Now that the fall semester is in full swing — bringing with it crowds of students, faculty and staff — TWU’s Office of Risk Management offers the following safety tips to keep in mind when navigating campus.

Pedestrian Safety

According to a Governors Highway Safety Association report, there were nearly 6,000 pedestrian fatalities in 2017. Since 2009, there has been a 46% rise in pedestrian fatalities. Distracted walking can put safety at risk. Pay attention while walking, and don’t text while walking, especially when crossing the street! If you need to text, move out of the way of others and stop on the sidewalk. A few other tips include:

• Look left, right and left again before crossing a street
• Make eye contact with drivers to be sure they see you
• Be aware of drivers, even when you’re in a crosswalk — vehicles have blind spots
• Don’t wear headphones while walking
• Never rely on a car to stop
• Only cross at designated crosswalks
• Walk in groups

Motorist tips

“Pay attention” does not only apply to pedestrians — it is vital for motorists as well. Distracted driving is a serious problem with potentially deadly consequences. Did you know that sending or reading a text takes your eyes off the road for five seconds? At 55 mph, that’s like driving the entire length of a football field with your eyes closed! No text is worth a life. Make sure you put your phone away and stay focused on driving. A few more tips for sharing the road with pedestrians and bicyclists include:

• Be extra vigilant in school zones and residential neighborhoods
• Stop and yield to pedestrians crossing the crosswalk or intersection
• Never pass a vehicle stopped for pedestrians
• Always use extreme caution to avoid striking pedestrians, no matter who has the right of way
• Watch for bikes and pedestrians coming from driveways or behind parked cars
• Don’t honk or rev your engine to scare a pedestrian, even if you have the right of way
• Use caution when turning from one street onto another, especially if there are cars parked on the street, which reduce visibility

While it can be easy to get flustered when commuting to campus, especially when trying to find parking, try to stay calm and focused when driving on or near campus. Drive slowly, observe stop signs, and yield to pedestrians. Also remember to put your phone away.

Practicing these tips can help keep our campus community safe.