'Be Safe Be Seen' message

A Guernsey pedestrian safety group is reminding islanders to 'Be Safe and Be Seen' ahead of the clocks going back at the end of the month.

Summer time ends on the 31st of October and Living Streets say the darker evenings means all road users need to take extra care.

They say the key to being safe at night is brightening up - preferably by wearing a high visibility vest or jacket.

Secretary of Living Streets, Pat Wisher said: "oo many pedestrians put their lives in danger by wearing black at night. Guernseys narrow roads, blind bends, lack of footpaths and limited street lighting are a challenge for all road users at the best of times, but they can be lethal on a dark rainy night. The message is BE SAFE BE SEEN."

Research has shown that a driver travelling at 40 miles per hour with dipped headlights has as little as 1.5 seconds to react to a hazard on the road. This rises to three seconds on main beams.

Pat Wisher added: "Never walk round a blind bend at night and never walk with your back to the traffic wearing black."

HIGH VIS - THE FACTS from Living Streets

Fluorescent materials really glow by reacting with ultra-violet rays in sunlight. Ideal for getting you noticed during the day.

Reflective materials work at night because their special surfaces bounce light back from street and car headlights off hundreds of tiny beads. At night reflective materials can be seen by drivers using headlights up to three times as far away as non-reflective materials.

If islanders dont have anything fluorescent or reflective, they should wear something bright or light coloured. Alternatively, carry something light (A M&S food carrier bag is ideal!) or use a torch.

The standard black office suit, whether male or female, needs to be covered by something light at night.

Finally if you are out walking your dog, make sure your dog can also be seen.

Even if most of your journey is on a pavement, you must have to cross the road at some point so brightening up is still important. Also, bear in mind that Guernseys narrow roads mean that vehicles often have to mount the pavement. So make sure you are visible.

From Channel TV.








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Guernsey Bicycle Group are holding a 'High-Vis' guided cycle ride on Sunday 31st October at 11am, starting from St Sampson's High School. All are welcome to join in. Will be plenty of ideas there on what to wear in the winter if you want to be warm, dry and visible.