Be a Smart Safe Coolamon Pedestrian and an Aware Driver
Be a Smart Safe Coolamon Pedestrian and an Aware Driver
As a pedestrian on our rural roads it is essential to be visible to the drivers of cars and trucks and motorcyclists. Making the decision to take the dog for a walk in the early morning or late afternoon, meeting your bestie for an end of day debrief walk or going for a run to clear your mind or start your day is not necessarily a process given much thought, we usually grab the dog lead, mobile phone and/or head phones and off we go, but your visibility to those driving vehicles should be something we pay attention to.
At dawn and dusk visibility is particularly poor for drivers as natural light is reduced, and it is not dark enough for vehicles to use their headlights. Although at dawn those still dark moments before the sun has fully risen and at dusk when the sky may still be light, are dangerous times for drivers and pedestrians as the road will be darker with deep shadows and less contrast in colours, creating poor visibility.
To stay safe pedestrians, need to be conscious of the difficulty drivers will have seeing them at these times of the day and take extra precautions to compensate for the drivers reduced visibility.
When out and about walking or running think like a driver. The tips below will help you be more visible to drivers. Make these smart choices:
If possible, avoid being on the road, use footpaths and nature strips to stay away from motor vehicles rather than being on the edge of the road.
Cross the road with care, be mindful of the drivers reduced visibility.
At pedestrian crossings do not assume drivers have seen you and will stop, wait until the vehicle has stopped.
Be visible, if you are out walking, jogging, or running increase your visibility to others by adding some reflective and high visibility gear.
Invest in a high visibility dog leash.
Walk, jog, or run on the side of the road facing the oncoming traffic.
Look out for hazards: Potholes, uneven surfaces, and other trip hazards.
For drivers, just before sunset and just after sunrise is a critical time for driving, with reduced visibility increasing the risks to all road users.
Just after sunrise and just before sunset the sun is low in the sky and can shine directly into your eyes, with the glare impacting visibility. This is particularly noticeable when driving east in the morning towards the rising sun and west in the evening towards the setting sun.
Especially when visibility is poor drivers need to be more aware of hazards like: Pedestrians, wildlife, livestock, cyclists, joggers, and runners as all these hazards can be difficult to see and quite unpredictable.
To minimise the effect of glare and low visibility below are a few safety tips for drivers:
Wear sunglasses if the sun is directly in your eyes or glary, keep a pair in your car where you can access them easily and safely.
Adjust the sun visor to block the sun from shining directly into your eyes.
Adjust your driving as low visibility increases reaction time, reducing speed and leaving extra space between vehicles reduces the risk of a crash.
Turn on headlights as this will increase your visibility to other drivers.
If you can avoid driving at dawn and dusk do so.
Pull over in a safe place or stop for a break if the glare from the sun is making it difficult to see.
Keep the windscreen and windscreen wipers clean and in good condition.
Be alert to hazards