People who have had too much to drink are also likely to be involved in pedestrian accidents. Unfortunately, many of the measures that make roads safer for drivers such as large medians and wide shoulders make those roads more treacherous for pedestrians. Car-pedestrian accidents have a 5 percent fatality rate if the car is going 20 mph, but the rate jumps to 85 percent at 40 mph. Walking into traffic from between parked cars is a common cause of fatal accidents. Children chasing a ball, for instance, give no thought to traffic.
Small children are hard to see.
Always watch for movement around parked cars. Drivers should watch for signs that mark special hazard areas such as school zones, bus stops, playgrounds, parks and schools. In these and residential areas indicate where children are most likely to play or cross the streets. Similarly, an older person may wander into the street without any thought of traffic. The drinking pedestrian may not see, hear or think clearly.