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Road safety guide · Michigan City Ford · Michigan City, IN
Pedestrian Safety Tips for Drivers and Walkers
Everyone is a pedestrian at some point in the day. Here is what the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends for drivers, for people on foot, and for teaching kids to cross the street.
7,080Pedestrians killed in 2024 (NHTSA)
71,000+Pedestrians injured in 2024
74 min.One pedestrian killed every 74 minutes in 2024
Under 10Children should not cross alone
The short answer
Drivers should slow down, watch for pedestrians everywhere, yield at crosswalks and never pass a car stopped at one. People on foot should use sidewalks and crosswalks, walk facing traffic where there is no sidewalk, and wait for a clear, complete stop before crossing.
Why pedestrian safety matters
NHTSA reports that in 2024, 7,080 pedestrians were killed and more than 71,000 were injured nationwide. That works out to a pedestrian killed every 74 minutes in traffic crashes. As NHTSA puts it, at some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian, and keeping pedestrians safe is a shared responsibility of walkers, drivers and everyone else who uses the road.
Safety tips for drivers
NHTSA's tips for people behind the wheel:
Slow down
Speeding endangers you and everyone on the road around you, including pedestrians.
Watch everywhere
Look out for pedestrians everywhere and minimize blind spots.
Night and bad weather
Use extra caution, since pedestrians can be harder to see and may appear suddenly.
Yield at crosswalks
Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop well back so other drivers can see them and stop too.
Turning
Slow down and be prepared to stop when turning or otherwise entering a crosswalk.
Never pass
Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. People may be crossing where you can't see.
Speed limits
Follow the speed limit, especially in school zones and neighborhoods where children are present.
Backing up
Be extra cautious when backing up and look for pedestrians.
For the signs and markings you will see near crosswalks, read our guide to pedestrian crossing signs.
Safety tips for people on foot
- Follow the rules of the road and obey signs and signals.
- Walk on sidewalks whenever they are available. If there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
- Do not cross mid-block. Cross at crosswalks or intersections. If neither is available, find a well-lit area with the best view of traffic, wait for a gap that gives you enough time to cross safely, and keep watching for traffic as you cross.
- Watch for cars entering or exiting driveways or backing up in parking lots.
- Stay alert when crossing: check signs, signals and the actions of drivers, cyclists and other pedestrians.
- Don't rely on others to keep you safe. Make eye contact with drivers when possible and wait for a clear, complete stop before crossing.
Teaching kids to cross safely
NHTSA says children under 10 should not cross the street alone. A walking buddy, generally an adult or a sibling over 12, can help. Its tips to share with kids:
- Cross at the corner or an intersection, and look left-right-left for moving cars.
- Stop, look and listen. Moving wheels mean a car is moving or about to move, even if it is silent.
- Wait for the walk signal, then walk (don't run) and keep looking left-right-left.
- Don't step into the road until the driver has stopped. If you can't see the driver, the driver can't see you.
- Look both ways before crossing to get on the school bus and after getting off.
Common pedestrian crash types
| Crash type | What happens |
|---|---|
| Turning vehicle | A vehicle turns or merges into a pedestrian's path at an intersection without yielding. |
| Dart or step out | A pedestrian enters the road mid-block, not at a crosswalk or intersection. |
| Walking along the road | A pedestrian walking or jogging along the road in the same direction as traffic can't see a vehicle coming from behind. |
| Backing vehicle | A driver backing out of a driveway, private road or parking lot fails to look for or see a pedestrian. |
| Crossing against the signal | A pedestrian crosses against the Don't Walk signal or without looking for traffic. |
| Trapped in the crosswalk | Signals change while a pedestrian is still crossing, and a car fails to yield. |
| Multiple threat | One car stops for a pedestrian, and a second driver can't see them because that car blocks the view. |
| Bus related | A pedestrian crosses after getting off a commercial bus stopped at a marked bus stop. |
Service at Michigan City Ford
The Works® at Michigan City Ford includes a synthetic blend oil change, tire rotation and pressure check, brake inspection, Multi-Point Inspection, fluid top-off, battery test, and a filter, belts and hoses check. Michigan City Ford is a new and used Ford dealership in Michigan City, IN, with its own service department.
Schedule service online and see our service specials first. Michigan City Ford is at 3930 Franklin St. in Michigan City. Get directions.
Michigan City Ford service hours
| Days | Hours |
|---|---|
| Mon-Fri | 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. |
| Sat | 8 a.m.-3 p.m. |
| Sun | No Sunday hours listed |
From Michigan City Ford's website, November 10, 2026.
Pedestrian safety FAQ
How many pedestrians were killed in 2024?
NHTSA reports that 7,080 pedestrians were killed and more than 71,000 were injured nationwide in 2024, or one pedestrian killed every 74 minutes.
Should I walk with or against traffic?
Use the sidewalk whenever there is one. If there is no sidewalk, NHTSA says to walk facing traffic and as far from traffic as possible.
Can I pass a car stopped at a crosswalk?
No. NHTSA says never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk, because people may be crossing where you can't see them.
At what age can a child cross the street alone?
NHTSA says children under 10 should not be allowed to cross the street alone.
Why is night driving riskier for pedestrians?
NHTSA says pedestrians can be harder to see at night and in bad weather and may appear suddenly, so drivers should use extra caution.
More road safety guides
See our guides to pedestrian crossing signs and night driving.
Sources
Statistics, tips and crash types are from NHTSA's Pedestrian Safety page, read November 10, 2026. Follow Indiana law and local signs. Service details, address and hours are from Michigan City Ford's own website, checked the same day. Photo is illustrative.
- NHTSA: Pedestrian Safety, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), read November 10, 2026
- General service: The Works, Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026
- Address and service hours (structured data), Michigan City Ford, November 10, 2026