TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) -- Summertime means longer days and more mild temperatures in the early morning and evening, which draws more and more people to exercise outside. In fact, during the hotter months, there is an uptick in the number of people who exercise and run outdoors during hours of less sunlight.
No matter the person, it is imperative that the proper attire be worn when running outside, especially near areas of car traffic.
Most clothing and shoes these days have some reflective strips on them, but it's often not enough when running in the low-lit hours. That's why local law enforcement officers urge runners to layer up on bright clothing, extra reflective gear, and lights.
Extra reflective attire can be bought in the form of wristbands and vests, while lights are either clipped on to clothing or shoes. Some of these lights can make you very visible, and be seen from nearly a mile away.
"As long as you're making sure that you can be seen out there," says Jacob Williams, a local runner and manager at Capital City Runners. "Really, with a lot of these lights that we carry, and some of the headlamps in particular, they kind of almost look like a car headlight. So for the most part, these are all useful tools that folks can use to be safe out there on the roads."
Of course, wearing extra lights and reflective gear for any early morning and night runs will not prevent all accidents, but it will make you more visible and increase your safety.
It doesn't just stop at the lights and reflective strips though. Local law enforcement recommends that everyone run with a buddy, no matter the time of day. This ensures that someone is there to help in the event of any kind of accident.
