Dear editor,

You didn’t see me because you were looking at your phone while driving. You were on a four-lane road and I was running on the inside of the right-hand lane. There was no one else on this road. You sheepishly smiled and waved at me and I waved back. I saw the phone in your hand as you went by.

The shock set in that you almost hit me. Thank you for looking up in time.

I am that person running/bicycling/walking along the side of the road. I may be alone, or I may have my children with me. I may be walking my dog or cycling with a group of friends. Thank you for looking up in time.

I may be single or married. I may have children or grandchildren. I may be important in some else’s life. Others may depend on me for their care. I may have dreams and aspirations for the future. Thank you for looking up in time.

I pay attention to drivers when I am on the road and I see a lot of you with your eyes down. It’s very important to me to have your attention so I usually wear bright colors and use strobing lights to make myself visible. None of this works if your eyes are not on the road.

If you hit me with your vehicle most likely I will be severely injured or killed as a runner/cyclist/walker has little protection against a two-ton vehicle. You most likely will be uninjured, but you will have to live with the consequences for the rest of your life. I don’t wish this burden upon anyone. Thank you for looking up in time.

I enjoy sharing our road and do my best to stay out of your way. Please look out for me and keep your eyes up all the time. Nothing on that phone is more important than a human life.

James Wright

Great Bend