Safety on Roads

Every other morning, to keep myself physically fit, I run a few miles to stay active. Many times during these runs as I run through the countryside, I end up on the road rather than on a sidewalk. In order to keep myself safe, I always run against traffic and as far left as possible. This makes it easy for me to see approaching cars and also makes it easy for the individual driving the approaching car to see me. The same goes for hiking along roadways.

Here is what the 1961 printing of the Boy Scout Handbook has to say on the subject.

Safety on Roads

Scout hiking is done along bypaths and cross-country… not on highways. But occasionally, you may have to follow a main road for a short distance before you reach a place where a trail leads off to adventure.

Roads nowadays are built for cars. When you use them for hiking you must look after yourself. So keep as far over to the left as possible, facing the oncoming traffic. In this way you can see an approaching car and get off the road to let it pass. For night hiking, tie a white handkerchief flat around your lower right leg. This white signal, bobbing up and down as you walk, can be seen easily in the headlight of the car. Even so, step off the road and let the car pass by.

These rules hold true whether you are alone or with the gang. In the patrol you should move in single file formation far over to the left or, better, completely off the roadway. The patrol leader walks a few steps ahead of the first Scout, the assistant patrol leader a few steps behind the last.