Being Prepared Before Hitting the Road in Washington State

The morning of December 4, 2015, a pedestrian was hit by another car while they were out of their vehicle checking on a rollover accident. This is the second time this has happened in the past three days. While it's not a common occurrence, it's still two too many. The Washington State Patrol wants to remind you of a few things to make sure this doesn't happen to you or someone you know.

Drive the conditions, not the speed limit. If it's raining, snowy or especially when it's icy, slow down and give yourself plenty of room from the car in front of you. Don't forget to use your headlights, too, even if the sun is shining.

If you happen to see a collision, call 911. If you stop to help, make sure your vehicle is away from the other vehicle not to slide into it or have someone hit you, hitting the other vehicle. If you actually get out of your vehicle, don't put yourself in danger.

If you're involved in a collision, call 911, turn on your hazards and, if you can, pull over to level ground. If the accident made your car undrivable, as a last resort, get out of the car and stand somewhere in safety. That's only if there's a chance someone else may slam into your vehicle.