Las Vegas can be a dangerous place for pedestrians due to heavy motor vehicle and pedestrian traffic, especially in tourist hotspots such as The Strip. Hazards such as intoxicated and distracted drivers make walking in Las Vegas even more dangerous. Before you visit Las Vegas or walk The Strip, learn a few basic pedestrian safety tips to protect yourself from accident risks.
Walk on the Sidewalk
Most parts of Las Vegas are designed to be walkable by pedestrians. For example, The Strip offers sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian bridges for foot traffic. Whenever possible, pedestrians should only walk in these locations. You should never walk on the road unless you have no other option. If no sidewalk is available, you should walk on the left side of the road (the side facing oncoming traffic).
Only Cross at Crosswalks and Intersections
Pedestrians entering and crossing the road where they are not supposed to is a significant safety risk. Motor vehicle drivers do not anticipate pedestrians crossing in front of their vehicles at a place other than a crosswalk or intersection. Crossing the road in these places is a practice known as jaywalking, and it greatly increases the odds of a pedestrian accident.
Jaywalking is against the law in Nevada. Revised Statute Section 60-6,154(3) states that no pedestrian may cross the road except in a marked crosswalk at any place between adjacent intersections where traffic control signals are in operation. Waiting to cross the road until you reach a crosswalk or intersection can greatly decrease your risk of getting hit by a car in Las Vegas.
Do Not Assume a Driver Will Stop
Practice defensive walking as a pedestrian in Las Vegas to enhance your safety. This means remaining constantly vigilant and assuming that motor vehicle drivers will not follow the rules. Before you cross a road, for example, wait for all drivers to come to a complete stop. Make eye contact with them to make sure they see you.
Even if you have the right-of-way, do not blindly step off of a curb or place of safety and enter the road until you are sure it is safe. Too many drivers break traffic laws, drive while drunk or distracted, and ignore pedestrian rights-of-way. You cannot trust them to stop and yield to you. Look left, right and left again before crossing.
Improve Your Visibility
Many vehicle-pedestrian collisions take place because the motor vehicle driver does not see the pedestrian. The more visible you make yourself as a pedestrian in Las Vegas, the lower your odds are of being overlooked by a driver. Wear bright colors, such as yellow or neon. Avoid walking at night. If you do walk at night, try to stay in well-lit areas, carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing.
Know Nevada’s Pedestrian Laws
Being responsible as a pedestrian can keep you safe. This includes following the traffic laws that apply to you, paying attention to vehicle traffic, avoiding distractions while you walk and choosing to get a safe ride home rather than walking if you are intoxicated.
Pedestrians only have the right-of-way in Nevada if they obey traffic signals. If a crosswalk signal at an intersection is showing the “Don’t Walk” signal, a pedestrian cannot step out into the crosswalk. These signals show when it is safe for a pedestrian to cross. No pedestrian may cross an intersection diagonally unless it is designed for this purpose.
If you get involved in an accident as a pedestrian in Las Vegas despite your best efforts to stay safe, protect your legal rights by hiring an experienced pedestrian accident attorney at Koch & Brim, LLP for representation.