SALT LAKE CITY — Everyday I walk with my three kids across a busy intersection to take my oldest daughter to school. While there is a traffic light and a crosswalk, I still don’t feel completely safe. There is always the chance a driver might not see us, or my 4-year-old could unexpectedly dart into the road.

The recent headlines of pedestrians who have been struck and killed by cars don’t help my anxiety, either. These stories serve as a deadly reminder for drivers and pedestrians.

So what can we do about it? Start with these 10 simple steps to keep your family safe at the intersection, whether you are walking or driving on Utah roads.

Safety for pedestrians

1. Talk about safety. Talking about the rules of safety with your family should be an ongoing conversation. Prepare children before your walk begins. When you approach an intersection, point out the crosswalk lines and crossing signals. Announce when it is almost time to cross the street and tell everyone to get ready.
2. Hold hands. Holding hands with little ones even while waiting at the curb is a vital step to crosswalk safety. Their curious bodies may wander off the curb or rush into the road at any given time. Holding hands also helps if they trip, lose a shoe or drop a toy in the crosswalk. If you are holding hands, you are immediately alerted to any problem. Being attached to you also makes those who are small in stature more visible to drivers.

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1. Wait on the sidewalk. Always wait on the sidewalk, not in the street. This isn’t New York City; there’s plenty of room right there on the curb. I see anxious people every day inch into the road as lights turn yellow and their turn to cross is approaching. Teach children good crossing habits right from the start and wait in the safest area possible to avoid speeding cars trying to make the light. When it is time to walk, check your surroundings before entering the crosswalk.
2. Make eye contact. Make eye contact or wave to right- and left-hand turn drivers. Lt. Justin Hoyal from the Unified Police Department said, “Making eye contact is very important so you know the driver sees you.”If you can’t make eye contact, waving is another way to get the attention of drivers. My waves can become quite exaggerated (and embarrassing) when I see a driver talking on a cell phone as I am getting ready to cross, but I would rather be embarrassed than injured.
3. Pause it. Pause the MP3 player, halt the texting, save the cell conversation for later. Listening to your surroundings is a key tool to street safety. Avoiding distractions allows you to hear cars or sirens coming your way. Turning off electronic media won’t hurt as bad as road rash, I promise. Safety for drivers

1. Keep clear. Come to a complete stop before your car enters the crosswalk. Keep the area clear, if possible, to allow a safe place for any approaching pedestrians.
2. Look, then go. Green doesn’t automatically mean go — check for pedestrians crossing before hitting the gas. Taking a few seconds to scan the road for people or cars running a red just might save a life.

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1. Hang up. It’s not going to be the end of the world if you can’t talk to your BFF or text your husband during your drive. According to distraction.gov, you are 23 times more likely to be involved in an auto accident if you text while driving. It's simple: Put the cell phone down and put your full attention on the road.
2. Be alert. The area around schools and parks call for special attention. Hoyal cautions drivers to “be aware of the speed limit in school zones and remain stopped whenever a school crossing guard is in the crosswalk.” It’s important to stay put, as the crossing guard might be escorting additional groups of children across the street.
3. Do not pass. The recent fatality of 6-year-old Ambrosia Amalatitoda, who was hit while crossing the street in Salt Lake City, certainly put me on edge. The Utah Department of Public Safety’s Heads Up campaign tells drivers, “If a vehicle has stopped at a crosswalk (marked or unmarked) for a pedestrian to cross, any vehicle approaching from the rear must stop also to allow the pedestrian to cross.” Share your safety tips in the Comment Board and find more safety tips at these helpful websites:

• Heads Up Utah
• Distraction.gov
• Zero Fatalities

Jessica is a wife and mom who loves to write, travel and have spontaneous dance parties with her kids.

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