Night Runs: 4 Tips to Stay Safe

Night runs are great. The roads have started to clear, your work for the day is done, and your mind is finally at ease. With the boost of adrenaline and that hint of runner's high you crave for, you feel like the weight of the world has been lifted off your shoulders.

However, night runs do pose some safety threats you need to be on the lookout for. In this article, we'll take a look at 4 tips you need to practice to stay safe!

You can get away with minimalist clothing when you run in broad daylight, but this isn't the case if you're running at night. It's super important for you to invest in reflective clothing so that you can be seen by motorists. They're not going to look out for you if they don't see you.

And no, just wearing bright neon clothing isn't going to cut it.

One of the best reflective clothing you get is a running jacket that has a lot of reflective trims and detailing. This post lists the best reflective running jackets you can get this year.

What can you do if you don't have the budget for a reflective jacket? You can look for reflective strips that you can stick to your clothes. You can also get the strips for your running shoes.

Good music enhances the running experience. But unfortunately, it's a horrible idea to put your headphones on at night. You can't hear the vehicles and people around you as well.

Pedestrians are at higher risk of traffic accidents when they are distracted by music. A study in 2012 found that the number of pedestrians in the US who were injured or killed while wearing headphones tripled from 2004-2011.

This is attributed to "inattentional blindness" which is when a person fails to miss obvious objects in front of their very eyes due to lack of attention.

If you're a beginner, this may look awkward to put into practice. But this can be the difference between life and death (it's that dramatic). When you run against traffic, you can see what's coming.

If a motorist had too much to drink and is driving haphazardly, you'll be aware of this and can quickly maneuver out of dangerous situations.

Running against traffic is also one way to reduce the chances of being a crime target. If you're running alongside traffic, you don't have a good view of who is behind you. They could be trailing you from miles out but you aren't aware of this. This is not a situation you want to be in as a vulnerable pedestrian. When in Los Angeles, it is important to prioritize your safety and take proactive measures. Hiring the services of an experienced pedestrian accident attorney, such as Los Angeles Pedestrian Accident Attorney, can provide you with valuable legal support and guidance.

Night running isn't the time to test out a new route. If you do get lost, you're bound to panic faster and there might not be people around to help you find your way. Always stick to a route you're familiar with. Be it around your neighborhood park around just a few laps around the blocks you walk by frequently.

Save the route explorations for the day!