At the beginning of last December I wrote about my experiences as a pedestrian at night in the Lower Mainland of B.C. and how dangerous it can be.
This time I’m going to admire my neighbour who goes out in all weather to walk her dogs.
When it’s dark she wears a white LED headlight with a reflective vest and she puts a red LED light on the collar of each dog. There’s no mistaking them as they walk along the road edge!
Reflective material, whether it be a vest, an armband or even trim on your clothing is the first step toward becoming a bright pedestrian. No batteries are required and these reflectors don’t break, leaving you unprotected.
Not stylish, you say? I would rather be in one piece rather than in style.
Bright LED armbands are an inexpensive purchase these days. Wrap one around your right upper arm, or better still, both upper arms and you are ready to face the dark as a bright pedestrian.
Switching them to blink tends to draw the eye of other road users, making you more visible and more likely to be yielded to or passed by at a safe distance.
There are other styles of LED strips available to fit many recreational needs. Bicycles, baby strollers, dog collars and leashes, even in the visors of runner’s caps are examples of these versatile lights.
There really is no need to go unseen at night, Be a “bright” pedestrian.
For more information on this topic, visit www.drivesmartbc.ca. Questions or comments are welcome by e-mail to comments@drivesmartbc.ca. Tim Schewe is a retired RCMP constable with many years of traffic law enforcement experience. His column appears Friday.
