Why Does Physical Activity Lead to So Many Accidents?
Every year, unfortunately, thousands of accidents occur in Israel involving athletes, including accidents with vehicles.
Bicycles, falls of pedestrians, runners, and more.
Here are several examples of negligence by athletes:
Road Cycling
When it Comes to Inexperienced Cyclists, the Terrain Can Be Problematic and Dangerous, Such as Unsafe and Unsecure Roads, Roads Without Shoulders, Limited Visibility, and this is Just a Partial List. In Many Cases, It Is Due to the Rider’s Irresponsibility, Such as Riding in the Middle of the Road or Without Reflective Gear or Clothing at Night, Not to Mention Riding Recklessly with Overconfidence. These Cases Range from Minor Injuries, Psychological Trauma, to, Unfortunately, Cases of Fatalities. Even a Accompanying Vehicle Does Not Always Solve the Problem.
Rollerblades
In recent years, they can be found training in group workouts, gliding on the road. This creates an obstruction, without consideration for drivers. Accidents occur due to ignoring red traffic lights, slipping, disrupting traffic, and causing harm to pedestrians, pedestrians, and even cyclists.
Pedestrians and runners
This is a very common form of exercise, and here too, there are cases of irresponsibility. Pedestrians and runners, who are often attached to music, can suddenly burst into the road while running or walking fast without warning. The ability of the driver to stop when someone suddenly enters the road is very low, which is another reason for the increase in traffic accidents involving various vehicles and pedestrians. Additionally, it should be noted that some of these walkers or runners cross the streets on a red light or in places where there is no crosswalk at all. This is more critical during nighttime hours, where it is difficult to gauge the vehicle's distance, and it is often much closer than anticipated, significantly increasing the danger.
Obstacles During Physical Activity and Falls — An example can be running along the edge of a highway, either against or with the flow of traffic. If there are stones of various types along the shoulder, the runner or cyclist may slip on a stone, veer into the road, and be hit by an oncoming vehicle. Of course, the danger also exists for pedestrians and runners, especially on roads without shoulders.
In addition, there is the infrastructure factor, which significantly influences the behavior of drivers. For example, poorly maintained roads, unclear road signs, and vague directional signs, roads without lane separation, oil spills on the road, safety hazards, and lack of lighting — all these, among others, can lead to traffic accidents involving vehicles and athletes engaged in aerobic activities at all levels. It is also important, when engaging in aerobic activities on intercity roads, to pay attention to "red" roads where many accidents have occurred compared to other less dangerous roads. Listening to music during physical activity or staring at smart mobile devices has become very common in recent years. The tremendous advancement of technology allows for listening to music of all types in any situation (even while swimming or diving).
The danger is that when listening to music at high volume, important sounds during physical activity, such as vehicle beeping, warning shouts, and more, may not be heard. Furthermore, the athlete may not notice important road signs or warning signals while performing the aerobic activity.
In conclusion,
When Engaging in Aerobic Activity in or Outside Cities, a Great Responsibility Lies with the Athlete. It Is Not Possible to Place All Responsibility on Drivers, and It Is Important to Take This Into Account Before Embarking on a Long and Exhausting Activity, As It Involves Significant Risks That Could Lead to Loss of Life and Various Types of Injuries.