Every year, more than 3,000 pedestrians and 850 bicyclists are hit by drivers in North Carolina. Of those incidents, about 180 are killed, representing almost 15 percent of all traffic fatalities that occur in the state. And, during this time of year when the days are shorter, the chances of a walker or cyclist getting hit increase due to less visibility. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more pedestrian fatalities occurred in the dark (78 percent) than in daylight (19 percent), dusk (2 percent) and dawn (2 percent) in 2022.
GoTriangle and other regional transit partners this month are trying to prevent these kinds of accidents by encouraging pedestrians and cyclists to “Lighten Up” when they hit the roads.
“We want to make sure that whether you are walking or riding your bike, especially in the dark, that you are visible by wearing reflective gear – either on your bike or on yourself,” said Kim Johnson, Sustainable Travel Services Manager at GoTriangle.
There are a number of tips that people can follow to ensure safety at night.
For pedestrians:
Increase your visibility by carrying a flashlight and wearing light-colored or reflective clothing
It’s safest to walk on a sidewalk, but if you must walk on the street, walk facing traffic
Cross the street at designated crosswalks – and be sure to watch for vehicles turning left or right, and entering and exiting parking spaces and driveways
For cyclists:
Ride in the same direction as traffic
If you ride at night –get a light! Use white front lights and red rear lights and reflectors
Obey all traffic laws – stop at stop signs and red lights as if you were a car
In addition, several area partners are hosting events to encourage everyone to “Lighten Up”:
NC State University “Lighten Up, Wolfpack,” Week of Oct. 27
Town of Chapel Hill, two month-long “Be Bright at Night” campaign
City of Raleigh, “Commute Smarter, Not Harder” series
Town of Carrboro, Nov. 13th
“If we all just ‘Lighten Up,’” said Johnson, “we can make sure that everyone can get where they need to be safely,”
For more information, visit https://gotriangle.org/lightenup .