Abe's Aides: Running Safety

Abe’s Aides are a series of running hints for Abe’s Army recruits. Each week we hope to present some information that will help you learn about the science, art and plain old common sense of running and walking. Various local experts in fitness, physical therapy, nutrition, running and other health disciplines have helped write this series. We hope you’ll find them helpful and will use the hints in your own running. Feel free to make comments or send questions by responding to the comment area below.

This week’s topic is on running safety. Using the roads, running alone, weather conditions, and being prone to injury while running are all safety risks. Several web sites offer useful safety tips. Some suggested sites are:

Road Runners Club of America Women’s Safety Tips: www.rrca.org/women/
Knowing Your Running Safety Rules: www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-449.html
How to Run Safely: http://running.about.com/od/running101/ht/runningsafely.htm


Runners’ Rules of the Road – Colonel James W. Fay

Runners are subject to the following Illinois statutory provisions (see 625 ILCS 5/11-1001 through 1011 for additional information):

If a sidewalk is provided and its use is practicable, it’s unlawful for a runner to run in the roadway

If no sidewalk is provided adjacent to a roadway, a runner should run, facing traffic, on the left side of the roadway on the shoulder or as close as practicable to the left side of the roadway.

If you are running on a roadway, you must yield the right of way to all vehicles on the road unless you’re crossing at a crosswalk.

Safety Points to Consider

Always wear light colored or reflective clothing to enhance your visibility

Take special precautions when running in reduced visibility conditions like darkness or when it’s raining. For example, consider the use of reflective running vest or red “blinker” lights.

Whenever possible, make eye contact with the drivers of vehicles which pose a potential threat before making your move.

Don’t wear headphones when running on public roadways.

When running on a roadway with a group of people, be considerate of the need for vehicles around you to get by.

Generally, be alert to what’s going on around you. Most dangerous situations can be avoided by simply making sure you’re seen by others.