The long daylight hours of summer and the warm weather naturally give rise to a greater number of people out and about on foot. If you are on the many Indiana residents who looks forward to spending more time outside at this time of year, you'll want to pay special attention to keeping yourself safe.

One of the first rules of thumb according to the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center for any pedestrian is to make sure you are seen. This is not just an issue at night as you might think but even during the day. Wearing brightly colored clothing, for example, may make it easier for a car driver to see you than if you are wearing muted colors that blend into the natural background around you.

Additionally, it is important that you make eye contact with drivers as you cross intersections or even parking lot and driveway entrances. Even if you have the legal right of way, you should not assume that a driver sees you. Being able to hear potential dangers can help you stay safe as well so headphones and phone calls should be kept to a minimum while crossing streets. Wearing just one earbud might also be wise even while on sidewalks as you can still hear your surroundings with the other ear.

If you would like to learn more about staying safe as a pedestrian and the types of situations in which pedestrians may be most vulnerable, please feel free to visit the foot traffic safety and rights page of our Indiana personal injury website.