PSA: No, you are not visible in the dark (joggers)

Hello Broadlands residents,

While driving to work early this morning, I saw a tiny white light directly ahead of me, slowly moving in an erratic pattern. How odd. It was not until nearly too late that I saw it was a jogger with a tiny headlamp, in dark, non-reflective clothing, crossing Faulkner Parkway where there was no street light nor crosswalk. I braked, but by that time the jogger was on the sidewalk.

My vehicle has a top-IIHS rated collision avoidance system but it did not even react. In my experience, you were less visible than a deer, a fox, or even a cardboard box in the roadway. The safety system is so sensitive that it's downright annoying at times, but even computer vision did not pick you up as an obstacle. You can thank God for a driver who was not speeding and actually saw you in the darkness.

I try to extend grace whenever possible, so I am not angry or blaming the person. Just realize that when you take a risk like you did this morning, you endanger at least one life and, at best, will traumatize someone for life if they hit you.

Stay safe out there!