Be safe & be seen on the road

Winter brings a drop in temperatures, changeable weather and less daylight, meaning a greater chance of mishaps and accidents on the roads. It’s still important to keep active all year round but in winter, there are some additional factors to consider when using the roads as a pedestrian or cyclist.

Be safe & be seen

By day, wear reflective or bright-coloured/fluorescent clothing so other road users can see you. By night, wear something reflective so you can be seen when car headlights are shining towards you. Even a small patch of reflective material can help drivers to see you from very far away. Cyclists should make sure bikes have a good set of front and rear lights (white at the front, red at the back).

Don’t drink and walk/cycle

Alcohol is a significant contributor to pedestrian fatality rates. If you plan on drinking, plan to get home safely.

Keep in touch

If you are walking home late at night, make sure someone knows where you’re going and when you’ll be home.

Hazardous driving conditions

Vehicles can take up to ten times longer to stop on slippery road surfaces so take extra care when out walking or cycling on the road and also when crossing the road. Remember that braking and general driving, walking and cycling can be unpredictable in ice and snow, so don’t take any risks.

Footpaths

Pedestrians, if there is a footpath, use it. If there is no footpath, walk/run/ jog on the right-hand side of the road, facing oncoming traffic and keep as close as possible to the side of the road. Cyclists, do not cycle on pavements – they may be slippery and can also endanger pedestrians.

When out and about on the roads, please take care.