Casper Area Kids On The Street Raise Safety Concerns For Drivers

I came across a post on the Casper Classifieds Facebook page expressing concern about a group of school-aged kids walking in the middle of the street and blocking traffic. Not only is that dangerous, but it's illegal.

READ MORE: Does Casper Need More Crosswalks? 

2024 Wyoming Statute Chapter 5 Article 6 Section 31-5-605 states:

31-5-605. Walking along roadways or highways.

(a) Where a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable it is unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway.

(b) Where sidewalks are not provided any pedestrian walking along and upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the left side of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction as far as practicable from the edge of the roadway.

(c) Except as otherwise provided in this act, any pedestrian upon a roadway shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles upon the roadway.

Pedestrian/Vehicle accidents are far more common in the Casper area than they should be, which is concerning, given that they could be avoided. In 2019, Casper experienced three of these accidents in five days, resulting in pedestrian fatalities.  After that period, the Casper Police Department posted a reminder on Facebook that is just as impactful today as it was then.

If you are walking, only cross the road using a designated crosswalk. Always look both ways before crossing the street.

Even though pedestrians have the right of way, do not assume a car sees you and is going to stop. Wait for a car to come to a complete stop before stepping out into the roadway.
If you are on foot at night, wear reflective clothing, carry a flashlight, or use the flashlight application on your phone to help drivers see you.
If you are driving, be aware and look for pedestrians in the road, crossing the road, or walking alongside the road. Do not assume they see you.
If a pedestrian is crossing the road or is waiting to cross, stop your vehicle and remain stopped until the pedestrian has fully crossed the road.
If driving past someone walking along the roadway, significantly slow down your vehicle, move to the other lane if possible and give the person as much room as you can by driving around him or her.

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Remember that you can be fined, either as the pedestrian or the driver.

State laws and City of Casper ordinances allow Casper Police to issue citations to help avoid these tragedies. Crossing the road at a non-designated crosswalk, not stopping for a pedestrian in the roadway, along with other unsafe practices are all offenses that can be cited.

When driving, keep a lookout for pedestrians, and when walking, keep an eye out for vehicles. It's not guaranteed that you'll be seen.

READ MORE: How To Avoid Frustrating Road Construction In Casper.