There are some things in life that will never quite mix. Oil and vinegar. Round pegs and square holes. Glass houses and stones. Superman and kryptonite. Vampires and the sun.

Well, I have a new thing to add to that list: Runners and cars.

That’s because I nearly got hit by a car TWICE this morning while running.

I got up around 5 a.m. to do a short brick before heading into the office: 1 hour and 15 minutes on the bike (indoors on my trainer) followed by a 2.5-3-mile run. As I headed out for my run, the morning work traffic had already begun. Lots of multi-tasking drivers who would rather be going anywhere but to work were headed to their offices to begin the day’s grind.

As I was getting ready to cross an intersection, a driver in the left lane decided she wanted to turn right on red, going around the car in the right lane that had made sure to keep clear of the crosswalk when he saw me. She didn’t even look to her right. She just illegally made the right turn from the left lane. Lucky for me, I was not assuming she could see me and paused before proceeding. When she realized there was a pedestrian within inches of her car (as she blindly sped through the turn), the terror in her face was piercing. Her stomach probably hit the car floor. I gave her a WTF look and continued on. (OK, I also banged the trunk of her car with my hand (lightly). I’m not condoning anyone doing that.) About 100 yards later, another car made a turn without looking.

This morning’s series of events really got me thinking. Our fate is often in the hands of one small decision. Someone not paying attention. Someone going too fast. Someone texting while driving. Or even worse, us not paying attention. It’s up to us to always be alert, aware and prepared.

Here are some thoughts for both runners and drivers to help get us off the formidable list of things that just don’t mix.

Hey Runners …

• Don’t assume anything. Don’t assume drivers are going to stop at red lights and stop signs. Don’t assume drivers aren’t putting on makeup or eating a sandwich as they speed toward you. Don’t assume they can see you. Don’t assume anything. When it comes to staying safe, it starts with us – with you. Always proceed cautiously when crossing busy streets and intersections. Come to a complete stop if a driver isn’t looking in your direction. When in doubt, pause, slow down and proceed with caution. I know it seems like common sense, but when we stop assuming drivers are as concerned for our safety as we are, we’re better prepared to prevent bad things from happening.
• Make eye contact. I find that I’m safest crossing major intersections when I make eye contact with the drivers who are stopped or who are waiting to turn on red. I wave my arms at them to make sure they can see me and try to look them in the eye. That way I can be certain they see me and are alert.
• Dress to turn heads. No matter what time of day it is, wear bright, colorful running clothes to make sure you can’t be missed. I typically wear Nike technical tanks in hot yellow, blue, green and pink. I have a Brooks top that would cause temporarily blindness when you look directly at it. I also wear hot pink shoes that are hard to miss. If you’re running as the sun starts to set, be sure to wear a reflective vest and/or lights. I love the Nite Beams LED arm band. I have one in yellow. I wear it just like I would my iPod arm band (on the other arm) and it has a light around it. There’s even a setting where you can make it continuously blink and flash.

Hey Drivers …

• Look both ways. Then do it again. Just like runners can’t assume you see us, don’t assume a runner sees you or is anticipating your next move. Be alert for runners and cyclists. Slow down when you see them. Allow them enough space to cross the road at red lights. Look twice. It can save a life.
• It’s not rude to honk if it informs. When you’re not sure if a runner can see you, honking to let them know you’re there is always better than them running out in front of you. It’s like shouting “Hi” in a more annoying way.
• Just follow the rules, ok? Remember all those traffic laws you learned in driver’s ed? Just follow them. Obey traffic lights and signs. Don’t make illegal turns. Don’t drive like a maniac. Especially when lots of pedestrians are around.

Have you ever had a close encounter with a car or other vehicle while running or biking? What other safety tips would you add to this list?