Haven't done one of these in a while, but you know what bothers me? People who go for a brisk stroll after dinner in the pitch black and decide to wear dark clothing. Say what you want about headlights and attentive driving, but if they are walking next to a heavily wooded area they are simply hard to see. I guess this mainly happens when you've been in a highly lit area [downtown] for a while and then make your way into a residential area -- your eyes haven't had time to adjust to the darkness. There are times when I've been driving and the only reason I knew there was someone on the road ahead of me was because my headlights reflected off of their dog's eyes. This problem is exacerbated by the idiots that walk on the street when there is an available sidewalk or path -- when there is no reason to assume that people would be on the right of way. The worst part is that risk for a automobile-pedestrian collision can be greatly minimized for a few dollars and minimal effort.
A high visibility vest can be had for $15, and makes you visible from a hundred yards away. This gives you potential 360 degree protection and is a small price to pay to prevent being hit by some inattentive driver trying to text, eat, shave, and apply makeup at the same time. Think the vests look too garish? Then maybe reflective arm or leg bands aren't for you either, if you feel high-vis orange or yellow clashing with your pants takes precedence over your safety. I've seen a few people walk with flashlights and while it's a step in the right direction, most of these people wield old dim halogen lights and aim at their feet. Attentive ones will give a few quick swipes towards oncoming cars, and I applaud them for that.
But I think too many dog walkers and late night exercisers have a sense of entitlement on the road and feel that since they can see well enough to walk they should easily be seen by cars. With the recent increase in driver distractions (cellphones, GPS, touchscreens) coupled with the classics of radios, friends or alcohol, I think it's only a matter of time before these people become statistics. Being aware that not everyone around you is aware would be a good thing for some people to realize.
A high visibility vest can be had for $15, and makes you visible from a hundred yards away. This gives you potential 360 degree protection and is a small price to pay to prevent being hit by some inattentive driver trying to text, eat, shave, and apply makeup at the same time. Think the vests look too garish? Then maybe reflective arm or leg bands aren't for you either, if you feel high-vis orange or yellow clashing with your pants takes precedence over your safety. I've seen a few people walk with flashlights and while it's a step in the right direction, most of these people wield old dim halogen lights and aim at their feet. Attentive ones will give a few quick swipes towards oncoming cars, and I applaud them for that. But I think too many dog walkers and late night exercisers have a sense of entitlement on the road and feel that since they can see well enough to walk they should easily be seen by cars. With the recent increase in driver distractions (cellphones, GPS, touchscreens) coupled with the classics of radios, friends or alcohol, I think it's only a matter of time before these people become statistics. Being aware that not everyone around you is aware would be a good thing for some people to realize.
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