At Seneca Meadows, we are constantly working to be extremely focused on our travel path, whether walking or driving, and to take it slower during the dark hours of the workday. This time of year it’s dark when we start and dark when we end each work day. We focus on what we can control. We can’t control the weather or the number of daylight hours, but we can control our safe behaviors. Many of these behaviors are universal in any situation:

• Use high-visibility clothing when near moving vehicles
• Allow enough time for your vision to adjust to the light conditions
• Avoid drowsy driving
• Always use headlights
• Be aware of pedestrians, especially where foot traffic is expected
• Take care of the animals

Safe behaviors of pedestrians:

• Avoid distractions while driving by and on roads
• Get direct line of sight before entering traffic
• See and be seen by others, including other foot traffic
• Obey traffic control signals
• Use designated cross and side roads

According to the Journal of Safety Research, fatal accidents among pedestrians and cyclists increase by 13% after the fall time change.

Kyle Black is the district manager at the Seneca Meadows warehouse located in Seneca Falls, New York.