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To the Editor

Ah Spring! Why not take a walk? Black slacks and a dark green hoodie are in vogue. Now set off as usual on the right side of the road.

But wait! You turned your back on two-ton metal beasts roaring up behind you and you can’t hear them. Worst of all it is dusk, and you are camouflaged as a tree.
I’m especially conscious of this kind of danger. I’m a former highway engineer. And years ago, our church youth group was enjoying a ski weekend at Seven Springs in Pennsylvania. One night there was a commotion behind our lodge. A teenage boy wearing a set of camouflage pants and shirt was walking on the right side of the road with his back to traffic. He was hit by a car. We and the rescue squad tried to save him, but to no avail. The lady passenger frantically called the lady driver “Shirley.” While we focused fully on the youngster, that dark blue sedan with reddish brown interior disappeared into the night.

Please walk on the left facing oncoming traffic and don’t block any of your senses. Ignore current fashion dictates of muted colors. Indulge in the purchase of garish workout clothes such as light-colored pants and dayglow orange, shocking yellow or vibrant lime green shirts or hoodies. Don’t be too shy to apply reflectorized tape to your clothes. And you are far safer walking or bicycling on any available sidewalk than you are on the pavement.

Soon the Atlantic will be warm enough for swimming. Red “NO SWIMMING” flags mean the surf and undertow are so bad the lifeguard has already been pulled off duty. Even on a normal beach day, things can go terribly wrong. You may be injured, unconscious and submerged in the murky, roiling surf. Thank goodness the lifeguard can spot and save you quickly because you are wearing your new, brightly colored bathing suit. You do swim near a lifeguard, don’t you?

If you are fortunate enough to own a boat, you know it can capsize. Would you want to be clinging to a white hull blending in with all of those whitecaps? Or would you want a rescue helicopter crew to quickly spot your freshly painted bright orange or glowing yellow hull?

In February I drove South from Duck after choir practice. Suddenly in the pitch black, I detected a faint glittering and instinctively swerved left. I rolled down my window and told the lady I couldn’t see her. She said, “I’m turning right here.” She wore all black and her black bicycle didn’t have a single reflector or light. The flutter of her guardian angel’s wings on her chrome spokes brought her safely home.

Each of us is an outstanding creature. In potentially hazardous situations we should also stand out.

Enjoy each wonderful season and let’s make our guardian angels’ jobs a little easier.

John Chiles

Southern Shores

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