more important. Understanding where stop signs, one-way signs, crosswalks and speed limit signs are, and what rules those set in place for drivers, can be equally important for those who are attempting to stay safe while out on the streets and on foot.

Distractions

• To stay safe on the street, it is important to avoid distractions and keep aware of your surroundings. This means that people walking on sidewalks or anywhere near a street should avoid wearing headphones, listening to loud music, talking on cell phones, or watching mobile video players. Not only could these distractions put the person in a dangerous situation regarding traffic, but it could also make them primary targets for theft since the person is obviously unaware and easier to catch by surprise.