Personal safety measures should increase as daylight decreases Published Nov. 3, 2006 By Senior Airman Amanda Currier 22nd ARW Public Affairs MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. -- Sunday marked the autumn and winter portion of daylight saving time for much of America, and people across the nation turned their clocks back an hour. Daylight saving time is geared toward maximizing people's use of available daylight - depending on the time of year. Traditionally, Americans turn clocks ahead an hour on the first Sunday in April to take full advantage of the longer days in spring and summer. They turn clocks back an hour on the last Sunday in October to make the most of the shortened hours of daylight in fall and winter. That being said, mornings are now staying darker longer, and the sun is setting earlier in the evenings. The safety office here is asking Team McConnell members to increase personal safety measures as daylight decreases. "Every year thousands of pedestrians are either killed or injured while walking along the roadway. In the past three months, the Air Force has lost three active-duty members while they were walking on or crossing busy roads, and bicyclists run a close second," said Lt. Col. Jeff Smith, 22nd Air Refueling Wing chief of safety. "This time of year, more people are coming and going from work while it's dark outside, and visibility is reduced during hours of darkness. This means pedestrians, joggers and cyclists need to ensure they wear adequate reflective gear when it's dark, and drivers need to be more vigilant as well." The safety office offered these tips to help keep people safe during hours of darkness and low visibility. Pedestrians and joggers should use sidewalks, paths or running tracks instead of roads when at all possible. Pedestrians and joggers should keep to the side of the road, and face traffic when walking on or jogging along a roadway. Pedestrians and joggers cannot wear headphones while walking or running on base streets. They can, however, use headphones while using the base running track. Walkers and runners should obey pedestrian control signals, use crosswalks where available, and be sure traffic fully stops before crossing a road. People crossing multiple-lane roads should ensure all lanes of traffic have come to a stop before they step into the road. Pedestrians and joggers crossing a road should also be especially careful of vehicles turning right on a red light or left at an intersection. These drivers may be busy looking out for other vehicles instead of paying attention to walkers and runners. Cyclists should travel with traffic, and stay to the far right side of the road but not on the curb. Cyclists are required to have a working headlight on the front and a reflector, or light, on the back of their bikes when riding in hours of darkness both on and off base. All personnel should wear highly-visible, reflective clothing such as a reflective vest or belt during hours of darkness. The new Air Force physical training uniform meets this requirement. "The old adage is 'Night doubles traffic troubles.' We need each of you to be safe; be smart, and be seen," the colonel said. For more information, call the safety office at ext. 3211.