How To Protect the Safety of Vulnerable Road Users

Roadways are used by more than just drivers. Walkers, runners, skaters, cyclists, and scooter riders all use roads, too. Vulnerable road users (VRU) are people who aren’t in vehicles but are using the roads to get where they’re going.

Many drivers forget about pedestrians or cyclists on the road because they aren’t as visible, especially at night. When drivers and VRUs get into an accident, pedestrians and cyclists tend to face much more serious injuries. Drivers are often liable for auto accidents involving these victims.

Traffic laws and road rules vary by state. To find out about how to avoid accidents and make sure vulnerable road users are safe, talk to a local motor vehicle accident lawyer.

Who Is a Vulnerable Road User?

This concept of a vulnerable road user (VRU) includes anybody who is not in a car, truck, or on a motorcycle, from pedestrians to work zone laborers. Many traffic laws take into account sharing the road with pedestrians and cyclists to reduce traffic fatalities.

“The current environment is cars going one way and cars going the other way. But the reality is that cars and trucks are not the only things that use roadways,” says Kurt Holzer, a personal injury attorney and cyclist in Boise, Idaho. “So, how do we create an environment for those people that recognizes their right to use it, and establishes ground rules for those in cars and trucks?”

The idea, Holzer says, is that roads are actually shared-use public spaces. ”It’s an international idea, but there are a handful of states that have adopted definitions of VRUs and what the rules are if you’re in a car versus somebody on a bicycle. The one that has gotten the biggest play is the idea of three feet to pass for bicyclists and other users.”

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Dangers for Pedestrians and Cyclists on the Road

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 7,300 pedestrian fatalities in 2023. That amounts to one pedestrian death every 72 minutes. Another 68,000 pedestrians suffered injuries involving motor vehicle accidents and collisions.

Cyclist and pedestrian safety driving habits include:

• Watch for pedestrians and cyclists everywhere
• Use caution when driving at night or during bad weather
• Follow the speed limit and be ready to stop when turning or approaching an intersection
• Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks
• Don’t pass vehicles stopped at pedestrian crossings

Tips for Drivers

“Pass people with safety,” says Holzer. “Three feet is a minimum, right? Give a cyclist or any VRU as much room as you safely can to pass them. Don’t surprise them — don’t hit your horn. Even a friendly beep can be a scary thing for a cyclist, which can lead to a problem.

“Recognize that cyclists sometimes aren’t as far to the side of the roadway as you would like because the side is littered with things that present risks to cyclists that are not risks to drivers — a poor drainage grate, a piece of glass, a pothole that your car wouldn’t notice. They’re not out in the roadway just to cause you a headache.”

Holzer adds that drivers should learn to dial back the aggression that can come with isolation inside a car. “Think about the existence of other people on the road and you’ll notice them more often. It’s just a matter of changing our mentality and changing our focus. Creating safety for cyclists out there, there’s no single prong.”

Tips for Cyclists

“Be visible,” says Holzer, “meaning wear a helmet and avoid wearing dark clothes without your lights or reflectors at dusk. Be predictable — don’t jump from sidewalk to roadway to crosswalk to the other side of the roadway. Ride in a straight, predictable line and follow the law.”

“One factor that makes cycling safer is having a certain amount of mass — there’s safety in numbers. You’re at greater safety if you see 30 cyclists on your commute to work than three cyclists. Drivers will be more tuned into cyclists if they see them regularly.”

Common Misconceptions From Drivers and Cyclists

“The number one common misconception is that all vehicle drivers are jerks, and all cyclists are jerks,” notes Holzer. “The reality is that the vast majority of people, whether on their bikes or behind the wheel, are really cool with one another. I’m a 6,000 to 8,000-mile-per-year road cyclist, and my experience is that the vast majority of vehicles pass me safely, pay attention to me, and are concerned about me as a person — sometimes overly!”

“It only takes one driver to make your ride scary. The same is true on the other side: People say cyclists are all crazy; they’ll pass 500 cyclists, and one will be a jerk. And that is what they use to define cyclists. There are bad actors in each group, and we are often defined by our bad actors.”

State Vulnerable Road User Laws

Oregon was the first state to pass a VRU law for pedestrians and cyclists in 2007. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) charged all states to complete a VRU Safety Assessment. VRU assessments review state safety performance for serious injuries, fatalities, and areas of high risk. About a dozen states have now passed VRU laws.

According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), most serious bike accidents occur at non-intersection locations. Many of these accidents happen when drivers pass bicyclists on the road, in bike lanes, or on the side of the road. Separating cyclists from road traffic with separated bike lanes helps protect some of the most vulnerable road users.

“Stop as yield” is an approach adopted by many states. This principle allows cyclists to treat stop signs as a yield and proceed when safe to do so. “Intersections are dangerous places,” says Holzer, “and these get cyclists out of the way faster.”

“The worst thing about our ‘stop as yield’ is you get cyclists who ignore the ‘stop’ part, and you still have to stop at a red light. You can go after if it’s safe to go, but you don’t get to just go run through it. We all have perception issues, right? Even though you have a greater perception of what’s going on around you on a bicycle than you do in a car, you can still miss things. We can only see so much, and this is really the problem for many motorists: They don’t see you.”

After a Bike or Pedestrian Accident With a Vehicle

If you are involved in an accident, get medical attention as soon as possible. Head, neck, and back injuries do not always show up immediately after an accident. Getting immediate medical attention can reduce the risk of long-term damage.

Anyone involved in an accident should exchange contact information, including auto insurance information. If there are injuries or severe property damage, you may have to contact the police to do an accident investigation. Drivers must contact their car insurance company after any accident to file a claim.

For legal advice after an accident involving a car, bike, or pedestrians, talk to an auto accident lawyer. A local automobile accident attorney can review your case and explain your legal options.