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Pedestrian Worker Safety										Related Pages
										crosswalk sign showing figure for walk
If you’re an employer, you can promote pedestrian safety for all of your workers by sharing these tips, and you can inform those who drive for work how to avoid striking a pedestrian.
**A** **pedestrian struck-by-vehicle incident** **occurs when a worker on foot is struck by a vehicle or other mobile equipment in normal operation.**These incidents can take place on or off a road open to traffic—when a worker is crossing a city street, working in a construction work zone, or at a parking lot, farm, loading area, or mining site.
	From 2014-2020, 2,258 pedestrian workers in the U.S. died in struck-by-vehicle incidents—on average, 323 deaths per year (about 18% of all motor vehicle deaths at work).1Types of Pedestrian Workers
Some spend much of their workday on foot near vehicle traffic (crossing guards, road construction workers).
Others are outside their vehicles for shorter periods but may have to work next to high-speed traffic (law enforcement officers, firefighters, tow truck drivers).
Some are on foot at off-road worksites working alongside vehicles and equipment (truck drivers, refuse collection workers, agricultural workers, building construction workers).Stay Safe and Keep Others Safe
*Pedestrian Workers*
Wear high-visibility clothing that meets the ANSI/ISEA 107—2020 while working near traffic and at a construction site.
Cross the street at a crosswalk or intersection – this is where drivers expect to see you.
If there isn’t a crosswalk or intersection nearby, cross in a well-lit area. Wait until there is enough of a gap in traffic for you to cross safely and continue to watch for vehicles as you cross.
Avoid stepping out from between vehicles.
Stay alert. Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by your phone – you’ll miss the visual and auditory cues that warn you of traffic hazards.
Understand the flow of vehicles within the workspace and stay out of pedestrian-free zones.
While working near traffic, make the work area visible using safety cones.
Don’t assume that a driver sees you and will stop for you. The driver may be impaired or distracted, ignoring laws that give pedestrians the right of way, or might not see you. Make eye contact with the driver before you step into the crosswalk or intersection.*Drivers*
Remember that pedestrians can be anywhere. Watch out for pedestrians who may be crossing in places other than a crosswalk or intersection. It’s difficult to see pedestrians who are walking out from between cars, especially children. Poor lighting, darkness, and bad weather all make pedestrians more difficult to see.
Slow down and be prepared to stop as you approach an intersection or crosswalk. Look for pedestrians in front of you and when you’re making a turn.
Follow the speed limit and be aware of reduced speed limits in school zones and construction work zones.
Observe your state’s “move over” law. These laws require vehicles to change lanes and/or slow down as they approach an emergency vehicle stopped on the side of the road.
Never drive distracted or under the influence of alcohol and/or other substances.Additional ResourcesMotor Vehicle Safety at Work
Traffic Safety Facts (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Pedestrian Safety (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)
Pedestrian Safety Campaign Materials in Spanish (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration)Reference
1Bureau of Labor Statistics [2022]. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries, 2014-2020. Create customized tables.Top of Page
							
					
							Last Reviewed:  September 26, 2022						Source: 	National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
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