Thomas Henson, Mike Beaman Discuss Running Safety Tips
Attorney Thomas Henson of Bike Lawyer NC and Mike Beaman of Inside-Out Sports recently collaborated on an informative safety video for runners, offering tips to keep them safe out on the road. You can watch the video below:
Similar to biking, running is a great activity to stay active. But also like biking, running can prove quite dangerous if you do not take the proper precautions to protect yourself from other traffic on and off of the street.
From rechargeable lights that wrap around the back of your shoes, to reflective, sizeable stickers that can go on back of clothes or shoes, there are many useful tools that you can utilize to increase your level of visibility and your level of protection. Here are some helpful tips to make sure that you stay safe during your run.
- Wear shoes and clothing that are reflective.
One of the riskiest times to run is when the sun isn’t fully out. From dusk until dawn, it becomes much more difficult for those sharing the road to be able to see you. Luckily, most shoes have reflective piping and a lot of clothing have reflective properties to help increase your visibility and subsequently your safety.
- Wear a headlamp when it is dark out.
In addition to reflective clothing, it is a good idea to purchase yourself a headlamp, such as a Black Diamond spot headlamp. This can be worn as a headband or placed on top of a running cap. It even has various modes so that it can provide minimal to bright lighting.
- Be aware of your environment.
No matter what time of day or night, it is always imperative to be aware of your environment. The biggest protective measure that you can take is to look out for yourself. You need to be your own best advocate. Just because pedestrians have the right of way does not mean that cars are going to know or adhere to that. Be sure to make eye contact with drivers – even on the sidewalk – so that you can be sure they see you.
- Keep music low enough to hear traffic and people around you.
One of the most important ways to stay safe from your surroundings is to be able to hear. A runner on a greenway who cannot hear someone saying “on your left” is at risk of getting hit. That’s why it is so important to keep any music that you’re listening to at a low enough volume so that you are able to hear clearly.
Stay Safe and Have Fun on the Road!
Bike Lawyer NC is owned and operated by attorney Thomas Henson of Henson Fuerst Attorneys – a team of trusted Personal Injury lawyers based in Raleigh, North Carolina. As a dedicated cycling enthusiast, Thomas provides educational tools and useful resources to promote endurance sports including cycling and running. He uses his years of experience as a Personal Injury lawyer to help advance the cause of rider and runner safety and wellbeing.
If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a bicycling or running accident through no fault of your own, call Henson Fuerst at 919-781-1107 for a free initial consultation.