With winter just around the corner, are you prepared for the upcoming time change? As we prepare to "fall back" with the end of daylight saving time on Nov. 3, many of us have already noticed the earlier arrival of evening darkness. While this shift can affect our mood and increase drowsiness, it also significantly impacts visibility – both our ability to see and to be seen. October is National Pedestrian Safety Month, a timely reminder to stay alert and prioritize safety as the days grow shorter.
At some point in the day, everyone is a pedestrian. Therefore, pedestrian safety is not only reserved for a specific season but a practice to implement each day. Whether taking an evening stroll, walking a pet or working on the farm, staying visible and being aware can help ensure we all safely make it home each night.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), an estimated 9,188 pedestrians died in traffic and non-traffic (driveways, parking lots and other private property) incidents in 2022. Speed, location, vehicle size, alcohol and visibility are major risk factors for pedestrian injuries and deaths. Nearly 74% of the incidents occurred during dark conditions with or without artificial lighting.
Visibility on the farm
The National Safety Council stated that 15% of the pedestrian deaths that took place in 2022 occurred in rural communities. Blind spots and lack of visibility are common reasons for incidents involving equipment and machinery on farms and ranches. While pedestrians may easily see the operator, the pedestrian is not always visible to the operator. Common blind spots may occur in the front of a truck or tractor, alongside the rear wheel, behind the left or right rear wheel, anywhere under the tractor frame or directly behind a piece of equipment hitched to the tractor.
Fall harvest remains one of the busiest and most dangerous times on farms. Never approach moving equipment if you need to get the operator’s attention. Instead, stand in a designated safe zone and use these methods:
- Signal using a porch light or flashlight
- Raise or wave a special flag
- Call on a cellular phone or portable radio
Finally, make visibility a priority on the farm by always wearing high-visibility clothing, and ensure any equipment you are operating at night has working lights and visible slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblems.
Halloween safety tips
With Halloween festivities taking place throughout communities, more children will be out and about. Therefore, when dressing for the occasion or picking out your child’s costume, it is vital to keep safety at the forefront. Here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Children should wear reflectors or reflective tape included on their costumes and treat bags.
- Carry a flashlight or a glow stick to increase visibility to other pedestrians and vehicles on the road.
- When trick-or-treating, tell children to walk and not run from house to house.
- Stay on the sidewalks whenever possible and cross the street at corners, using traffic signals and crosswalks. Encourage children to look left, right and left again when crossing and keep looking as you cross. Teach children to make eye contact with drivers before crossing in front of them.
- Have children be on the lookout for cars that are turning or backing up. Teach children to never dart out into the street or cross between parked cars.
- Follow the trick-or-treat guidelines set forth by your community and keep track of the time. Many residents in the community will be expecting children to be out trick-or-treating between designated times and will be looking out for their safety during that time. After the designated time has ended, there is a greater chance for incidents to occur.
- With all the excitement, children may forget to practice these safety guidelines; adult supervision is recommended for children 12 years old and younger.
Protecting our future generation
As adults, we need to continuously serve as safety role models. From using caution and patience when driving to being mindful of our surroundings as pedestrians, we are leading safety by example. Therefore, the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day (PAF Safety Day) program incorporates pedestrian safety into various lessons from roadway to tractor safety.
PAF Safety Day is recognized as the largest rural safety and health education program for children in North America. After participants learn potentially life-saving messages, they return home to share the knowledge they gained with their family and friends. Since its inception in 1995, the program has reached millions of participants and volunteers.
You, too, can join the mission and provide education, training and resources to make farm, ranch and rural life safer and healthier for all children and their communities. Visit the Progressive Agriculture Safety Day Program website for more information and click on “Get Involved” to learn about volunteer opportunities, donating to the cause or how to bring a PAF Safety Day to your local community.
