As part of Ulster County Government’s continued dedication to traffic safety, County Executive Jen Metzger, in cooperation with the Ulster County Transportation Council and Ulster County Traffic Safety Board, are giving out 300 yellow reflective vests at different locations in the County. The vests will aid in pedestrian visibility and are available to the public free of charge as part of a “Be Safe, Be Seen” traffic safety initiative.

October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and Daylight Savings Time ends on November 3, meaning longer nights and sunsets before 5 p.m. This increases risks for pedestrians, who are walking in low light for a longer stretch of time and are less visible to drivers. It’s important for drivers to remain alert, and for pedestrians and bicyclists to take extra measures to be safe and be seen.

Beginning on Wednesday, October 30, the reflective vests will be made available at the front desks of the following locations:

• Ulster County DMV Office, 244 Fair Street, Kingston
• New Paltz Police Department, 59 N Putt Corners Road, New Paltz
• Trudy Resnick Farber Center For Human Development, 50 Center Street, Ellenville
• Saugerties Town Hall, 4 High Street, Saugerties
• Plattekill Town Hall, 1915 Route 44-55, Modena

For questions or for more information, email: UlsterTSB[at]co.ulster.ny[dot]us

“Now that it’s getting darker earlier, we want to make sure that pedestrians, runners, and cyclists are clearly visible to drivers,” said Ulster County Executive Jen Metzger. “I always wear reflective gear when I run on the road, and I can tell you it makes a big difference, safety-wise. We’re happy to make these reflective vests available at no cost to residents, and we urge drivers to be alert to pedestrians and cyclists, slow down, and keep a safe distance between your vehicle and other road users.”

Adhering to traffic safety laws and focusing on pedestrian safety is essential. In 2023, there were a total of 4,999 crashes on Ulster County roadways; 160 of those crashes involved serious injuries and 14 were fatal. In that same year, there were 57 crashes involving pedestrians and 36 involving bicycles. 

More information on crashes can be found on the Ulster County Fatal and Serious Injury Crash Dashboard at: bit.ly/3BXcLqL

For more information on the “Be Safe, Be Seen” traffic safety initiative, as well as previous Ulster County road safety campaigns, visit: https://participate.ulstercountyny.gov/road-safety

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