The Importance of Being Seen in the Dark

I often find myself walking or driving in the dark, and I can’t count the number of times I’ve been startled by a cyclist without lights, a jogger in dark clothing, a pedestrian in a black coat, or even a dog I didn’t notice until the last moment. It happens so frequently that it’s impossible to ignore. I must admit, I also didn’t give much thought to my own visibility when heading out for a quick walk to clear my mind.

Every time someone suddenly appears in front of me on a dark road and I narrowly avoid an accident—whether by swerving or braking just in time—I’m reminded how critical it is to make yourself visible. It’s all about safety, real, literal safety.


Why We Forget About Visibility

Of course, you know this already. It’s not a matter of unwillingness but simply forgetting or not having reflective clothing or accessories at hand. Reflective stripes on a jacket, for instance, light up brilliantly in the dark, but they’re easy to overlook when you’re in a hurry.


Making It Fun: JaNee’s Solution

After a near miss with a child, I decided that JaNee should help make this topic a priority. JaNee wanted to set an example and one day announced that she needed glowing stripes—preferably on all her clothes. She also wanted a glowing bike flag after seeing one on a glow-in-the-dark figure.

While she already had a small flashlight for the dark (see this blog), she thought reflective stripes were much cooler. That meant I had to find a solution. JaNee frequently switches jackets, sometimes gets them dirty, and they also need to remain playable for her performances. It took some searching, but I found the perfect option.


The Reflective Vest: A Simple Yet Effective Solution

Instead of a jacket with reflective stripes, JaNee now has a reflective vest that she can wear over any coat. All she needs to do is slip it over her head, and she’s instantly visible. It’s so practical—and here’s the best part: children can wear it too! This means your puppet can set an example and show how cool it is to wear a vest like this.

JaNee loves her vest and even wears it indoors. When she goes to school, she packs it in her bag if she takes off her jacket, and if she doesn’t bring her bag, she stuffs it into her coat pocket—it fits perfectly. She remembers to take it along herself; I only helped her figure out where to store it when she’s not wearing it.

I hope she inspires many children in her environment to do the same. Will you join in and help spread the word?


Here’s What I Found on Amazon

Till the next blog 🙂

Helen