10 Safety Tips for Runners and Drivers who Share the Same Road

When living in San Jose, CA I was lucky to squeeze in a few weekly runs. For safety purposes and to arrive to work on time, I aimed to run during early morning hours before Silicon Valley traffic set in. Now that I've moved to the Olympic Peninsula and am currently not working, I run more frequently. Instead of running neighborhood city streets, I run on two-lane highways. With increased mileage has come increased awareness of how things are and how things outta be! So with this new awareness, I present to you:


Ten Safety Tips for Drivers and Runners Who Share the Same Road

Drivers:

1) If you're driving on a two-lane road, it's not only courteous to slow down if a runner is approaching, it lets them know you see them. There is nothing more stressful to a runner than a driver who rigidly remains in their lane no matter who else is on the road with them. Seriously, people, you're not going to get a ticket for veering into the other empty lane in order to give a runner some road.

2) If you drive an extra large vehicle (big rig or commercial vehicle) reducing speed even by 5 miles can provide an extra measure of safety for the runner. Large vehicles traveling as slow as 45 mph can create enough wind to force a cap off a runner's head.

3) If you see a runner up ahead but also recognize another driver approaching in the opposite lane, slow down. Most runners recognize that when an approaching car slows significantly, it means there is almost always a car behind them and the runner needs to move as far into the shoulder of the road as possible. This more easily allows the two oppositely passing cars to simultaneously pass one another.

4)  If driving behind a runner who is travelling in the same direction as you in order to turn a corner, be extra careful and watch for hand signals. For example, at a 4-way stop, when the car in front of you is heading straight and you are turning right and the runner is also turning right; it is NOT okay for you to force the runner into the shoulder to avoid having to wait for the car in front of you. If the runner has not yet passed your car, then it's safest to wait until the car in front of you has gone.

5) There is never any good reason to honk at a runner unless you're trying to save them from a falling meteor. Honking can be terrifying, especially from big-rigs with loud horns. It disrupts the runner's breathing, pace, and is an overall jackass move.

6) Don't stop runners for directions. I don't know why anyone thinks this is a good idea but it's not. It has a similar effect on the runner as #5 minus the terror.

7) If you're driving a hilly road, pay close attention. Runners cannot see your car as you're descending the same hill they're ascending. If your attention is not fully on driving while going down that hill and the road doesn't have a lot of shoulder, the runner has few options to get out of your way.

Runners:

8) Unlike bicyclists who ride with the flow of traffic, I recommend running against traffic so that you're facing oncoming cars. This is so you can see them approach you and potentially get out of the way.

9) It's okay to wave at drivers whether you know them or not. I wave, not because I'm trying to awkwardly make new friends, but to command my presence. I also wave to create road harmony. The unintended consequence, of course, is pretty soon all the drivers will be waving at you. But that means they see you which means they probably won't run you over.

10) On two-lane roads, I run in the middle of the lane against traffic. I also wear a flashing LED light clipped to my clothing. That way the driver sees me as a potential threat (or at minimum a curiosity worth slowing down to examine). I stay in the middle lane until they're close enough to see me and then I veer into my shoulder.

Bonus Tips for Runners: Carry pepper spray, a Road ID bracelet and, a cell phone. Let someone know your route in advance; what time you left and when you've returned. For more info on Road ID use my unique refer a friend link: http://RoadID.com/invite/4XHVV-TAFPHHVQD2Z For extra safety, I have been known to snap a selfie before leaving (to demonstrate my attire) AND my route.

These tips came from experience. I learned them the hard way, or perhaps I should say "the fortunate way" (I lived to write about them!) Including the wretched Pepsi truck who sped by so fast my hat flew off my head. If I missed anything, or if you have a suggestion to add, pleases write me a reply. I'd love to hear them.

In Celebration of Mom this Mother's Day

This will be the first Mother's Day that I won't have an easy opportunity to be with my mom. We moved from the Bay Area to Washington State about 7 months ago so by necessity, our visits are less frequent.

Mom is in her 80's and the older I get, the more blessed I feel to chat with her almost every day. But as Mother's Day draws near, this new distance between us has produced a strange sense of loss. A recognition that we're not as young as we used to be and opportunities for future visits will inevitably lessen. The chipper sales clerk robotically chanting, "Happy Mother's Day" for some, can actually produce sadness. As I've been scrolling through my Facebook feed this weekend, this sensitivity has been particularly apparent by all the photos of people with their moms and then every so often a photo that looks this:

So in an effort to pick myself up and share a special kind of Mother's Day gift for my mom, I've decided to dedicate this blog post to her by detailing some special memories.

Mom in high school

Mom last week 

 

1) As a child, Mom took me to out to lunch most Saturdays and then to our favorite local book store. This independent bookshop was located inside the old El Paseo de Saratoga shopping center which was one of the more picturesque shopping centers in Santa Clara County during my childhood. It had waterfalls, trees, park-benches, restaurants and art galleries. I still associate the joy of a crisp new book to read with those carefree afternoons with Mom poring over books. Whether she intended to or not, Mom channeled my love of shopping into a love of reading. I eventually owned every Nancy Drew book (and still do!)


2) Because my high school was across town from my home, Mom usually picked me up from school my Freshman and Sophomore years. She would often pick up some amazing pastry from a specialty supermarket near our house. I can still recall the delight at that pink box on the seat waiting for me. In retrospect, that was such a thoughtful gesture for a working mom to fit this into her schedule. Remember, this was before the convenience of Starbucks.

                                                                 

Is there anything that says "I love you" more to than a pink box containing something sweet?

3) When my husband and I decided to start a family we didn't conceive right away, so I considered fertility testing. One of the tests I was told, would be painful but I scheduled it anyway. The night before the procedure, I had so much anxiety about it which, coupled with the longing to be pregnant led me to call Mom. As if she had some special knowledge, she insisted I cancel that appointment because there was "nothing wrong" and we should consider other options. I so greatly wanted to believe her even though I had no logical reason to do so. So I found myself grasping hold of her faith and cancelling the appointment. We did explore other possibilities and I was pregnant shortly thereafter. I still marvel at the absurdity of her adamant position and my willful suppression of reason to accept it. But she was right. She just knew, as mothers so often do.

4) She used to prepare care packages for those she knew were struggling financially. This was not through a charity organization, she just saw the need and responded to it. She'd amass non-perishable food into boxes and we'd pack them in the trunk of her car. She would take me with her in the evening to deliver these food boxes and I got to experience first hand what selflessness looks like.

Only last year when I was packing for our move, she stopped by when I was bagging up clothes to donate. "Don't you give those away, I know a family who could use them." It was mildly frustrating because she'd be interrupting my progress but at the same time, endearing that she keeps track of people in need.

5) When I went back to work after being at home mom for several years, I struggled with the transition. I was going to school two nights a week, was working full time and still had a family to feed. She would come to my house and clean and do laundry. On my school nights she would have dinner prepared when my husband and I got home. She would do this all while she was working her own job. I don't know how I would have kept it together without her. I don't know that I ever will.


Even though I'm a mom, I will always equate Mother's Day with my mom. She is who I celebrate whether I get to see her or not. For those who can't call Mom this Mother's Day, I would encourage you to do something that would make your mother happy. After all, mothers are the very first people who selflessly and unconditionally love us. And that is worth celebrating.


Happy Mother's Day Mom.