We have books full of laws for drivers.  Maybe it’s time we made some laws for pedestrians too.

I don’t want to hit anybody who is out walking at night.  Not only will it possibly kill them but it will ruin the balance of my life.  I will be sued for whatever I am worth and lose because a walker was too dumb to make himself visible to the cars.  Make some laws about what pedestrians can wear at night; it might save them and some drivers also.

Sorry, Fred, but we don't need one more traffic law (there already is one for pedestrians), we need to instill some common sense and awareness in people.  Pedestrians simply don't stop to think that even though they can wee the bright lights from the approaching car, the driver may not see them at all.  At dusk, colors and shapes tend to blend together because there is very little contrast as daylight fades.  Even light colored clothing is not all that visible.

There are simple things to help reduce the problem.  First, DO wear light clothing - it certainly can't hurt to be more visible.  Second, walk facing traffic (like you were taught as a child) so that you can see oncoming traffic and have a chance to react if a drvier fails to see you. Third, stay off the pavement if at all possible, and as far to the edge of the shoulder as you can, i.e. don't make yourself a target.  Finally, always assume that the driver of that oncoming car CAN'T SEE YOU!

There are problems from both sides.  From the drivers side.  Too many of them think 6 inches is enough room to be safely away from you, they won't even move over, too many are talking on cell phones to pay attention, too many just don't see you.
On the pedestrian side there are too many that will walk out in traffic at any time, any place.  I have seen cars almost rear end another car because someone does not wait for it to be safe to cross the street, and walks out right into traffic.
My biggest problem  is the planning of some of these roads.  I do walk on the sidewalk, when there is one.  But too many roads don't have sidewalks, let alone any shoulder to walk on.  So you are risking your life walking into traffic, because there is no where else to walk.  If you do get a good road that has sidewalks, they will disappear at bridges, underpasses, and other places.  Many roads don't even have cross walks at lights.  This is a bigger problem in the sprawl areas.
Laws aren't the answer.  Better planning and awareness campaigns will do a lot more good.

As I write this post, I’ m about to finish preparations for an overnight in Virginia Beach. Running shoes may be at the top of my packing list, but they’ re only the beginning. Here’ s the unabridged version: