Question: I have a concern and I hope you can bring some attention to this. Several times driving at dark I see people walking or jogging in the dark and wearing dark clothing.  As I admire their ambition, it can be scary when driving rather it be rural or in town and out of nowhere you see them. I would hope you could suggest to them to wear some type of reflective clothing. Again, good for them for getting healthy but hopefully to stay healthy and not get hit by someone driving. I guess the same suggestion could be said in daylight as well but especially at night. Thanks for listening.

Answer: Yes, fall is a dangerous time for pedestrians due to shorter days and earlier sunsets, which increase the time spent walking in darkness. This reduced visibility makes it harder for drivers to see pedestrians, leading to a spike in crashes involving pedestrians, especially during twilight hours and evenings. Pedestrians can help avoid this risk by wearing bright, reflective clothing, avoiding distractions like headphones, walking on the proper side of the road and using crosswalks, while drivers should slow down and be more vigilant.

A portion of state statutes were used with permission from the Office of the Revisor of Statutes. If you have any questions concerning traffic related laws or issues in Minnesota, send your questions to Trp. Jesse Grabow – Minnesota State Patrol at 1000 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501-2205.  (You can follow him on “X” @MSPPIO_NW or reach him at, jesse.grabow@state.mn.us).