The other day I was out riding my bike along the shoulder of a not-very-busy road when an SUV passed me. Maybe 100 ft. beyond me though, that SUV drifted over onto the shoulder, over the 3 ft of gravel and finally into the grass before finally veering back onto the road. Distracted driver? On the phone? Tired? Under the influence? I guess any of the above are possible.
I couldn’t help but wonder what would’ve happened if said SUV drifted 100ft sooner, into me. Yeah it would likely have been lights out. Scary.
Since the nice weather is here and we all want to get outdoors, let’s review some running/riding safety basics:
Tell someone you’re heading out, roughly where you’re going, and when to expect you back.
Carry ID. I’ve had a Road ID for years.
Carry your phone.
Follow the rules of the road. Run against traffic, ride with traffic.
Minimize time spent on busy roads with minimal shoulders. I plan my routes so this is the case and even then, there are issues sometimes.
Run with a buddy and think twice about frequenting isolated areas alone. If you do, be very mindful of your surroundings. Skip the music entirely or at least go with one earbud.
Change up your running/riding routes and times so you are not predictable to a potential attacker.
Wear hi-viz, reflective clothing and lights if necessary. Save ninja black for bright, clear days or indoors.
Make your intentions clear. Make eye contact with the driver before proceeding to make sure they see you. Drivers turning right are so intent on watching for an opening on their left, they often fail to look to their right. So if you’re approaching from the right on foot, beware. Trust me on this one, I speak from experience.
Be wary of poor conditions i.e.: fog, heavy storms, snow, darkness, etc. It’s hard to anticipate what drivers will do under normal conditions. Bad weather only compounds the matter.
To help you be more visible when you hit the road, I’ve got an Illumiseen LED Reflective Safety Belt up for grabs.
Personally I’m not a fan of running in the dark, but when marathon training hits in the heat of summer, you’ll find me out dark and early to avoid the brunt of sweltering temps.
The Illumiseen Belt is fully adjustable and charges from a convenient USB port, so there are no batteries to change. Each charge lasts approx. 36 hours. The belt can be set for solid light or flash mode. Wear it around your waist or diagonally over your shoulder. I’ve been wearing my Illumiseen Belt when I walk the dogs at night. It’ll also be a great safety tool for the kids on Halloween. The Illumiseen Belt sells for $29.99 and is available on Amazon.
WIN IT! One lucky reader will win an Illumiseen Belt.
I’m linking up with Amanda for Thinking Out Loud Thursday.
And with the Giveaway Roundup.
Great tips. I’d definitely wear it during my early morning runs. I try to be very cognizant of my surroundings and also try to avoid roads without shoulders. It’s amazing how even if it’s daylight somehow drivers seem to stare right through you.
Great tips! And this vest is such a great idea! I’m not a fan of running in the dark either, but in the winter months, I don’t have much of an option – I have to start my runs before the sun comes up or I won’t get them in!
Thanks for the reminder girl! Safety in this sport is SO important, I am glad everything turned out ok on your ride! I have almost been hit on my bike more times then I can count, I once took a bike handling class from a proc cyclist who said that being hit by a car was just a matter of time if you spend time riding on the road. It’s scary but I personally know several riders who have been hit, so I as far as my number one tip would be don’t assume that a drive see’s you, and like you said make eye contact before going, it’s worth losing a little time at a stop to be safe!
Wow, what a scary experience! Being safety conscious is super important since you never know what might happen. Its always important to run or bike against the flow of traffic so that you can see who is coming your way.
I like to run early in the morning…winter is miserable enough without it being super dark too!
Great tips! They may seem like common sense to some, but you really can never be too careful on a run or ride! I run with a group and even then we’ve had some close calls.
The belt would be great as we run so early most of the time due to the Florida heat. We need to wear headlights and anything that can make us more visible to drivers. Safety first!
Great tips! I had a near miss earlier today (while driving) when a woman on 53 decided she wanted to change lanes. I must have been in her blind spot. Or she was distracted. It’s getting bad out there! Do they have a car sized LED vest?
Great post. There have been so many tragic accidents recently that it’s so scary to even venture out. I’m thankful I have paved trails where I run and don’t have to worry about running on shoulders. I wish everyone was as lucky! The belt would come in very handy for my summer early morning runs. Even though we are on trails here, it’s always a good idea to be visible for bikes!!
Great message – Always be aware! So many distracted drivers by phones these days 🙁
I love that belt, I have Nox gear, but that looks pretty awesome as well 🙂 The darkness is my usual and I do carry pepper spray.
Great tips! I get very nervous riding my bike on the street, period, because drivers tend to be so distracted and have a tough time seeing us. I would wear the reflective gear early in the mornings or after dusk.
Whoo, those belts look great! They say, “SEE ME!”
Great tips and such important reminders! Its been weird running around my new neighborhood because its a lot quieter than the city was, but these days its light out so early that Im not really running in the dark. Not sure what I will do when winter comes back around. but this reflective belt would definitely make me feel safer out there!
These are definitely some great tips! I’m honestly terrified of cycling on the roads because of how bad some of the drivers in my city are. The city is making more of an effort to make specific bike paths, but until then I try to stick to parks and side roads to avoid becoming roadkill. I had a friend who was in a pretty bad collision with a car, and she ended up in the hospital for over a month because of how much damage was done to her skin 🙁
Next month I’m running the Rogue Relay in southern Oregon and with most relays, at least one of the runs will be in the dark! This would be fantastic to have for our team to wear during the night runs!
These are great tips. I’ve worn a RoadID for years and highly recommend it. I get off work at 3am and do my summer runs after work. This would be very helpful!! Thanks!
Great tips. The belt would be perfect for early morning, dark winter runs!
I would wear this during early morning runs!
I always try to run well off the road on paths and in well-lit areas when it’s dark. Usually in a group too. And I’ve got my id bracelet (which I lovingly refer to as my dementia bracelet for when my memory fails and I can’t remember my name or address.)
Great tips! I go with the “always assume they can’t see you” theory when I’m running. I’ve seen too many drivers not notice runners as all to ever assume I’m seen.
And that belt would be cool for Ragnar – that’s the only time I run outside when it’s dark out…
I never thought about changing up routes/times. Makes sense! That belt looks really cool.
Very good tips. I used to do early morning runs outside with reflective vest and headlamp. Now I have a treadmill and will tend to use that if I’m daylight constrained (or ride my bike on the trainer instead of outside). That said, drivers can be inattentive no matter the time of day so high vis clothing, blinky lights, and riding in groups is helpful.
Definitely great advice. I generally run in neighborhoods, so I’m not too worried about cars. My current worry is a stray bear. However, I do run in the dark a lot, so this would be great!
No need to enter me but just wanted to share! I only run outside 1 day a week & I go on the sidewalk. Even as early as I run, I see people go thru stop signs & more. I don’t wear headphones either cause I want to hear behind & in front of me! 🙂 I also try not to start until it is at least getting light.
definitely great tips. People seem to think they are indestructible anymore. It pains me to see drivers distracted by their phones and not paying attention to runners/pedestrians or respecting the right of way.
I would love something like this for night time runs.
Great tips!! This would be very useful on early morning runs!
In the midwest, it seems almost impossible to find time to run in the daytime during the winter. I’d definitely use this a lot come winter! It would also be perfect for those early morning runs in the dark.
Great post, great tips (I even pinned for future reference) and I need to get that glow in the dark belt! We’re moving soon and the new neighborhood has tons of great areas to run, but I definitely need to stock up on these safety essentials!
You can never be too safe! Great tips for any athlete.
Have a fantastic Friday Marcia!
great tips! Safety first! People just do not pay attention for whatever reason, it is sad. I hate it when I here about a runner getting hit my a car, there is room for everyone!
Great post! This belt would be awesome for those early early morning runs
Good post! I actually think about this a lot. I’m not a biker but they are very common in Austin. So many drivers don’t pay attention that I just worry!
I would use this when running at dusk ( I rarely run at night for safety reasons) and when I ride my bike on the road:)
Great advice!! I always always slow down when I see a runner or biker on the road. I wish everyone did. I run a lot early Saturday mornings when less traffic without music so I can hear cars way in advance! You can never be too careful. A doctor riding a bike on the Natchez Trace in Mississippi was killed a couple of years ago. 🙁
Great tips! Safety is SO IMPORTANT!!
This would be great for early morning runs in my neighborhood, especially after daylight savings in the fall.
During long runs at 4am!
I would wear this belt during our night time runs
I run with knuckle lights at night, but I could add this too!
I am terrified of cycling in the road. So glad that van didn’t drift into where you were riding!
Thanks for the running safely reminder!!!
I would use the belt in the early morning hours when I run.
Best advice:
If using headphones, only put in one so that you can clearly hear noises around you.
Night time runs