Walking on a country road in the dark
Discussion
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Ever since I recovered from Covid and have worked from home, I swapped my commute for a morning walk.
I leave home at 0530 ish and my route is c. 6 miles, along a max of country roads, fields and woodland. On a typical walk, I’ll only see maybe 5 cars, so this is not a busy road at all.
The road sections are unclassified country lanes, which are plenty wide enough for two vehicles to pass. I walk ‘into’ oncoming traffic as per Highway Code (there are a couple of tightish bends where I will cross over to give a better sight line for me and any traffic).
Ever since I recovered from Covid and have worked from home, I swapped my commute for a morning walk.
I leave home at 0530 ish and my route is c. 6 miles, along a max of country roads, fields and woodland. On a typical walk, I’ll only see maybe 5 cars, so this is not a busy road at all.
The road sections are unclassified country lanes, which are plenty wide enough for two vehicles to pass. I walk ‘into’ oncoming traffic as per Highway Code (there are a couple of tightish bends where I will cross over to give a better sight line for me and any traffic).
Edited by 595Heaven on Wednesday 26th October 16:39
595Heaven said:
Ever since I recovered from Covid and have worked from home, I swapped my commute for a morning walk.
I leave home at 0530 ish and my route is c. 6 miles, along a max of country roads, fields and woodland. On a typical walk, I’ll only see maybe 5 cars, so this is not a busy road at all.
The road sections are unclassified country lanes, which are plenty wide enough for two vehicles to pass. I walk ‘into’ oncoming traffic as per Highway Code (there are a couple of tightish bends where I will cross over to give a better sight line for me and any traffic).
Yes, and?I leave home at 0530 ish and my route is c. 6 miles, along a max of country roads, fields and woodland. On a typical walk, I’ll only see maybe 5 cars, so this is not a busy road at all.
The road sections are unclassified country lanes, which are plenty wide enough for two vehicles to pass. I walk ‘into’ oncoming traffic as per Highway Code (there are a couple of tightish bends where I will cross over to give a better sight line for me and any traffic).
Do you have a question?
I would hope you are wearing a hi-vis jacket at the least.
Now it is dark, I always wear bright / reflective clothing (jacket / hat) and use my trusty ‘Lil Larry’ light when vehicles are approaching. This has a broad light it put rather than a focussed torch style beam, and you can select either white light or flashing red.
If a vehicle is approaching from the front, I’ll use the white beam, and if vehicles are passing from behind, the red one. I usually point it towards me rather than at the traffic so there is no danger of dazzling them.
This morning, a car was approaching from the front and stopped about 50m ahead of me (on the wrong side) leaving his main beams on. As I approached, the driver got out and asked for a word. He was fairly old (early 70s I’d guess) and very polite.
Told me he sees me quite often and that I should always use a red light so that he knows I am on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.
Went on to say how he’d almost hit a cyclist earlier in the week as they were (correctly) showing a red light and were on the left hand side of the road!
I can’t find any definitive information as to what is right. I’m loathe to stop doing what I’ve been doing, as most of the cars that pass are ‘regulars’ so expect me to be doing what I do. No one has ever complained / sounded their horn or anything before.
Thoughts?
If a vehicle is approaching from the front, I’ll use the white beam, and if vehicles are passing from behind, the red one. I usually point it towards me rather than at the traffic so there is no danger of dazzling them.
This morning, a car was approaching from the front and stopped about 50m ahead of me (on the wrong side) leaving his main beams on. As I approached, the driver got out and asked for a word. He was fairly old (early 70s I’d guess) and very polite.
Told me he sees me quite often and that I should always use a red light so that he knows I am on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.
Went on to say how he’d almost hit a cyclist earlier in the week as they were (correctly) showing a red light and were on the left hand side of the road!
I can’t find any definitive information as to what is right. I’m loathe to stop doing what I’ve been doing, as most of the cars that pass are ‘regulars’ so expect me to be doing what I do. No one has ever complained / sounded their horn or anything before.
Thoughts?
595Heaven said:
Now it is dark, I always wear bright / reflective clothing (jacket / hat) and use my trusty ‘Lil Larry’ light when vehicles are approaching. This has a broad light it put rather than a focussed torch style beam, and you can select either white light or flashing red.
If a vehicle is approaching from the front, I’ll use the white beam, and if vehicles are passing from behind, the red one. I usually point it towards me rather than at the traffic so there is no danger of dazzling them.
This morning, a car was approaching from the front and stopped about 50m ahead of me (on the wrong side) leaving his main beams on. As I approached, the driver got out and asked for a word. He was fairly old (early 70s I’d guess) and very polite.
Told me he sees me quite often and that I should always use a red light so that he knows I am on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.
Went on to say how he’d almost hit a cyclist earlier in the week as they were (correctly) showing a red light and were on the left hand side of the road!
I can’t find any definitive information as to what is right. I’m loathe to stop doing what I’ve been doing, as most of the cars that pass are ‘regulars’ so expect me to be doing what I do. No one has ever complained / sounded their horn or anything before.
Thoughts?
Sounds like he'd like to blame you for running you over at some point in the future and that he really ought to stop driving before he kills someone.If a vehicle is approaching from the front, I’ll use the white beam, and if vehicles are passing from behind, the red one. I usually point it towards me rather than at the traffic so there is no danger of dazzling them.
This morning, a car was approaching from the front and stopped about 50m ahead of me (on the wrong side) leaving his main beams on. As I approached, the driver got out and asked for a word. He was fairly old (early 70s I’d guess) and very polite.
Told me he sees me quite often and that I should always use a red light so that he knows I am on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.
Went on to say how he’d almost hit a cyclist earlier in the week as they were (correctly) showing a red light and were on the left hand side of the road!
I can’t find any definitive information as to what is right. I’m loathe to stop doing what I’ve been doing, as most of the cars that pass are ‘regulars’ so expect me to be doing what I do. No one has ever complained / sounded their horn or anything before.
Thoughts?
He's trying to shift the problem of him not being able to see properly onto various innocent and more importantly vulnerable road users.
There was an incident in Cumbria several years ago where a group of cyclists were coming along a footpath to the left of oncoming cars in the dark with bright white cycle lamps. A car driver who was driving tired saw the lights and wrongly assumed he had drifted off and was on the wrong side of the road he swerved to the left and unfortunately hit the cyclists killing several.
Far bette you wear a high viz jacket with a reflective band to show up in the car lights but still a dangerous pastime on dark unlit country roads especially if it is wet or foggy. Take care!
Far bette you wear a high viz jacket with a reflective band to show up in the car lights but still a dangerous pastime on dark unlit country roads especially if it is wet or foggy. Take care!
cwis said:
Sounds like he'd like to blame you for running you over at some point in the future and that he really ought to stop driving before he kills someone.
He's trying to shift the problem of him not being able to see properly onto various innocent and more importantly vulnerable road users.
Thanks for bearing. With me whilst I posted this!He's trying to shift the problem of him not being able to see properly onto various innocent and more importantly vulnerable road users.
Yes, it did seem a bit rich to say what he did. I don’t think I’m doing anything wrong though. You could of course argue that walking on a road in the dark is not ideal, but I think I’m taking the right precautions…
My only concern would be cars mistaking the white light for another vehicle and swerving unnecessarily or worse as above.
Maybe a torch beam is a safer bet as it’s more likely to be viewed as a pedestrian. When I’ve had to walk in the dark in the past I always swing the torch to a certain degree to mimic my walking arm movement to try to ensure a car is aware it’s a pedestrian.
Maybe a torch beam is a safer bet as it’s more likely to be viewed as a pedestrian. When I’ve had to walk in the dark in the past I always swing the torch to a certain degree to mimic my walking arm movement to try to ensure a car is aware it’s a pedestrian.
V8 Bob said:
There was an incident in Cumbria several years ago where a group of cyclists were coming along a footpath to the left of oncoming cars in the dark with bright white cycle lamps. A car driver who was driving tired saw the lights and wrongly assumed he had drifted off and was on the wrong side of the road he swerved to the left and unfortunately hit the cyclists killing several.
Far bette you wear a high viz jacket with a reflective band to show up in the car lights but still a dangerous pastime on dark unlit country roads especially if it is wet or foggy. Take care!
That does sound a little familiar…Far bette you wear a high viz jacket with a reflective band to show up in the car lights but still a dangerous pastime on dark unlit country roads especially if it is wet or foggy. Take care!
I wear a bright yellow jacket and a reflective beanie hat as well as having the torch. As it is otherwise silent (other than the odd owl) I can hear approaching traffic and am prepared to jump into the verge if needed.
I set myself a target of 15,000 steps per day for 2022, so it’s either the lanes or multiple boring laps of the village!
A500leroy said:
As your not going anywhere and its for exercise only cant you leave your walk until daylight to avoid an accident and wreaking you life and someone elses?
Not really - WFH but working day starts at 8am. In the summer I can walk a different route that takes me across more fields but having slipped over on mud twice in the dark and realising I was walking right through a load of bullocks thought this wasn't the best idea in the darker months
loskie said:
bright yellow is no good if it's dark;
You need something with reflective bars(scotchlite?) on it as stated.
I have hundreds of hi viz vests from motorsport events. PM me and I'll post you a couple
That is very kind. I have a few of those from Euro trips (and local litter picking) so maybe I'll start wearing one of those with my reflective beanie hatYou need something with reflective bars(scotchlite?) on it as stated.
I have hundreds of hi viz vests from motorsport events. PM me and I'll post you a couple
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