About Jogging Safety Vests
Thousands of pedestrians are killed by motor vehicles each year, frequently during evening hours when visibility is reduced. Reflective safety vests, jackets, wrist bands and other gear can increase your visibility by 200 percent, and these products are available in a range of styles and prices.
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Significance
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Running in the cool of the evening has its appeal, but it can be deadly. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration reports that in 2003, over 4,700 pedestrians were killed by motor vehicles, accounting for 11 percent of all motor vehicle fatalities. Over half (54 percent) of pedestrian fatalities occurred between 4 p.m. and midnight, when darkness reduces visibility and drivers are more likely to be drunk. Wearing a safety vest or other reflective clothing significantly increases the chance that drivers will see you before it's too late.
Function
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Safety vests for joggers, bicyclists, construction workers, public safety crews and other pedestrians on the road at night use retro-reflection technology, which directs light back to its source instead of dispersing it. Light from a car's headlight would bounce straight back from a retro-reflective strip towards the driver. This makes objects appear brighter in low-light situations.
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Features
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Basic mesh vests with retro-reflective strips can be worn over a bare chest or a heavy jacket and sell for as little as $5. Reflective wrist bands that contain a key pocket, like the terrycloth-lined Nathan L.E.D. Wrist Runner, sell for around $10. Lightweight running jackets and track pants with reflective strips on the back, arms and seams can be seen up to 300 or 400 feet. Prices typically range from around $80 for Adidas adiStar Track Pants to $90 for Brooks NightLife Jacket and $130 for a Nike Sphere Pro Jacket.
Benefits
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It takes a car traveling 57 miles per hour about 200 feet to stop, which is barely the nighttime visibility distance between a driver and a pedestrian wearing blue jeans and a white shirt, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Retro-reflective gear increases a pedestrian's visibility to at least 300 feet and by as much as 1,300 feet when several reflective items are used.
Considerations
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Making yourself more visible to drivers increases your safety but you still need to watch out. Speeding vehicles contribute to a third of pedestrian fatalities and drunk drivers account for 40 percent. Run on a sidewalk if at all possible. If there is no sidewalk, run on the left side of the road, against the flow of traffic. Reflective wear can lose performance ability with machine washing, so follow manufacturer's instructions carefully.
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Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by Jonathan Ruchti
