Changes

* '''Don't be ruled by fear.''' It's important to evaluate the real risks of any activity rather than acting out of fear or ignoring the problem due to a sense of invulnerability. People are remarkably bad at understanding risks, and tend to overreact to unfamiliar risks while ignoring the everyday. That's why people are scared of flying, but not driving.

* '''Think before you start. '''Don't wait to think about safety until you are running, but plan ahead.

** '''Use a light.''' At night, a light not only helps you see where you are going, a bright light can temporarily blind someone who approaches you.

* '''Know the area'''. If you are travelling to an unfamiliar area, find out what areas are safe, as running through a high crime area is a bad idea. Talking to runners who know the area is the best approach, but non-runners usually have a good idea of the safe areas.

* '''Cell phone. '''A cell phone is useful for calling for help. Threatening to call the police may act as a deterrent in some situations, but a cell phone may also be valuable enough to draw unwanted attention.

* '''Carry id. '''The best solution is something like [http://www.roadid.com/ Road Id] or [http://www.medicalert.org/ Medic Alert]. I never take my Medic Alert bracelet off. Carrying a driver's license and credit card provide id and allow you to buy supplies if needed, but make sure they are out of sight.