Florida has dangers that you must acknowledge if you live there. This year has seen a particularly lethal hurricane season. You also have snakes, alligators, and other wildlife that can harm humans.

However, in this article, we’ll discuss another issue that plagues Floridians, and that’s danger from vehicles. Traffic accidents killed 792 Florida pedestrians in 2023, and cyclists must face those same risks. In many instances, it’s lovely to walk around the Sunshine State. The nice weather for most of the year makes it a pleasant place to go for a stroll or to hop on your bike and explore.

Unfortunately, some drivers act recklessly around pedestrians and cyclists. That’s unfortunate, but you do have some ways to potentially counteract these careless individuals. We’ll talk about some of those right now.

Wear Bright, Reflective Clothing

If you go walking or cycling in Florida, you can make yourself much safer by wearing bright or reflective clothing. You can get jogging pants with iridescent stripes down the side that glint when the light hits them. 

You can also find windbreakers and hoodies with these same reflective elements. You can purchase special shoes with them. Any of these will make you much more visible if you’re walking or jogging when a car drives past and hits you with its headlights. 

You might also go with some clothing that’s bright and will attract attention from drivers. Flashy yellow or red should stand out when you’re on the side of the road. 

Don’t Go Out on Days When It’s Rainy or Foggy

You can also avoid going out on a bike or taking a walk if it’s raining outside. Even with reflective or bright clothing on, drivers likely can’t see you as well if you’re out there in the pouring rain. 

Take a look at your smartphone and see whether you have bright sun that day. If you’re looking at rain clouds, it’s best to wait for another time. You probably don’t want to let the elements drench you anyway. 

You can also count on some Florida back roads to get foggy and misty, especially in the morning. The steam rising up from the vegetation can create difficult conditions for drivers, and they may not see you on the side of the road till it’s too late. Staying indoors during these treacherous times can save your life in many instances.

Stay in Areas with Sidewalks

You can also try to avoid any roads that don’t have sidewalks. That’s a little difficult in some parts of Florida. On many roads, you will only have dirt pathways running alongside. Walking on those puts you in danger from passing drivers.

If you want to ride your bike in Florida, you do not need to stay on the road. You can legally ride on the sidewalk, and it makes sense to do that if you have one available. That’s one way you can stay away from drivers. They hopefully won’t come up on the sidewalk unless you encounter someone who’s well over the legal limit. 

Don’t Ever Try to Cross the Highway

You can ensure that you don’t ever try to cross the highway if you are either walking or riding your bike. Sometimes, you might have a situation where you are on one side of the highway, and you want to get to the other side to take advantage of a park or some bike paths over there. 

You should look for an overpass rather than trying to cross, though. Even if you don’t see any traffic coming, a fast-driving vehicle can appear almost before you are aware of it. That is what killed the late Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins. 

Wear a Helmet When You Go Riding

You can make sure to stay as safe as possible when riding your bike by wearing a helmet. Helmets do not cost very much, and many reputable companies make them. You want to wear one that will protect you when you’re out on Florida’s roads. 

If a car does hit you, and it knocks you off your bike, you might land on your head. That may injure you even if you’re wearing a helmet, but it can kill you if you’re not wearing one. You may also sustain a TBI. Even what seems like a light tap on the head can cause brain damage or make you go into a coma. 

Go Riding or Walking in Groups 

You might think about riding your bike or walking with a group of other individuals if you’re going outside to get some exercise in Florida. If you’re on your own, then a driver might not spot you as easily. If you’re in a group, though, that makes you more visible.

You can get some exercise along with friends or family members. You’ll likely enjoy spending some time together and bonding. If anything happens, one of the group members can either call for an ambulance or they can go and get help while someone waits with the injured person.

You can bring your smartphone with you every time you go riding or go for a walk as well. Whether you’re alone or in a group with others, if something happens, you can use the phone to call for assistance. You won’t need to rely on the driver stopping or some passerby seeing your plight.

If you take the proper precautions, then there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy all that Florida’s roads, sidewalks, and unpaved paths have to offer. You might spot some wildlife while on your walk or ride. You can enjoy some camaraderie if you’re out there with others.   

Just remember that some drivers don’t respect pedestrians and cyclists as much as they should. That’s unfortunate, but if you take the steps we’ve mentioned, you can counter much of the potential danger. You should be able to share the road with cars, even with a few careless or reckless motorists out there.