Because Your Future Matters

Roadside safety tips for runners

On Behalf of | Oct 19, 2020 | Uncategorized |

For those who find the treadmill too boring for a run of any significant distance, the only real way to get consistent cardiovascular exercise is to run outside. This usually means running near the road or on the sidewalk. While that outdoor run may be more invigorating and exciting, it’s also more dangerous. 

As a result, runners need to keep safety in mind every time they take to the streets. Here are a few tips that can help:

  1. Make eye contact and/or wave at drivers if you have to cross in front of a car. Never step out in front until you know that they’ve seen you. 
  2. When in doubt, pretend every driver has overlooked you, almost as if you were invisible. It’s better to be on the defensive.
  3. Try to limit running at night or in the dark. If you must, wear reflective clothes, headlamps and other equipment to make it easier for people to see you. 
  4. Even during the day, it helps to wear bright colors that stand out as you cross the black or gray pavement.  Visibility really does save lives.
  5. You may carry your phone to track your distance, but don’t use headphones with it to listen to music, audiobooks or podcasts. These are just distractions that make it harder for you to know what’s happening around you. 
  6. Always obey the traffic laws. It may slow down your pace, for instance, but wait for the walk symbol to cross a busy street. 

Unfortunately, even these safety tips cannot guarantee that you won’t get injured in an accident with a careless or negligent driver. Many of these accidents happen at crosswalks or other types of intersections. If you get injured, you need to know what rights you have to financial compensation