Do you live in a college town? If so, students are headed back to dorms and classes for the fall semester. While you may be accustomed to watching for younger children in school zones, we often forget that we need to slow down and be careful when driving near college campuses.
With college in session, there will be more pedestrians and bicyclists using the roads and sidewalks near campuses and around town. As a motorist, you have a duty to take reasonable precautions to avoid a bicycle accident or pedestrian accident.
Common ways you can avoid accidents near your local college campus include:
- Avoid distracted driving. Put down the cell phone and wait until you arrive at your destination to check your email, touch up your makeup, or return a text. If you must do something that can be distracting or requires you to remove your hands from the wheel or your eyes from the road, pull over to a safe location before performing the task.
- Slow down near the college campus. Just like school zones, slow down when nearing a campus or driving through a college campus. Slower speeds allow you more time to stop if someone walks out in front of our vehicle or you encounter a bicyclist.
- Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, and young drivers. When you are near the campus, pay special attention to watch for college students.
- Do not drive while drowsy, drunk, or impaired by drugs.
You can avoid a tragic accident this fall if you pay close attention when driving in Pennsylvania’s college towns.
College Students Need to Beware
College students also have a duty to take precautions to avoid accidents. Simply because a pedestrian may have the right of way when crossing at a crosswalk does not mean that you can walk out in front of a vehicle and blame the driver when an accident occurs. College students need to be aware of the dangers posed by motorists in a college town. When driving, walking, or bicycling near campus or downtown, take extra precautions to return home safely.
You can find safety tips for pedestrians and bicyclists on the following websites:
- Allegheny College
- PennDOT
- University of Pennsylvania
- Penn State
- York College
- Federal Highway Administration
- National Highway Transportation Safety Administration
Check with your specific college for safety plans for pedestrians and bicyclists as well as tips specific to your college town.
Do I Need a Pennsylvania Accident Attorney to File My Accident Claim?
If you are injured in a pedestrian accident or bicycle crash, our Edinboro accident lawyers can help you file your claim. Deal with an insurance adjuster can be frustrating, confusing, and overwhelming. Our attorneys handle all steps in the claim process including dealing with the insurance adjuster and investigating the accident to identify the responsible party and obtain evidence to prove fault
Let our firm handle your claim so that you can focus on school and your recovery. Call The Travis Law Firm at (800) 401-2066 to schedule a free legal consultation with one of our Edinboro accident attorneys.