[Full-timer]

Happy for all the folks that are out early in the am or late evening walking, with or without dogs and getting some exercise.

Here is the thing. If it is dark, (or close to dark), why are some of you wearing dark clothing and or no reflective clothing and no lights of any kind?

You do understand the same people that wipe out light poles and drive through concrete walls are some of the same people driving in the dark right?

Remember, while walking it has nothing to do with how well YOU see while walking. It is about what everyone else doesn't see.

Wake up people. Smarten up a little.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Full-timer

Happy for all the folks that are out early in the am or late evening walking, with or without dogs and getting some exercise.

Here is the thing. If it is dark, (or close to dark), why are some of you wearing dark clothing and or no reflective clothing and no lights of any kind?

You do understand the same people that wipe out light poles and drive through concrete walls are some of the same people driving in the dark right?

Remember, while walking it has nothing to do with how well YOU see while walking. It is about what everyone else doesn't see.

Wake up people. Smarten up a little.

If someone cannot see a light pole or a concrete wall then a small patch of reflective material is not going to make any difference at all.

If I was going to walk some distance on an unlit road then I might carry a light but here I am walking on a sidewalk or an MMP with street lights all around me.

Of course, carrying a light or wearing reflective clothing will make you more visible and *should* make you more safe. But there is also something to be said for personal responsibility. Trust me, I am awake when I walk and I'm smart enough to pay attention to the traffic around me. I will stay out of the path of your car as long as you keep your car off the sidewalk.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Full-timer

Happy for all the folks that are out early in the am or late evening walking, with or without dogs and getting some exercise.

Here is the thing. If it is dark, (or close to dark), why are some of you wearing dark clothing and or no reflective clothing and no lights of any kind?

You do understand the same people that wipe out light poles and drive through concrete walls are some of the same people driving in the dark right?

Remember, while walking it has nothing to do with how well YOU see while walking. It is about what everyone else doesn't see.

Wake up people. Smarten up a little.

Darwin Award nominees

[Arctic Fox]

Walk facing traffic (i.e. walk on the left side of the road) and be prepared to get off the road if the approaching vehicle isn't pulling out to pass you

[LuvNH]

Originally Posted by Full-timer

Happy for all the folks that are out early in the am or late evening walking, with or without dogs and getting some exercise.

Here is the thing. If it is dark, (or close to dark), why are some of you wearing dark clothing and or no reflective clothing and no lights of any kind?

You do understand the same people that wipe out light poles and drive through concrete walls are some of the same people driving in the dark right?

Remember, while walking it has nothing to do with how well YOU see while walking. It is about what everyone else doesn't see.

Wake up people. Smarten up a little.

This is a subject that has been raised many times on this board and nothing changes. From my personal perspective, the best color to wear if you walk in the dark is one of the electric orange or lemon yellow shades tghagt seem to show very well at night.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by Full-timer

Happy for all the folks that are out early in the am or late evening walking, with or without dogs and getting some exercise.

Here is the thing. If it is dark, (or close to dark), why are some of you wearing dark clothing and or no reflective clothing and no lights of any kind?

You do understand the same people that wipe out light poles and drive through concrete walls are some of the same people driving in the dark right?

Remember, while walking it has nothing to do with how well YOU see while walking. It is about what everyone else doesn't see.

Wake up people. Smarten up a little.

Good point. Things are dicey enough even for those who walk at high noon.

I do a lot of walking but avoid walking after sundown. Some time back I misjudged the time and was faced with walking two miles back home in the dark. I stuck to the MMP but took to the ditch (dry time of year) when one was approaching from the front or back. Worked pretty well; my eyes were adjusted to the dark so I could see, vaguely, where I was walking, but I did step on something that wriggled under my foot and jumped sideways right quick. Never did see what it was.

[fishon]

Villagers have proven every day that they aren’t smart enough to do the right thing.
They walk on the wrong side of the road, fail to wear reflective clothing, walk in the cart lane and follow their dog back and forth across the road.
If it weren’t for all the doddering old people The Villages would be a paradise.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox

Walk facing traffic (i.e. walk on the left side of the road) and be prepared to get off the road if the approaching vehicle isn't pulling out to pass you

That is what I do.

[vintageogauge]

I've never heard of a walker getting injured by a car around here when it was dark. Parking lots during the daytime seem to be the place for pedestrian injuries.

[ThirdOfFive]

Originally Posted by fishon

Villagers have proven every day that they aren’t smart enough to do the right thing.
They walk on the wrong side of the road, fail to wear reflective clothing, walk in the cart lane and follow their dog back and forth across the road.
If it weren’t for all the doddering old people The Villages would be a paradise.

The "doddering old people" I can understand if not necessarily approve of. But just about all the dodderers aren't out walking at all, especially after dark. They ARE a danger in a golf cart but that is independent of the time of day.

No. It isn't the dodderers. It is the younger people, seniors as well as non-seniors, people with the majority of their marbles still intact, but who are so far sunk into obstinacy or abject denial to think they can handle things with skills and reactions that Father Time has robbed them of years--perhaps decades--earlier.

People need to face up to reality. And if there is one place in the good old USofA where facing up to reality is NOT a common virtue, it is The Villages.

[dnobles]

There’s a man in my area who wears all black and is on his phone. I have said something to him at least 10 times to no avail. One morning he was standing in the middle of the street with his back to traffic on his phone. I was told he’s reading the Bible. We ride our bikes at 5:30 am. He’s going to need the Bible if he gets hit by a car. He’s 79 years old and is clueless to anyone being around him. This morning I could barely see him. I’ve thought about asking community watch to speak to him, but they probably can’t. I don’t want to see him hurt or killed. And I certainly don’t want to be the one to hit him. His neighbor said something to him and for a while he wore white, now he’s back to all black.

[Bogie Shooter]

Saw this in District Bulletin.
Community Watch Stresses the Importance of Safety in the Dark
Community Watch would like to remind everyone of the importance of being seen at night and in the early morning hours. Community Watch Patrol Drivers see many residents outdoors at night and early in the morning getting their walking, jogging and bicycling done while it’s cooler. Many residents also use the hours before sunrise or after sunset to walk their dogs. Many of these dog walkers, joggers and bicyclists are often wearing dark clothing with no reflective apparel. Unfortunately, this makes it very difficult to see them — especially with foggy or rainy weather.
We, at Community Watch, along with our friends at The Villages Public Safety Department, encourage healthy outdoor activities but want to stress the importance of doing them safely. To help achieve that, Community Watch is continuing its complimentary reflective slap band campaign and Patrol Drivers will be handing out the reflective bands pictured below. The slap bands can be worn on your wrists or ankles and will help drivers see you in the darkness.

Reflective slap bands can also be picked up at the following locations Monday – Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM:
• The District Customer Service Center at 984 Old Mill Run, The Villages, FL.
• The District Customer Service Satellite Office at 4856 South Morse Blvd.,

[starflyte1]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

If someone cannot see a light pole or a concrete wall then a small patch of reflective material is not going to make any difference at all.

If I was going to walk some distance on an unlit road then I might carry a light but here I am walking on a sidewalk or an MMP with street lights all around me.

Of course, carrying a light or wearing reflective clothing will make you more visible and *should* make you more safe. But there is also something to be said for personal responsibility. Trust me, I am awake when I walk and I'm smart enough to pay attention to the traffic around me. I will stay out of the path of your car as long as you keep your car off the sidewalk.

We don't have sidwalks around where I live. People walk in the street and wear dark cloths, making them very hard to see. And please don't tell me I shouldn't be driving. I have a perfect record and 20/20 vision.

[mikreb]

Turn the flashlight app on your cell phone and carry it in your hand.

[kidnerkim]

Totally agree! Also walk facing traffic not with your back to it. Check out lighted LED vest on Amazon-runners vest. Mine flashes & changes lights. I feel much safer!