Watch out for pedestrians

Depending on where you live and the dynamic of the area, you might see a lot of pedestrians out and about. Where I live there aren't too many because I live in a suburban area full of neighborhoods and corn fields. There are kids out playing and riding their bikes in the street on occasion. Of course, you have to watch out for kids playing. When I was growing up, we would sometimes play street hockey. We were always good about watching for cars coming. Sometimes kids don't always look both ways, they get excited and forget. It's extremely important to ingrain that in their little heads. You as a driver have to anticipate that they aren't paying attention and pay extra attention. 

Where my mom lives there are people outside all the time. It doesn't matter what time of day or night it is. There's groups of people who meet up and chat together. There's also occasions that someone will set up a chair and offer haircuts right on the sidewalk.  That's one of the cool things about Florida, there are people everywhere. You also have to be careful because they don't always cross at the crosswalk. They sometimes are distracted on their phones or talking to their friends. It's actually really nerve wracking. When my mom drives home from work and it's getting darker earlier people just aren't paying attention. 

While I believe pedestrians should be aware as much as drivers are, it doesn't work that way. Sometimes you will be driving and a person will come out of nowhere and cross the street in front of you. She definitely has to pay extra attention on her drives to and from work. It's partially about the time of day but it just seems like they would not want to be ran over. When I am crossing the street, I walk to the cross walk and make sure nothing is coming. 

It's important to drive a bit slower when there are groups of people out, just in case. It's also a good idea to make sure you aren't distracted by your phone, a text or even the radio. You should also keep a safe distance from the car in front of you. If you have to stop quickly you won't crash in to them. It also protects the car behind you if you are both a good distance apart. Remember that you can't trust the person walking because you don't know what they might do next.