END OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME & FREE REFLECTIVE STRIP SAMPLE (USA ONLY)

TIME CHANGE  SAFETY MESSAGE (2018 UPDATE)   The days have more dark hours now that we are into the heart of fall headed toward winter, regardless of how time is kept, by standard or saving method. When we ‘fall backward’ this weekend it means we will be experiencing more darkness in the late afternoon and evening than in the morning. 
 
Beyond this week, the dark portions of the days will lengthen until the middle-end of December. Running/walking/cycling outside on streets, sidewalks, and paths narrowed by piled-up snow or made poorly visible when precipitation falls in the cold air will require taking extra care with and paying attention to safety. Vehicles can’t see us all that well and we also cannot see our way easily.  Outdoor exercisers can make themselves more visible, make their way more visible, or do both for protection from harm.
 
Wearing clothes, shoes, or accessories decorated with reflective material is one way to increase the visibility of our persons. Head lamps and clip-on strobe lights can do this for us also. Lights such as these may also be able to illuminate our paths. 
 
A YouTube video titled “No White At Night Challenge”, by FlashBrite Reflective Products  makes the point of how wearing white to be visible isn’t always an effective strategy. The conditions in which the 7 people in the film are moving forward toward the camera, and are not seen, are unusually dark. Therefore, the demonstration is a bit extreme considering most of us wouldn’t run in a pitch-black area where we cannot see where we are going! 
 
But considering the terrible view I get through a cold wet automobile windshield at night, HIGHER visibility is essential for runners, walkers, and cyclists this time of year. Even the act of crossing well-lighted streets can be dangerous, especially wearing dark clothing. Experience has shown me that when driving in the city, it is difficult to see pedestrians who dart into the street between parked cars. It stands to reason that if we choose to share the roadway with autos while exercising it is our responsibility to take steps to be seen.
 
My warning is that tiny strips and dots of reflective material applied or sewn onto shoes, sleeves, hats, and pant legs are probably NOT going to help all that much in making you more visible. There won’t be sufficient time for a vehicle’s driver to see you and avoid a collision. The positioning of this material may render it visible only from the front as you move forward (on wrists, sleeves, hats, headlights) or from the rear (heel, pant cuffs, jacket backs). The ‘high viz’ material may be so small as to appear to be bits of light reflected off nearby objects. Be wary of apparel that has a few dots or dashes of the material on it but claims to be a safety purchase.
 
If you wish to be protected, employ multiple means and be inventive.  An intense headlight that shows the way in the dark can be set on strobe/ flash and, when carried in the hand, can be shone in any direction to warn of your approach. Heel flashers can be clipped to the front of a jacket or the back of a hat rather than worn on the shoe.   If relying on reflective clothing, make sure the materials cover a large enough surface area that the shine can be seen to bounce with your motion. A moving bigger bright spot will more readily catch the attention of a driver than a small glimmer that seems to be stationary.
 
I walk in very quiet streets in the early morning when drivers are rushing to get to work and not expecting other cars, let alone people, to be on the streets with them.  Even in low traffic areas precautions are necessary. You’ll want experiment to find what fits your needs, starting with items within your budget.  
 
Nathan Sports has a variety of products that can help in this regard. Other reflective vest products are available that vary in price. Earned Runs recently reviewed the Noxgear Tracer 360 visibility vest, a device with colored light tubing. 
 
While supplies last, Earned Runs will mail a complimentary sample of 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material reflective strips to those who request a bib set with a mailing address in the United States.  The restriction is due to the higher postal cost of international  mail.  
 
RUN & MOVE HAPPY!

https://www.runnersworld.com/gear/g20843279/12-items-to-keep-you-safe-on-the-roads/
​
NO WHITE AT NIGHT CHALLENGE
By Flashbrite Reflective Products Shows runners wearing 3M Scotchlite reflective materials
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37U0tQjEkRU
 
https://www.nathansports.com/visibility
 
https://runnerclick.com/best-night-running-gear-reviewed/

​