Safety Tips for Pedestrians/Runners

Now that daylight savings time has kicked in, there are more runners and walkers in the early morning at the same time people are headed to exercise or work. Residents have reported that they have seen runners and walkers in the bike lane wearing dark or non-reflective clothing, making them very hard to see.
Did you know that it is against the LAW to walk on the roadway when a sidewalk is provided?
Do you know what side of the road you should be on if you walk/jog/run versus if you are riding a bike? (answer below)
Please be careful for your sake - as well as for others on the road.

Pedestrian safety tips referenced by the Charlotte Department of Transportation http://www.ci.charlotte.nc.us/Departments/Transportation/About+Us/Pedestrian+Links.htm  
Pedestrian Safety Handout from the City of Charlotte  http://www.davislake.org/issues/WalkingSafetyTips.pdf
State of North Carolina statutes:
Section 20-174. (d) Where sidewalks are provided, it shall be unlawful for any pedestrian to walk along and upon an adjacent roadway. Where sidewalks are not provided, any pedestrian walking along or upon a highway shall, when practicable, walk only on the extreme left of the roadway or its shoulder facing traffic which may approach from the opposite direction. Such pedestrian shall yield the right-of-way to approaching traffic.
(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian upon any roadway, and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary, and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any confused or incapacitated person upon a roadway. (1937, c. 407, s. 135; 1973, c. 1330, s. 33.)

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ADULTS:

****Make sure that motorists can see you. Wear fluorescent colored clothing during daylight hours and, if walking when it's dark, make sure you have a flashlight and wear retroreflective material.
**** Know what traffic control signals mean. Do not enter a crosswalk while the "Don't Walk" sign is flashing. Be alert to turning vehicles even if the "Walk" signal is on.
**** Walk against the flow of traffic. This enables you to see any oncoming traffic. Walking in the same direction as traffic forces you to rely only on your hearing to warn you of approaching vehicles. This also makes you slightly less visible to drivers.
**** Joggers are pedestrians too. Joggers should run on sidewalks or pathways; it is considered illegal to run on roadway pavement if alternatives are available. When no alternative is available, joggers should run facing traffic.