As someone who enjoys walking in your neighborhood, you are familiar with the roads and how to get from place to place safely. There are some parts of your route that are busy and congested, so you make sure to wear bright colors to stand out.
Is that really enough, though, to keep you from getting hit? The answer is, “probably not.”
Bright colors help, but they don’t prevent all collisions
While putting on a brightly colored vest before running outside or wearing a bright hat might stand out, that doesn’t mean that you’re immune from ending up being struck by a car. Drivers may notice you too late or be looking away from the road when they cause an accident, so just looking bright isn’t going to be enough to stop all crashes from happening.
There are other steps that you’re going to have to take if you want to eliminate your risk of a collision as much as possible. These include:
- Walking with a purpose instead of aimlessly
- Looking both ways and listening for approaching vehicles before crossing the road
- Leave your headphones or earbuds out when you’re walking, so you can hear what’s going on around you
- Being aware of obstacles, like walkways that are closed and that force you to walk in the roadway
- Walking in groups, so that your entire group is much more visible
You shouldn’t expect standing out to be enough. However, if you walk with the intention of getting somewhere specific, are aware of your surroundings and walk with others, then you’ll improve your chances of getting where you’re going safely.
Of course, wearing reflective gear and bright colors can help. Drivers who might otherwise not have noticed you might avoid you because of it. Just don’t expect this simple adjustment to prevent every possible crash, because it’s highly improbable that it will.
Hit by a car? Know the next steps to take
If you are hit by a car, know what to do next. Call 911, wait for help and then be prepared to make a claim against the driver for their inattention or reckless behavior.