Reflective Clothing and Recreational Equipment After Dark Are Life Savers

The street wasn't particularly well-lit, so it came as an even bigger shock when the couple and their dog came into my headlight beams.

I was driving in the city and did not have my brights on, so there isn't much reaction time when the lights hit the pedestrian or pedestrians in question. Luckily, I was only going 25 miles per hour (BECAUSE it was so dark), but the speed limit was 30.

The outcome could've been much different...and worse.

But that wasn't the end of my brief odyssey. You know, driving is like a real-life video game. The object is to get from point A to point B safely and without injuring anyone. And, that analogy never rang truer than Thursday night.

The couple with the dog was on the right side of the road. Immediately after stopping to avoid them, two joggers appeared on my left. Up next--and still on the left side of the street--was a guy riding his bicycle. Finally, on the right, came a kid on his scooter.

Yeah, a video game...at an advanced level.

Would you like to guess what all six of those people had in common? None of them were wearing bright clothing or anything that reflected light. And, again, it was a dark street. The lights ON that street were spread out and two of them weren't working.

For the love of God, people, PLEASE wear something that reflects if you choose to walk, job, or go bicycling after dark. It's for YOUR own good. I wouldn't have been hurt. THEY would've been.

This is not the first time I've seen people out late wearing clothes that prevent them from being seen. But this WAS the first time SIX of them were thrown in my path in quick succession like that.

After that little nerve-challenging gauntlet, I pulled over and stopped for a while and then decided to write this blog. And I decided to do it at night...after dark.

I just hope you can see it.