Primary school

The pedestrian in traffic

The pedestrian also belongs to traffic. You already know who a pedestrian is. That is someone who goes somewhere on foot on the public road.

The pedestrian must always watch out and pay attention, because they have no protection in traffic. In an accident they are directly hit. On our island a pedestrian needs to be even more careful. There are too few sidewalks and shoulders here. You often find bushes and trees along the road as well. The pedestrian therefore often has to use the roadway, and the dangers there are very great.

This is very important:

If there is a sidewalk or a shoulder along the road, the pedestrian must always walk on the shoulder or on the sidewalk. If there is no sidewalk and no shoulder either, the pedestrian must walk on the left side of the road, so they can see the traffic coming toward them clearly.

When does a pedestrian have the right of way?

A pedestrian sometimes has the right of way. However, you must always check whether you actually get the right of way. Having the right of way and actually getting it are two different things.

• If a pedestrian is going straight ahead on the same road and a car or cyclist wants to turn across in front of you, the pedestrian has the right of way.
• If you want to cross at a crosswalk, the pedestrian also has the right of way.

Check whether you have understood the rules correctly. Indicate the correct order in the pictures below.

How should a pedestrian cross the road?

When a boy or girl has had an accident in traffic, it almost always turns out that the child crossed the road in a careless way. It is very important to cross the road safely.

Always cross the street at a place where you can clearly see the traffic approaching you from both the left and the right.

To cross well and safely, every pedestrian must follow these rules:

1. Stop at the side of the road
2. First look to the left (because you can first collide with traffic coming from the left)
3. Then look to the right
4. Look to the left again
5. Is the road safe on both the left and the right? Then cross straight and quickly. Avoid going back and always keep looking. Never run across the road.

Always make sure you are seen

A bus stops at many places to let people get on or off. Sometimes you get off the bus and have to cross.

Crossing is then not so easy, because the bus blocks your view of the road. You do not have a good overview of the road. It is then very wise and safe to wait until the bus drives away. If the bus has to stay for a while, never cross in front of the bus. Always cross behind the bus.

It can also happen that you need to cross, but your view of the road is blocked by parked cars along the road. To still get a good overview of the road it is recommended to step between the parked cars and then apply the five rules for crossing.

If possible, always cross at pedestrian lights, crosswalks or at a crossing guard.

Fortunately, traffic lights are also placed at busy spots. At these traffic lights there are sometimes also lights for pedestrians. Just like the drivers of motorized and non-motorized vehicles, the pedestrian must also pay attention. As soon as the light turns green, the pedestrian must cross straight and quickly. But as always, you must first pay close attention to the traffic.

If the pedestrian light is red, the pedestrian may not cross. At the pedestrian light there is often also a button. There is a picture above it showing that you need to press the button if you want to cross. Press the button calmly and wait until the pedestrian light turns green. Do not be impatient!

Crosswalks are specially made to make crossing safer. Drivers know that at a crosswalk there may be people who want to cross and must then pay extra attention. Crosswalks are almost always found near schools, churches and busy intersections.

Always apply the five rules you have learned for crossing, because there are sometimes drivers who are not paying proper attention!

Many schools use crossing guards to help children and their parents when crossing. You often see them after school with their uniform on and a stop sign in their hand.

On a whistle signal from the teacher, they stop the traffic. As soon as the crossing guards raise their stop sign, all vehicles on the roadway must stop. Pedestrians can then safely cross between the crossing guards. Fortunately most children and parents always do this properly.

It is a shame that some children and adults think that this stop signal is not meant for them. Other adults are in such a hurry that they cross somewhere else. This is a bad example. If your mother, father, brother, sister or another family member or friend does not wait, give them a reminder. So that they think of it next time. This way you also contribute to road safety. And remember — you must also set a good example. Always cross at a crosswalk and wait for the signal from the crossing guards.

A few more points that are very important for a pedestrian

• Always watch out carefully for your little brothers, sisters and friends. Hold them firmly by the hand so they cannot suddenly run away.
• Children must not walk where moving traffic passes. So children walk on the left side of an older person.
• When it rains, the pedestrian must be extra careful. Watch out carefully when crossing the road, because drivers cannot brake their vehicles as quickly. The chance of an accident is therefore much greater in rainy weather. On Sint Maarten rain showers can come on suddenly — always be extra alert when this happens.
• Playing in the street is life-threatening. So when you are going somewhere, do not take toys with you to play with along the way. You will then pay less attention to traffic.
• Even if you see someone on the other side waving at you, always think of the five rules first before stepping to the other side.
• If you are brought to school or picked up by car, it is wise for the driver to let you get out or get in on the school side — you then do not have to cross.
• Ask the driver who brings you to school or picks you up to please not stop on the crosswalk or in front of the school gate. Children cannot then safely cross. The car blocks the view when children want to cross, and because the car is on the shoulder, walking on the shoulder is also impossible.
• If you need to be somewhere, make sure you leave home early. If you are late, do not run and do not cross carelessly. It is better to arrive late at your destination than to arrive too early at the hospital.
• When it is dark, wear something light-colored. For example a white shirt. Nowadays there are also sneakers that give off a light when you walk.