Road Safety
It's raining right now as I write this, which is oddly appropriate.
A year ago today (technically a year ago tomorrow, February 12, but it was a Tuesday and that's how I will always remember it) - I was hit by a car while trying to cross the street in a cross walk, post run, around 7 PM in the evening. It was raining then, as it is at this current moment, which made visibility a challenge at near dusk.
If you run or cycle, or have a loved one who runs or cycles, please get yourself or them a RoadID. Heck, if you are a regular pedestrian commuter, it doesn't hurt you to have one.
Below is the email I sent to my runner/biker community the day after. Not on the Facebook, because I didn't want the drama - I ultimately was ok, after all. But now, it's a public service announcement - time to put it out there.
And now, weather be damned, I do believe I am going to go for a run, with my reflective gear and road ID.
Be safe, y'all.
********************
Hi runner friends both in and out of Atlanta -
I want to start this email by saying the most important thing - I am fine. No broken bones, just a pretty nifty gash in my left leg and some muscle soreness that some excellent drugs provided by Atlanta Medical Center's ER will do a nice job of taking care of. Last night, I had just finished running and was crossing the street right in front of my apartment in the crosswalk. I was wearing reflective gear. And I was hit by a car. It was dark, the driver did not see me, but fortunately, the traffic on North Highland due to the rain yesterday was pretty slow and I bounce. It could have been so much worse, and I will be forever grateful that it was not. On a side note, Donna and Steve, my two wonderful Grady EMS attendants, said I would probably be their friendliest case all night!
Please, please, please be careful when crossing the street, even in the crosswalk. And also when driving! The woman who hit me was very remorseful, obviously, and kept saying, "I'm a cyclist! I can't believe I did this!"
I would also ask that if you do not own one currently, please go out and purchase a RoadID immediately. I am ashamed to admit that before this morning I did not own one - if last night had been worse (if I had hit my head, for example, which I am very thankful that I did not), I would have been a Jane Doe at the hospital, even though I was right outside my apartment. Thankfully, I was able to get upstairs, grab my things, and call ES during the ambulance ride, and call my family after all was said and done about 3 hours later. Others are not so lucky. Here's the website - please use it. It's the best $30.00 you will ever spend and hopefully you will never need it. http://www.roadid.com/
As fellow runners, I wanted you all to know and be aware. I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else!!!
Love,
Rachel
A year ago today (technically a year ago tomorrow, February 12, but it was a Tuesday and that's how I will always remember it) - I was hit by a car while trying to cross the street in a cross walk, post run, around 7 PM in the evening. It was raining then, as it is at this current moment, which made visibility a challenge at near dusk.
If you run or cycle, or have a loved one who runs or cycles, please get yourself or them a RoadID. Heck, if you are a regular pedestrian commuter, it doesn't hurt you to have one.
Below is the email I sent to my runner/biker community the day after. Not on the Facebook, because I didn't want the drama - I ultimately was ok, after all. But now, it's a public service announcement - time to put it out there.
And now, weather be damned, I do believe I am going to go for a run, with my reflective gear and road ID.
Be safe, y'all.
********************
Hi runner friends both in and out of Atlanta -
I want to start this email by saying the most important thing - I am fine. No broken bones, just a pretty nifty gash in my left leg and some muscle soreness that some excellent drugs provided by Atlanta Medical Center's ER will do a nice job of taking care of. Last night, I had just finished running and was crossing the street right in front of my apartment in the crosswalk. I was wearing reflective gear. And I was hit by a car. It was dark, the driver did not see me, but fortunately, the traffic on North Highland due to the rain yesterday was pretty slow and I bounce. It could have been so much worse, and I will be forever grateful that it was not. On a side note, Donna and Steve, my two wonderful Grady EMS attendants, said I would probably be their friendliest case all night!
Please, please, please be careful when crossing the street, even in the crosswalk. And also when driving! The woman who hit me was very remorseful, obviously, and kept saying, "I'm a cyclist! I can't believe I did this!"
I would also ask that if you do not own one currently, please go out and purchase a RoadID immediately. I am ashamed to admit that before this morning I did not own one - if last night had been worse (if I had hit my head, for example, which I am very thankful that I did not), I would have been a Jane Doe at the hospital, even though I was right outside my apartment. Thankfully, I was able to get upstairs, grab my things, and call ES during the ambulance ride, and call my family after all was said and done about 3 hours later. Others are not so lucky. Here's the website - please use it. It's the best $30.00 you will ever spend and hopefully you will never need it. http://www.roadid.com/
As fellow runners, I wanted you all to know and be aware. I don't want what happened to me to happen to anyone else!!!
Love,
Rachel