Protect Yourself With These Running Safety Tips

After a long, cold winter, the return of spring and summer means lots of runners are eager to lace up their running shoes and head outside again for their running sessions. The days are longer, the temperatures are warmer, and the days are sunnier, so there are lots of days to get a really great run in. But just because the days are longer again and the weather is nicer, it’s important to remember that there are still lots of ways to get hurt.

Every year, thousands of pedestrians are injured in accidents involving cars and other types of motor vehicles. In the state of Michigan alone, 2,317 pedestrians were injured in motor vehicle crashes in 2018 resulting in 145 fatalities. And since so many people are out walking and running in the summer, pedestrian accidents often go up during the warmer months of the year. Before you head out on your next run, here are a few safety tips to help you stay safe.

Make Yourself Visible

Even though we have more hours of daylight during the spring and summer, it’s still very important to do everything you can to make sure other drivers can see you while you run. Brighter is better when it comes to running clothing since it helps you stand out to other drivers, even on a bright and sunny day.

On very hot days, lots of runners like to beat the heat by heading out for their runs early in the morning or later at night. If you’ll be running in the dark, be sure that you have some reflective material in your running outfit. It’s also a good idea to carry a light or wear a headlamp, which will help you stand out to other drivers and help you see better at the same time.

Listen In

The more aware you are of your surroundings, the more chances you have to protect yourself. Lots of people love to listen to music while they run, but wearing headphones makes it harder to be aware of potential hazards like oncoming vehicles, dogs, or bicyclists. If you don’t want to give up the music completely, be sure to keep the volume down and, ideally, listen with only one earbud in.

Think About Your Timing

Runners, walkers, and bicyclists aren’t the only ones out there enjoying the nice summer weather. More people are out driving, too, so it’s a good idea to try to avoid running during peak travel times. As you plan your running routes, also consider some of the places you pass along the way and how busy they are at the time you run. For example, if you often pass by places like restaurants, you may want to avoid running during peak dinner hours when fewer people will be coming in and out of the parking lot or find a new route to avoid those areas.

Even if you take all the right steps to protect yourself when you run, the negligence of one driver can easily send a runner to the hospital. If you’ve been injured in an accident with a car or any other type of vehicle, it’s important to contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Being involved in an accident is extremely overwhelming and it’s only natural to have a lot of questions. At Goodwin & Scieszka, we have lawyers who are very experienced in helping the victims of car crashes. Contact us for help with your case today.