Todd Smoot
Two cyclists on a training ride are side-swiped by a vehicle and thrown from their bikes and injured. Another cyclist was hit on the leg by the mirror of a passing vehicle and bruised badly.
A man walking on the side of the road in the grass is struck by the passenger’s outside mirror and is injured.
Two runners in single file formation facing traffic are tapped by the side panel of a speeding vehicle, as the runners are jumping out of the way. They are not injured, but are certainly shook up and thankful they could get out of the way.
Signs throughout the Valdosta and South Georgia area ask you to Share the Road. Certainly a suggestion to the motorists and active people in the area – but are we too distracted to care?
Distractions are everywhere – and more are added through technological advances. Motorists used to only get distracted by insects and radios in the vehicle. Now there are stereos with equalizers, cassette players, CD players, direction-giving devices, cell phones and now text messages. People who walk, run or ride used to just listen to the surroundings and enjoy the conversation of a fellow active person or enjoy the peaceful solitude. Now through advancements in technology and marketing, people started using a “Walkman,” which have advanced to all forms of portable music, with head phones/earplugs, and cell phones and text messaging too. With the volume that these distractions are used, I often wonder if a motorist or an active person could actually hear an emergency vehicle coming toward them until it was too late. Maybe I should ask drivers of Fire, Police and Ambulances how often they come up on a motorist or a pedestrian who obviously was surprised by the sirens because of earplugs on or some other distraction. I wonder how many Fire, Police or Ambulance drivers allow themselves to be distracted while they are driving during an emergency.
A vehicle is a deadly weapon, and more accessible than any gun. I fear that motorists have forgotten the responsibility we have when we get behind the wheel of a car. The safety and well-being of ourselves, our passengers and the public in general is in the hands of the driver every time the key is turned and motion is started. Drivers: You must be aware of your responsibility to handle the vehicle in a safe manner at all times. Make certain that your mind is on the task at hand and distractions are at a minimum. The volumes need to be low enough that you can hear and respond. Slow down when needed, and look both ways always … there are many active people out and about – there will only be more in the future – so get used to us and share the road. Drive as if your spouse or child was the person cycling, walking or running.
Being active does not make a person invincible and able to withstand a direct hit from a vehicle. Active people must be responsible to be alert, visible and aware of your impact to motorists. Using devices that distract and/or impair your ability to hear traffic, people or dogs approaching and simple speech puts you in a position of being a victim. Think about it: If you can hear the danger before it reaches you, you have the ability to think of your options, rather than panicking. Active people must be aware of their surroundings and help share the road with the motorists. Pretend it is your newly-licensed daughter or son behind the wheel approaching the obstacle.
Both sides have work to do, but I have confidence we are up to the task.
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For more information about events in the surrounding area of South Georgia, contact Get Active — Running and more at (229) 219-0010 or acourseline@earthlink.net. Here are some events coming up in the near future:
• Get Active Radio Program weekly on Thursday evenings from 6-7 p.m. on Talk 92.1 FM.
• The Get Active Grand Prix Circuit continues, with events on Labor Day and Thanksgiving Day
• The cross country series run — at Freedom Park at 7 p.m. on August 18; this is the last one of the season
• Get Active Saturday and Sunday morning runs, starting at 7 a.m. These run generally last eight miles
• Aug. 22 – VSU Community 5K in Valdosta
• Sept. 7 – Labor Day 5K, a new event that is part of the 2009 Grand Prix in Valdosta
• Sept. 19 – An 8K event in Quitman
• Sept. 26 – A 5K Relay for Life fund raiser in Tifton
• Oct. 3 – The Wildlife 5K in Pelham
• Oct. 3 – The Honey Bee 5K in Hahira
• Oct. 17 – The VSU Youth XC race at North Campus, for kids ages 5-14
• Oct. 24 – Breast Cancer Awareness 5K in Valdosta
• Oct. 24 – The River Front 5K in Albany
• Oct. 31 – The St. John Road Race in Valdosta
• Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving Day 5K in Valdosta, a new event that is part of the 2009 Grand Prix
• Jan. 1, 2010 – The New Years Day 5K in Valdosta, a part of the 2010 Get Active Grand Prix
• May 31, 2010 – Memorial Day 5K in Valdosta, a part of the 2010 Get Active Grand Prix
• July 4, 2010 – The Valdosta 5K, a part of the 2010 Get Active Grand Prix
• Sept. 6, 2010 – The Labor Day 5K in Valdosta, another part of the 2010 Get Active Grand Prix
• November 25, 2010 – Thanksgiving Day 5K in Valdosta, a part of the 2010 Get Active Grand Prix
• December 4, 2010 – The Winterfest 5K in Valdosta, the finale of the 2010 Get Active Grand Prix.
If you have any questions, suggestions or comments, drop me an e-mail, and I will do my level best to answer your questions. Write to getactive.val@earthlink.net.
