Rules of the road

It goes without saying that riding at night should be handled with care. First, think about the frame you intend to ride – night time riding is not the time for a pared down racing frame, as you’ll find it difficult to fit the lights you’re required to ride with by law.

Plan your route carefully. It goes without saying that you’ll need to ride with extra care, attention and vigilance. Hang back from overtaking lorries on the inside, and equip yourself with a cycling cap under your hi vis helmet, and clear shades – these are essential for shading your eyes from bright oncoming headlights (cap) and from rain, wind and potential debris (clear or yellow/rose tinted glasses).

Above all, don’t be put off cycling in the dark. It’s great exercise and the greenest form of transport. Just don’t forget that hi vis vest or other high visibility clothing, and more lights than a Christmas tree

How on trend are you?

Statistically, you are four times more likely to be knocked off your bike in the dark than during daylight hours. Of course, that’s not to say that you should abandon your hi vis during daylight hours because it can be vital in any situation, particularly bad weather and poor visibility, to be bright and be seen.

Fluorescent colours are the smart choice during daylight hours as the sun makes them really pop, but at night your high visibility clothing needs to be reflective too. A simple solution is to add reflective tape to a hi vis vest, but the more reflective clothing you can pile on the better – including your socks. If you’re carrying a bag, don’t forget to add reflective tape to that, too.

Look for the CE mark of either Standards EN471 or EN1150 to ensure your hi vis clothing complies with safety standards.

Light your way

Hi vis vests and high visibility clothing are only half the equation. The most important safety measure is your lighting. You’ll need at least one light that flashes, and it’s always sensible to look for pairs of lights for front and rear that use the same charging system.

By law you’re required to have a front and rear lamp, conforming to safety standards BS6102/3 (front) and BS3648, or BS6102/3 (rear) emitting at least four candela. You’ll also need a red rear reflector (safety standard BS6102/2) and four pedal reflectors, coloured amber and conforming to BSS BS6102/2.

Be bright, be seen and follow these guidelines. You may feel you’re lit up like a roman candle but you’ll be seen and you’ll stay safe.

Although an investigation is still underway into the player safety and neck protection, it is not only cricket officials alone who seriously reconsidering the safety of all those involved in the sport, with sales of cricket helmets soaring in Australia, with some stores reporting a 70% increase since the tragedy occurred.  This fatality has been somewhat of a reality check and has affected both amateurs and professionals alike, many of whom are upping their game immensely in terms of protective gear and looking after their own safety, even in sports you may not have considered to be a danger. Whether you’re crazy about cricket or serious about swimming, here are just a few ways in which to ensure you’re as safe as you can be when partaking in your favourite hobby.

Cricket

Despite already having a large amount of protection in place already, understandably the cricket world have stepped up and increased the way in which they keep their players safe. More now than ever it is essential that you kit up correctly and ensure you’re sufficiently protected whether you’re simply training or taking part in a match. It’s evident that something as simple as a stray ball can cause unimaginable damage, and so from helmets to pads to gloves, stocking up on high quality cricket protection from a company such as Talent Cricket is the best way in which to prevent further tragedies.

Running

Jogging is becoming increasingly popular with the young and old alike, allowing you to truly unwind and clear your mind after even the most stressful of days. Unfortunately, due to current time of year both the mornings and evenings are fairly dark, yet these are the times of day we are often restricted to such activities, and many of us choose to run on poorly lit roads and roadsides. Dressing appropriately is a huge part of safety when jogging, and wearing high-vis clothing will ensure any approaching motorists can see you clearly and in sufficient time to slow down safely is a must.

Cycling

Whether you’re cycling indoors on a track or outside on a road, a good quality helmet should be your number one priority when you set off on two wheels. Similarly to those who jog, if you’re choosing to use the main roads for your cycling ventures, then high-vis clothing as well as sufficient lighting and reflectors are highly recommended – especially when doing so at night.

Thanks for reading,