I'm a Pedestrian

Now that I’ve reached the dizzy heights of 65 and in receipt of a pension, I am looking at getting used to an ever increasing older age and its limitations - and that includes driving – or the lack of it!

Every UK citizen from the age of 60 is currently entitled to a “Freedom Pass” from the government allowing free travel on public transport and this is something I finally applied for recently. Living within the area of London Transport, I find I have a huge opportunity to travel the length and breadth of our capital city without charge using London Buses, the Underground and British Rail. No fuel costs, no traffic jams, no parking restrictions – it’s marvellous; at least while I am fit enough to get around on foot!

I have been a driver for over 40 years, rarely using public transport. I’ve notched up nigh on a million miles over my working life and I am having to learn bus and rail procedures, times and routes. It certainly gives me a more focused insight into surviving as a pedestrian. I’ve already had one brush with a 4-wheel drive – my fault entirely – I was waiting to cross with others at a busy traffic light controlled junction and for some reason unknown to me, I looked the wrong way and stepped onto the road. As I did so, I looked to the right just in time to avoid stepping into the path of this 4-wheel drive accelerating across the junction.

I was completely in the wrong but I must point out that the driver of the 4-wheel drive made no allowance for pedestrian error as he shot across the junction. Elderly people and the young are the most vulnerable and a safe driver should make allowances and perhaps drive with a little more caution in the presence of pedestrians. If I hadn’t looked to my right I would have been hit and the risk of an accident could be reduced with more driver awareness. It has certainly brought home to me the vulnerability of the pedestrian.

Sadly, many drivers fail to anticipate the actions of pedestrians and this is one reason why many zebra crossings are being replaced by traffic-light controlled pelican or puffin crossings. Drivers today have the added distraction of sat navs, mobile phones and texts and it’s no wonder fatalities and serious accidents have increased during this last year reversing the trend of the last decade or so. Be vigilant. You cannot rely on them seeing you.