Roads are for cars, right?

Well, wrong. They are for automobiles, bicyclists and people.

And sometimes, the twain meet in unscheduled ways. And therein lies the problem.

In 2015, pedestrians were one of a few groups who use the roads to see an increase in fatalities in the United States. That year, there were 5,376 deaths, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

That’s way up from 2014, when 4,884 walkers died.

So yeah, this is a serious problem.

As more cities strive to be “walkable,” someone forgot to inform the drivers.

I moved to Pasadena three years ago because it was a walkable community.

So, I walk to the train station and take the train to downtown Los Angeles or to Monrovia and Azusa. I’ve even connected in Union Station and taken Metrolink to Angels Stadium of Anaheim or to the Expo Line to Staples Center.

Since trains are cool, my wife and I agreed to walk to the Gold Line a few blocks from where we live and ride it to Union Station, then take Amtrak to Santa Barbara.

Everywhere during that trip I felt safe — except during the short walk across the streets in Pasadena.

At the corner of Cordova Street and Arroyo Parkway, the walk sign flashes, but the pedestrian is still in the middle of the street when the cars turning left onto Arroyo Parkway start coming. They come fast, oblivious to the pedestrians.

So many times I’ve had close calls. Now, as I get the green light and the walk sign, I wave my arms up and down and make noises to alert the drivers not to run me over.

That may be one of the more dangerous intersections for walking. But there are probably plenty more dangerous intersections in your neighborhood.

“On average, a pedestrian was killed every two hours and injured every seven minutes in traffic crashes,” wrote the NHTSA in a report titled Pedestrian Safety.

I couldn’t believe my ears when I heard neighbors in South Pasadena tell its City Council about cars that drive alarmingly fast down their street — even when children are walking with their parents in the street because there is no sidewalk — or when bicycle riders and pedestrians are crossing.

These residents also can’t walk on the sidewalk because a train gate prevents them. Seems like their only solution is to drive.

I hope not. Because walking is good for you.

Walking to the Trader Joe’s the other night was a workout, especially in the heat and humidity. Walking to and from the train stations and taking the train instead of my car pollutes the air far less and reduces the amount of greenhouse gases released.

That makes me feel good. Like I’m contributing to a solution.

Walking is healthy exercise. It moves blood to and from the heart. And you can get great calves!

September is Pedestrian Safety Month, as declared by the California Office of Traffic Safety. Motorists and pedestrians are being warned to look out for each other.

In our state, the numbers of pedestrian deaths in traffic crashes (don’t call them accidents!) is on the rise.

In 2015, 852 pedestrians were killed and more than 13,000 were injured on California roadways. In 2016, while agencies still pore through reports, that number is expected to be surpassed. In fact, the OTS says the number of pedestrians killed in California may reach an all-time high of 900 dead in a year.

The percentage of pedestrians as part of roadway deaths is skyrocketing. About 25 percent of all roadway deaths in California are pedestrians. That is up from 17 percent just 10 years ago.

We have to do better. So let’s start now. Here are some tips to follow:

1. Put down the cell phone when crossing a street.

2. It goes without saying that drivers should never be looking at or talking into a cellphone (except with the aid of a hands-free device).

3. Pedestrians should stop jaywalking.

4. Be alert in crosswalks — they are not impenetrable.

When I’m waving my arms while crossing a street with a flashing “walk” sign, I’m thinking of the OTS safety campaign motto:

“Pedestrians Don’t Have Armor.”

Steve Scauzillo covers transportation and the environment for the Southern California News Group. He’s a recipient of the Aldo Leopold Award for Distinguished Editorial Writing from The Wilderness Society. Follow him on Twitter or Instagram @stevscaz or email him at sscauzillo@scng.com.