RULES OF THE ROAD, PART II

Part Two of a Three Part Series
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The nation’s capital was designed by Pierre L’Enfant (the French artist-architect who drew up the original plans which were later executed by Benjamin Banneker, a freed slave) to create not only a grand capital but a walking city with a series of broad avenues converging into several circular intersections. Today, DC, ranks second among large cities in its share of commuters who walk to work; second among the 52 largest cities for its low rate of pedestrian deaths compared to its high rate of commuting; and third on a list of the safest cities for pedestrians. Despite the rosy safety record, 43.8% of motor vehicle fatalities in the District are pedestrians, making the City second place among major cities for percentage of pedestrian fatalities.

Walking is as natural as breathing. We don’t think twice about either activity. If you are one of the 11.8% of the City’s pedestrians who commute to work and want to keep breathing, you must know the rules of the road. LWTL presents below a summary of pedestrian rights and responsibilities particularly in relation to motorists.