Summarize:

They would much prefer to avoid a human and, if given the chance, will escape rather than attack you. The problems humans face with snakes usually arise due to accidental encounters or human actions towards the snake––both of these problems can be managed from the human side, as this article will explain. Snakes like to be hidden most of the time but warmer weather or surfaces can entice them out to sun themselves too. For the most part, snakes like such places as under rocks, on ledges, in trees, inside hollow logs, under wood piles and in shrubbery. They can also be found in water––both land and water-based snakes can swim. Things to note include: Snakes are masters of camouflage. They can easily be overlooked for leaf litter, sticks and plant materials. This is why you are at greater risk of encountering a snake when going off-path and into thick vegetation. The human defensive skill when walking amid potentially dangerous wildlife is vision and whenever human sight is reduced, the risk increases. However, they can hear through their inner ear via their jawbone, and what they hear are vibrations. Thus, having a heavy footfall as you walk will help to alert a snake you're coming, allowing it to slither off in the opposite direction. This inability to hear in the same way that we do can be used to your advantage, as you can alert your fellow humans that you have come across a snake without any concern that your talking will aggravate it. As already explained, snakes don't want to attack humans but there is one guaranteed reason a snake will seek to bite a human and that is when the snake feels threatened. A snakebite is a defensive reaction, not a deliberate attack. After all, it wants to live as much as you do. A snake will most likely feel threatened when:  You tread on it. While this may seem unfair, it's a case of the snake not knowing what has suddenly landed on it and you being surprised at its presence. Surprise is something you can control and prevent. The snake is cornered. A snake, like any animal, will react unkindly to feeling it has no escape from a potential predator (yes, you look like a predator to a snake, as you're much larger and you're moving). Some snakes are more fiercely defensive than others, so always presume a snake will fight its utmost to stay alive. You hassle the snake in any way, such as chasing it, throwing rocks at it, trying to pick it up, or worse still, trying to kill it. Knowing when a snake is turning defensive can help you to take fast evasive action. Things to watch for include:  The snake curls itself up; in some snake species, this can be a sign it is getting ready to strike. The snake raises its head. When done in reaction to an encounter, it is a fairly good indicator that the snake is getting ready to strike. Striking distance of a snake is generally about half the snake's body length but you should give the snake at least double that length of space between you and it. Moreover, this is dependent on the snake type, hence the need for learning more about the snakes in your walking area, before you go walking. A lazy-looking snake is as capable of attacking as an active one. A snake is able to attack from any position, so assume that any snake needs to be avoided. Baby snakes are harder to see and likely to be more easily frightened than an adult snake and are just as dangerous if threatened. Dead snakes can still bite, due to biting reflexes and venom lasts a long time post death. Hence, obey the best rule of all in relation to snakes––don't touch. While we may (or may not) have the same fear reactions to snakes as other primates, we have the advantage of learning to help us to manage such fear. We have many things to fear in our daily lives, but we manage these things through learning and better understanding. For example, we know not to step out in front of a moving car because we have learned what the outcome will be if we do. Snakes are no different––the more we learn and adjust our behaviour accordingly, the better we can stay safe and avoid snakes. Moreover, if we cannot avoid a snake encounter, we can at least know how to react to increase the chances that both human and snake depart each other's company unscathed. The remaining steps will help you to better understand how to avoid snakes and how to cope should you come across one.
Realize that the majority of snakes do not seek an encounter with humans. Know where snakes hang out. Be aware that snakes hear differently from humans, as they lack external ears. Understand what causes a snake to attack a human. Know what to be wary of in the snake's body language. Assume nothing about a snake's willingness or otherwise to attack. Learn more about snakes.