PEDESTRIAN FATALLY STRUCK IN CHICAGO'S NORTHWEST SIDE
A 30 or 31 year old female pedestrian was struck and killed by a vehicle while walking through a crosswalk early yesterday morning. The woman was hit at the intersection of West School Street and North Harlem Avenue on the northwest side of Chicago. The Major Accident Investigation Unit is investigating the incident.
The Federal Highway Administration recommends that pedestrians make themselves visible to drivers by wearing retroreflective materials and bright or light colored clothing. At nighttime, the FHWA suggests carrying a flashlight, not wearing headphones, and using extreme caution when crossing the street. Pedestrians should also avoid dangerous behavior and always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk facing traffic. Finally, pedestrians should cross streets only at marked crosswalks or intersections and obey traffic signals such as walk/don't walk signals.
Drivers should also be aware of pedestrians. The FHWA recommends that drivers scan the road and the sides of the road ahead for potential pedestrians, looking in all directions for pedestrians before making a turn, and not driving while distracted or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Drivers should always stop or yield to pedestrians at crosswalks and when making right or left turns at intersections. The FHWA encourages drivers to drive the speed limit and avoid aggressive maneuvers and to always be prepared to stop for pedestrians, especially in residential areas and near schools.
