Running in an Urban World – A Runners Guide to Avoiding Accidents – Part 1

By Al M. Kind

City dwellers face a unique set of challenges when running. Although the city might seem safe for runners there are hidden dangers that most people do not expect.This article points out a few tips on avoiding accidents while running in the so-called urban jungle.

Running Times

A lot of accidents happen during the time between zero traffic and the start of the early morning rush. This happens as the cars start trickling in on the roads. Because the runner spent time free from any vehicular distractions he is less careful. This spells disaster when combined with drowsy early morning drivers.

This time can vary from place to place. A place closer to the city might mean that this will occur at around the 7 o’clock. A little bit farther and it be pushed earlier by half an hour. It is best to figure out which time is best for your running route.

Running Towards Traffic Not Alongside It

It is your responsibility to keep yourself safe while running on the road. After all, roads were made for vehicles to run on. A good tip that all country runners follow is to run facing incoming traffic. This allows you to be able to respond to whatever happens in front of you.

Running along traffic with vehicles passing you from behind gives all the responsibility of avoiding accidents solely in the driver’s hands. Playing a part in avoiding accidents with the drivers you share the road with will greatly diminish your chances of being involved in one.

A Humble Attitude

A lot of runners think that a human at the road should be given the right of way. This is fine in pedestrian lanes where drivers expect people to be. But on road running situations you will find yourself often in places where people least expect you to be.

It is best to practice a safety first attitude. Realizing that drivers are not expecting to see a runner on the road will allow you to have a mindset of safety.

Waving or smiling at a passing car will help you in the long run. A pleasant experience with a few drivers may mean that they will expect you to be there at a particular point on the road on a certain time. This will greatly enhance your safety while running on the road.

A humble attitude will also help if you run in a crime filled neighborhood. It is sad to see how places like this have crime rates well above the national average. If you find yourself running in this environment it is best not to be boastful or proud. Doing so might save you from getting shot. This might sound extreme but the risks are very real for people who live in high crime areas.

Choosing the right time to run, running alongside traffic and running with a humble attitude will greatly aid a runner minimize the risks of injury when running in urbanized areas. For some it may seem trivial but these three things may likely save a runner his life when the time comes.

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