Walking after dark: how can you stay visible and cross carefully?

Before walking when visibility falls, consider what other road users can see. Sécurité routière advises light clothing and reflective strips at night, in rain or in fog. This preparation also applies to walking to an appointment.

In town, use the pavement or roadside verge. Outside built-up areas, if walking on the carriageway is necessary, the leaflet advises keeping left facing approaching vehicles, unless this is dangerous or impossible. Stay visible throughout the walk.

Before crossing, assess visibility and vehicles’ distance and speed. Outside pedestrian areas and shared zones, use a pedestrian crossing if one is less than 50 metres away. A crossing does not remove the need to watch traffic.

At pedestrian lights, wait for green; if an officer directs traffic, wait for their signal. After getting off a bus, wait for it to move away before crossing so you can better see vehicles approaching from the opposite direction.

Keep your attention available: avoid crossing while using your phone and turn down sound so you can hear your surroundings. Look around too, as bicycles and electric vehicles can be difficult to hear approaching.

Teach a child the actions during the walk: use the pavement, look left, right and left again, and use the crossing. Their smaller size makes them less visible. Extra vigilance is also needed when vision, hearing or reflexes decline.