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In big cities like Mumbai and Delhi, you must have often seen people running, walking or jogging on the roadside. Recently, news of the death of a CEO while running on the roadside in Mumbai has come to light. Even before this, there are reports of accidents and deaths of people walking and running on the roadside. According to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), there were over 36,500 pedestrian deaths in 2024 alone which is more than 20% of all road accident deaths in India. More than 54% of these deaths occurred due to accidents involving two-wheelers and cars. These figures are increasing due to lack of separate footpath for pedestrians, sudden vehicles coming in front of the runners, high speed and lack of visibility in the dark. Apart from this, incidents of dog bites by roadside runners are also quite high. At the same time, the risk also increases due to increased pollution in the morning. Due to which there is a risk of swelling in the respiratory tract and increase in heart diseases.

In such a situation, if you do not have a special track or park for walking. If you have to go for a walk on the road, then keep a few things in mind. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (Neurologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad) has shared special tips for road side walkers and runners on his X account. If you take care of these things, you will be able to avoid accidents.

Things to keep in mind while walking or running on the road

Walk against traffic and in the light- While walking on the road, keep in mind that you should always run facing the oncoming traffic, so that you can see the oncoming vehicles and avoid any accident. Try to go for a walk on the roadside only when the day is bright and sunny. Use a dim headlight or clip-on light early in the morning or in the evening.

Do not use noise-canceling headphones- Avoid using headphones while walking. Being aware of the surrounding situation should be your first priority. Avoid wearing in-ear/noise-canceling headphones. Use bone-conduction headphones or keep one ear completely open to hear vehicles honking or animals approaching.

Deal with dogs like this- If aggressive stray dogs approach you, do not run away or make loud noises. Slow down your pace, walk slowly, avoid direct eye contact and persist until they lose their temper. If you’re running in areas where packs of aggressive dogs are present, carry a small handheld ultrasonic repeller or light stick.

Pay attention to time and path- Before going out, check the surrounding AQI on any app. If PM2.5 levels are very high, exercise indoors or run on a treadmill. If possible, use parks, residential areas with gated traffic and walking tracks instead of main roads.