Modes of Transportation

Pedestrians: Common Sense

In order to get around safely, pedestrians must not only obey the Highway Safety Code, but also adopt responsible behaviour.

As a pedestrian

To ensure your safety, you should:

  • cross at the closest intersection or pedestrian crosswalk
  • obey pedestrian lights
  • walk on the sidewalk or, if there is no sidewalk, walk along the side of the roadway or on the shoulder, against traffic.
  • check traffic before crossing (look left, then right, then left again and behind you)
  • try to make eye contact with drivers, and otherwise assume they have not seen you
  • avoid sources of distraction (talking or texting on a cell phone, using earphones) when walking, especially when crossing an intersection
  • be visible at all times (for example, wear bright or light-coloured clothing and reflective strips at night)

Around heavy vehicles

  • Avoid placing yourself in the heavy vehicle’s blind spots.
  • Be sure to make eye contact with the driver. Even if the driver is higher up, he or she can’t see everything and a heavy vehicle’s blind spots are much larger than those of a car. If you can’t see the driver, the driver can’t see you either. When in doubt, let the heavy vehicle go by.
  • Pay attention to the turn signal lights of heavy vehicles at intersections.

Blind spots

Pay attention to the blind spots created by the windshield pillars on either side of the front of the vehicle. If the driver’s face is hidden by a pillar, that means the driver can’t see you. All types of vehicles have blind spots created by windshield pillars, not just SUVs or heavy vehicles.

Remember that the driver won't hear you if you try to signal your presence by shouting.

Last update: June  1, 2022