There are many reasons to walk during the winter—transportation, mental health, exercise, or just to walk the dog. When you are outside, here are some tips you can follow to be a safer pedestrian.

• Use high-tread boots. Ice and snow covered sidewalks and streets and can make walking treacherous. Even if you are only walking from your car to the door,  you could take a fall and be seriously hurt. High tread boots can reduce the likelihood you will fall. 

• Wear bright colors. Winter means that the days are shorter and the evenings are darker. Pick a winter coat with bright colors and reflective panels to help drivers see you and keep you safe in crosswalks and driveways.

•  Face traffic. Any time you are walking close to cars make sure you walk on the left side of the road. That way you will be facing the cars traveling closest to you and will better be able to react if a driver loses control on the ice and snow.

• Keep your eyes and ears open. As pedestrians fight the cold, they often wrap their heads in warm and wooly hats, hoods, earmuffs, and scarves. But these head coverings can interfere with pedestrians’ ability to see and hear traffic around them. For safety, make sure your peripheral vision is clear and you are alert to vehicles nearby.

• Leave the phone in your pocket.. Don’t use your phone when you’re walking. When you use a phone while walking, it could result in not paying attention to traffic or other people who are walking nearby.

• Get out in daylight. Instead of waiting until later in the day to go for a walk, try to plan ahead so that you complete your errands in the middle of the day.

• Travel light. One way to monitor your balance to decrease your risk of falling is to lighten your load. Avoid carrying a lot of heavy bags.