At the beginning of the year, more people may begin spending more time outside in an effort to become healthier as part of their New Year’s Resolution. Taking a long walk is a great way to burn off calories and to enjoy the outdoors, but it is important to be on the lookout for potential drunk or distracted drivers in the area.
If you’re figuring out when you can exercise outside during the day, you should know when drivers can get dangerous on the road. The North Carolina Governor’s Highway Safety Program details which times of the day have had the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the state. You need to know what you should be on the lookout for if you or a family member plan on taking a quick jog around these times:
The Early Morning
Plenty of residents get up early around 5 to 6 A.M. to run around the neighborhood before they go to work. However, there are also a large number of workers who have to drive around that time who either deal with a long commute or clock in early.
Many of these motorists are still waking up. You won’t know if someone on the road had a good night’s sleep or they are late to work, so try to keep your distance and wait patiently when you can so you won’t end up on their windshield.
Evening Hours
The times of the day with the highest pedestrian fatality rates on the program were between 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. Since many workers arrive at their homes between 5 to 6:30, many of them go outside during this period.
However, there are still many other employees coming home during this time and people that participate in evening activities. They may be exhausted after a long day of work, and they may have a harder time seeing you since the sun sets earlier during the winter months. Make sure you are aware of when the sunset is during the day so you can plan when you walk and what you will wear accordingly.
Late Night
There is still a dangerously high percentage of fatalities between 8:00 P.M. to midnight in North Carolina. Not only will you have exhausted drivers to deal with, but there is also a higher chance of coming across someone who didn’t have a designated driver to take them home from the bar. Wear bright and reflective clothing so they can see you and be on the lookout for any suspicious movements from other drivers.
If you take all of these precautions during your walk or run and still end up getting seriously injured by a reckless motorist, you may need the help of an attorney who has experience in dealing with auto accidents.
