Be seen and be safe
A NEW scheme to help Herefordshire’s older residents stay safe when out walking is about to be launched.
Herefordshire Council's Road Safety Unit will be handing out Hi visibility shopping bags to the elderly throughout the county.
Ann Mann, Herefordshire Council road safety officer said: “Pedestrians are often much harder to see at this time of the year when daylight visibility can be poor and there are far more hours of darkness. The bags are light, easy to fold up into a pocket when not in use and are a simple, yet effective way of making pedestrians more visible to drivers.”
Tesco in Hereford is supporting the council by allowing the Road Safety team to hand out shopping bags at the Bewell Street store on Wednesday, November 8.
With the clocks going back on Sunday and the nights starting to draw in, the Road Safety team is also urging parents to keep their children safe on the roads by making sure motorists can see them.
British Summer Time ends on Sunday (October 29) and the darker evenings mean children will be more vulnerable to accidents because they are less visible to motorists.
Cllr Brian Wilcox, cabinet member for highways and transportation, said: “We want to encourage all children to wear something bright and take extra care when out and about near roads and also to remind drivers to take extra care as well especially if driving near schools.”
The advice for parents is to make sure children can be easily seen, especially at night, on dark days and in bad weather.
Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day, especially in dull or misty weather, but in the evenings, reflective material is best because it shows up in car headlights. Reflective tape can be put on clothing, school bags and equipment.
Cyclists are reminded it is an offence to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back, so all bikes need to be properly equipped and working.
Children should be encouraged to cross the road at the safest place possible such as a zebra, pelican, puffin and patrolled crossings.
They should also use the Green Cross Code. In the dark, they should choose routes which are well lit.
