They walk in groups or alone, often wearing dark clothing, paying no heed to their surroundings. You might see them out of the corner of your eye, then they seem to disappear into the darkness.
Zombies?
No, pedestrians.
Yes, this is the season when rain-soaked clouds hide a silvery moon and danger lies on every street corner. But do many pedestrians pay attention? Do they remove their headphones when crossing a street? Do they make eye contact with the driver making a right-hand turn just metres away?
Not always, and that could put many people at risk.
As the Tri-Cities get busier and Evergreen Line construction creates detours and unfamiliar traffic situations, both drivers and pedestrians need to take extra care.
Sure, drivers have the biggest responsibility. They have to pay attention to all others on the road and make every effort to check for pedestrians at every crossing. They must also slow down in school zones and at crosswalks.
Just imagine how one moment of inattention could cause injury - perhaps to a child running out onto a street or a senior with a walker in the middle of an intersection. Nobody wants to have a pedestrian injury or fatality on their conscience.
But let's face it, many pedestrians don't do their part. They stand too close to the edge of the sidewalk, enter crosswalks too late or too early, don't wear reflective clothing and all too often they ignore their surroundings.
The news about pedestrian deaths has been quiet of late - in Vancouver, for example, pedestrian deaths are at an all time low - but let's not get complacent.
You can keep yourself and your children safe by being aware and being seen.
Lives depend on it.
