When running for exercise, you often have to run near the road. It may be the only convenient place to run for a few miles, at least without paying for a gym membership. Many people would also prefer to run outside, as opposed to running on a treadmill or an indoor track.
Unfortunately, running by the road does bring some inherent risks. Pedestrians get hit and injured every day by cars. So what can runners do to stay safe?
7 important tips
If you’re looking for ways to stay safe while you exercise this year, here are a few safety tips to keep in mind:
- Always use the sidewalk, if there is one, to avoid running on the shoulder.
- If you do have to run on the shoulder, always face toward oncoming traffic.
- Use crosswalks and obey traffic signals.
- Wear brightly colored clothing, perhaps using reflective tape if you have to run at night.
- Consider wearing a headlamp or a vest with LED lights.
- Do not run with headphones, which can be distracting and prevent you from hearing traffic.
- Pay extra attention to parking lots and driveways, where drivers may suddenly be crossing the sidewalk without looking.
- If you can, make eye contact with a driver before running in front of the car, even when you have the right of way.
These tips will certainly reduce the odds that you’ll be injured in an accident, but drivers can still make mistakes. All it takes is one mistake for you to suffer serious injuries, so be sure you know how to seek financial compensation if this happens to you.