Better to be safe than sorry – Living Streets
IT IS not a fashion statement, but it will keep you safe, says one local charity as part of its Be Safe Be Seen campaign hi-vis giveaway.
Living Streets Guernsey has taken over the OSA Recruitment Pop-up Shop in Smith Street for Road Safety Week and is giving out free fluorescent tabards in pink, blue, yellow, green and orange.
Anyone can pop in to pick one up and they have a tabard for all, from ages three to adults XXL.
Living Streets Guernsey chairman Tom Le Pelley said it was that time of the year when the days got darker earlier.
‘People come out of work, out of offices, most wearing black suits,’ he said.
‘It’s dark now at 5pm, they are hard to see if they’re not wearing bright colours or reflective strips and we want to keep them safe, we want to help them keep themselves safe.
‘Often buses or cars mount pavements when trying to pass each other and if there is someone on the path that can’t be seen, that is really dangerous. The same for country lanes that have no pavements at all – if you cannot be seen then you cannot walk in the dark safely.’
This is the seventh year that the charity has used the shop to give out the hi-vis jackets bought using £1,454 of funds raised from its ‘Hi-vis Day’ in October.
Specsavers in Market Square also donated 120 of the vests for children.
Living Streets’ secretary Pat Wisher added that they were keen to emphasise road safety.
If there is no pavement people should walk on the right-hand side of the road, facing the traffic, except on a blind corner when, even in daytime, they should cross to the other side before returning to the right-hand side.
‘I’ve seen so many people walk on the left-hand side and it’s frightening, we want everyone to stay safe and we hope this campaign and these jackets will help people to follow this.
‘I’d suggest wearing the yellow tabards as they’re the most seen, particularly in the daytime. It’s not a fashion statement but it is your life.’
The charity will be in the shop every day until Friday from 10am until 4pm.
Living Streets’ merchandise is also available in the Pop-up Shop this week, including Guernsey country walk cards and calendars, and all proceeds will go towards paying for maintenance of the Baubigny Schools path.
