DOT Safety Education News

All New Yorkers are pedestrians at some point in their journey, and walking can be especially beneficial for older adults—it’s free, doesn’t require special equipment other than comfortable shoes, and provides a wide variety of health benefits. What makes a walk feel safe? Pedestrian behavior, driver behavior, and the street environment are all factors in street safety.

DOT is working hard to make City streets safer for seniors in all five boroughs through its Safe Streets for Seniors program. Engineers evaluate streets from a senior's perspective and make changes such as extending pedestrian crossing times at crosswalks and shortening crossing distances, restricting vehicle turns, and narrowing roads.

As a senior, here’s how you can do your part to keep New York's streets safe, no matter how you travel.

Be an advocate for safer streets

• Contact DOT’s Safety Education Division at 212-839-4751 to request a pedestrian safety speaker at your senior center.
• Be aware of traffic conditions while you’re walking. Call 311 to report broken signals and streetlights, broken or blocked sidewalks, potholes, speeding drivers or drivers who don’t yield to pedestrians.

Be an alert pedestrian

• At intersections, stop and look both ways to be sure the way is clear before beginning to cross, even if the pedestrian signal is in your favor.
• Treat driveways like intersections. Stop and look before crossing and listen for engine noises.
• In low light conditions – at dusk or bad weather – add something white, light or reflective or your clothing, shoes or bag to be more visible to drivers.
• Recognize how you feel before you go out for a walk. If you’re feeling drowsy or dizzy, wait until you’re more alert or walk with a friend.

Be a safe driver

• Speed matters – even a 5 mph difference in speed can be deadly in a crash.
• Always avoid distractions behind the wheel.
• Be patient with pedestrians who need a little extra time to cross.