Friends please take a moment to consider your driving habits. This weekend a cyclist in Miami was killed while riding in the bike lane in broad daylight. I did not know him personally, but the story struck home as I know so many of you on the roads via foot or bike. We also road in that exact spot Sunday only one short hour after the accident…furthering my fear of biking.
Runners World recently published an article about a college student doing everything right, cautious, reflective gear, running against traffic and yet she was hit and killed by a car. We frequently hear stories from friends who had a close encounter with a one ton man eater, which we all say are scary but then make no true change to our behavior.
I often see runners dashing across the middle of the road hoping to beat traffic and they are probably less likely to be hit because they are in direct site. New studies have shown that even talking in the phone reduces your peripheral vision, let alone TEXTING!! Following is an excerpt and two images that show how your brain eliminates what you see (you may have seen this on Oprah recently).
This is what that same driver sees when she starts talking on a cell phone. "You suffer from something called inattention blindness," David says. "About half of that information is removed. It could be a stop sign. It could be a pedestrian. And so this inattention blindness makes us drive in a way that makes it worse than drunk driving."
Please put down your phone, please please don't text... Runners and bikers please assume all of us drivers are stupid and blind. That car is bigger and faster:
Slow down at the intersection
Make eye contact
Wear reflective clothing
Carry a flashlight or headlamp
Carry ID
...pace is far less important than arriving home to your family and friends in one piece. Please travel safe as drivers, runners, walkers and cyclists.
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Gratitude Journal
Jan 20
I am grateful for you reading this
I am grateful for everyone who stops texting and driving
I am grateful for everyone who stops talking and driving
I am grateful for saving even one life
I am grateful for those petitioning for better pedestrian safety
31 good vibes:
Thanks for this Amanda. We all need to be more aware of our surroundings as drivers AND as athletes.
And wow, how timely was my giveaway? :)
I drive in NYC and I am always extra careful. Runners need to be smart too! So many people come out full speed behind cars and run across lanes wearing ll black in the night. I try to always watch for people but sometimes I dont see them until the last second! Image if I was texting or not really paying attention!
Oh no... I hate reading these stories. Thanks for the important reminder.
They recently passed a law here in Ontario that cell phone use is prohibited while driving. Handsfree calling is allowed, but NO texting. Severe fines.... that's how it should be.
I stopped biking as I was too scared on the roads, I've come accross so many drivers who don't seem aware that you're there or even care that you're there. I almost got road rage at a woman who came so close she almost knocked me off my bike... I've also had to jump out of the way on a pedestrian crossing when and old lady didn't see me and my partner, you definately have to assume people haven't seen you!
This was an aweosme post, Amanda! We all could use the reminder :)
My recommendation is to wear flashing lights on both sides - since traffic approaches from multiple directions.
When I approach intersections, even if I have the right of way I wave my arms around a little, kinda like an idiot, to make sure I have the car I'm approaching attention. I had a close call during Ragnar and hope to never repeat it! Great post to raise awareness!
You are so right! I just read the same thing the other day!
Very important post! Thanks for bring this topic up again. It is always important that we remember to be careful both when driving and/or running/biking.
Very important message... Thank you!
You are so correct! I had a close call a few weeks ago and now it's on my mind like it should have been in the beginning.
Thanks so much for posting this, it's a great reminder for all of us. I have literally taken phones away from friends when they are driving and start e-mailing/checking e-mail even if it's at a red light - the diminished attention to driving is just so scary!
You can't be too careful, that is my motto. I used to run in the dark or even at dusk, I just don't do it anymore espcially after my probs as you mentioned. Even when I have the hubbs on the bike next to me, I don't assume people are paying attention - very scary.
Thanks for sharing this, so sorry to hear about that biker - a very tragic day.
BTW, I wear 2 RoadID's...hehehehe, one on my shoe and one on my wrist - yeah, I'm crazy like that :)
Lots of runner vs car accidents in the news lately. Very sad. Thanks for the post to remind us to be proactive.
Thank you for posting this. Hopefully more tragic incidents can be avoided. :(
So sad and scary, and yes, it's on my mind everytime I head out for a ride. Happy that many cities are banning handheld devices while driving, let's hope it makes a difference :) Great reminder.
Amanda...OMG what a horrific story but thank you for the post. When I lived in NC and SC I was a member of local running clubs. I learned early on from the locals that runners are not respected. Not only that, it was almost "sport" to see how close people could get to us without hitting us. It was scary and thought when we left the Carolinas we'd never see that again. The past 6 yrs in CA were wonderful. The most pedestrian-friendly place ever. Now, in AZ, again, I have had MANY close calls in just 5 mos. Pedestrians/runners totally not respected. In crosswalks we get honked at. With the baby jogger. Seriously, people don't get it. Sigh.
Thanks for this post! I think it's so important for us as runners and cyclists to really assume that no one sees us!! Better to be safe and slow down or stop your run/ride for a minute than to dart in front of a car you think sees you! Good post girl, such a sad story to hear:(
I just read that RW article when I was on the treadmill Sunday. I think we all need to be reminded to ride/run safely and think smart... thanks for thie reminder!
I was so scared after reading the RW article because CALI is full of cars, everywhere and it is jungle out there some days! Making eye contact has always been my strategy...if I can't see their eyes, they might not see me so I just take responsibility for myself and stop, wait...whatever it takes. Thanks for these reminders.
Wow, I am so sorry to hear about this. Being a biker, I always head to what you just said, "that all drivers are basically stupid". Scary stuff. I'm usually always cautious of fellow bikers and runners, but I know a lot of people who find us to be an annoyance.
I am all for the cell phone ban. This is so scary and sad.
THANKS!!! You totally read my mind. Today I decided to walk/jog around the block where my son does karate. I was jogging against traffic & I thought about the very thing you wrote about today. I will be more cautious when I run & when I drive. Thanks so much for writing this post. This kind of awareness needs to be out there more.
Its sad how tragedies have to happen in order for some people to learn. Thanks for bringing light to this.
The LG booth at CES has a driving similator where you actually texted while you drove- and it illustrated that texting while driving can be just as bad as drunk driving and in many cases worse. It was scary to see myself on film.
GREAT post! I try to be a defensive runner and biker... it seems so much harder on the bike, tho. That is so sad about the cyclist in your area. :(
Also it should be noted that texting while driving is illegal in some states! I don't think people take this seriously enough - it's dangerous!
I saw that on the news, it was so sad. Witnesses said it took a long time for help to arrive for the bicyclist. Sad situation. Rickenbacker is dangerous, just last year a foot ball player, Donte Stallworth, killed a pedestrian (who was jay walking) on Rickenbacker. Stallworth was under the influence.
Thanks for posting this. By the way, I saw you went to Art Deco weekend at South Beach. I used to go all the time when I lived in Miami. I loved it. Have you been by the Versace Mansion?
take care, like your new look on the blog :)
On my way home from a run this past weekend I had a runner cut off my car SO badly. I couldn't believe that I almost hit her and it pissed me off. Runners have to be careful, too. It's hard to stop a moving car when you bolt out in front of them!
Also, the new format of your blog doesn't fit right on my computers. I can only see half of this comment box. So if i have typos on the left side, it's cause I can't see what I'm typing!
Great reminder! No conversation is worth someone's life.
Let the cell phone ring!
I read this in passing yesterday, clicked the links, thought "oh how sad", then went on with my day as usual... until my run, when I COULD NOT stop thinking about it. So haunting and unfair, but good to be reminded of. Thanks for posting it.
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