Yield to Heels
Yield to Heels is an ongoing pedestrian safety awareness campaign implemented by the UNC Department of Public Safety and the UNC Highway Safety Research Center.
The "Yield to Heels" campaign intends to remove myths about traffic and pedestrians and make helpful information about pedestrian safety available to the University community. The campaign focuses on three main messages for pedestrians, drivers and bicyclists:
Be Aware * Be Safe * Be Considerate
University environments create special transportation risks because of the concentrated number of pedestrians walking in a given area. There is nothing unique about the University’s campus that makes it any more dangerous than any other university of the same size and situation. What makes UNC different are the proactive efforts to assure safe travel for all.
Avoid the Following Common Pedestrian Mistakes
- Seeing a "walk" signal and then automatically assuming
that it is safe to walk.
- Crossing at multi-lane, mid-block locations without checking to make
sure that drivers in each lane are aware of their presence. Sometimes
drivers in one lane can block the view of pedestrians so that motorists
in other lanes cannot see them.
- Darting unexpectedly into the street.
- Failing to understand that at night, pedestrians are virtually invisible
to motorists. Research studies have proven that even pedestrians wearing
white can only be seen between 100 and 200 feet away by motorists in
vehicles with low beams on. At speeds above 30 miles per hour, this does
not allow sufficient time for motorist to stop after seeing a pedestrian
on the road.
- Be Aware
- Look across all lanes you must cross and do not assume drivers can stop. Even though one vehicle has stopped, another may pass in another lane. Look both ways and gauge the flow of traffic before you step onto the road and wait if necessary.
- Be Safe
- Cross the street between the crosswalk line, and remember if you cross the street at a place other than a designated crosswalk or intersection, the vehicle has the right-of-way.
- Be Considerate
- Establish eye contact with drivers before crossing, do not enter the crosswalk suddenly, and wave or thank drivers who yield.
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A Driver's Role
A Pedestrian's Role
- Be Aware
- When entering a crosswalk area drive slowly and be prepared to stop.
- Be Safe
- Yield to pedestrians crossing in marked crosswalks or at intersections and do not overtake and pass other vehicles stopped for pedestrians on your side of the roadway. Failure to do yield in a marked crosswalk is a violation of North Carolina law.
- Be Considerate
- Establish eye contact with pedestrians and be patient.
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Upcoming Yield to Heels Day
March 26, 2008
9 AM to 2 PM
