Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety

Pedestrian and bicycle safety depends largely on the everyday choices people make. Safe behaviors—such as paying attention, obeying traffic laws, making eye contact, and sharing the road respectfully—play a critical role in preventing crashes and injuries. When drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists all take responsibility for their actions and remain alert and courteous, our streets become safer places for everyone, supporting walking and biking as healthy and reliable ways to get around. In addition to a robust media buy we have additional programs to help change driver, pedestrian, and cyclist behavior.

Pedestrian Crashes increase from September to December. December being the highest and deadliest month.

Top three Factors in Pedestrian Fatalities

  • Dark – 55%
  • Under the Influence – 24%
  • Inclement Weather - 14%

Community Voices 
The Community Voices for Road Safety initiative originates from the Safe System Approach with a focus on Safer People. The project engages residents, business owners, and community influencers to address road safety focus area—pedestrian safety in Portland, Auburn, and Lewiston. Through localized participation, the project will develop a campaign that prioritizes community ownership, drives behavioral change, and promotes a road safety culture. The project will span 12 months and will follow a structured approach to raising awareness, encouraging safer behaviors, and decreasing road related injuries and fatalities within these communities.

Pedestrian/Motor Vehicle Traffic Enforcement
The purpose of enforcement strategies is to increase compliance with the traffic laws that are most likely to improve the safety of pedestrians in areas where crashes are happening or most likely to happen due to increased pedestrian and motorist exposure. While this section focuses on enforcement of driver and pedestrian behavior at pedestrian crossings, it is reasonable to assume that enforcement of other risky driving behaviors such as speed, distraction, impairment, red-light running, etc., improve the safety of people walking.

We are always looking for new and innovative projects. If you would like to propose a project, please e-mail us at Webmaster_BHS@maine.gov.

Safety Tips

 Drivers:

  • Use extra caution when driving in hard-to-see conditions.
  • Follow the speed limit, especially around people on the street, around schools, and in neighborhoods where children are present.
  • Drive sober.
  • Always stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
  • Look for pedestrians everywhere and minimize blind spots.
  • Never pass vehicles stopped at a crosswalk. There may be people crossing where drivers can’t see.
  • Give cyclists room. Do not pass too closely. Pass bicyclists as you would any other vehicle—when it’s safe to move over into an adjacent lane.

Pedestrians:

  • Wear reflective clothing.
  • Do not assume drivers see you.
  • Walk on the left side of the road, facing traffic.
  • Do not walk distracted (phones/headphones/ear plugs).

Bicyclist

  • Ride a bike that fits you and work.
  • Securely strap items to the back or store them in a backpack
  • Plan your route—if riding as a vehicle on the road, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path.
  • Ride in the same direction and with the flow of traffic.
  • Assume the other person doesn’t see you; look ahead for hazards or situations to avoid that may cause you to fall, like toys, pebbles, potholes, grates, train tracks.
Additional Resources