Ulster County Offers Free ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ Reflective Vests During Pedestrian Safety Month
KINGSTON, NY - As part of Ulster County Government’s continued traffic safety efforts, County Executive Jen Metzger, in cooperation with the Ulster County Transportation Council and Ulster County Traffic Safety Board, are giving out 1,000 yellow reflective vests at different locations across the County — more than triple the number distributed last year. The vests will aid in pedestrian visibility and are available to the public free of charge as part of the County’s ‘Be Safe, Be Seen’ initiative. The program was first launched in 2024, and the inventory of 300 vests was quickly depleted due to high demand.
October is Pedestrian Safety Month, and Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 2, meaning longer nights and sunsets before 5 p.m. The extended duration of low light in the afternoons means that pedestrians are less visible to drivers, increasing risks to walkers. It’s also a time when deer activity rises sharply due to hunting and mating season, with wildlife collisions increasing by as much as 16% in the week following the time change. Sunrise and sunset — when visibility is already reduced — are peak times for both pedestrian and wildlife-related crashes. It’s important for drivers to remain alert, and for pedestrians and bicyclists to take extra measures to be safe and be seen.
Beginning today, the free reflective vests are available at the front desks of the following locations:
- Rondout Municipal Center (at both the Marbletown and Rosendale Town Clerk offices), 1921 Lucas Ave Ext, Cottekill
- Trudy Center, 50 Center Street, Ellenville
- Ulster County DMV Office, 244 Fair Street, Kingston
- New Paltz Village Hall, 25 Plattekill Ave, New Paltz
- Phoenicia Library, 48 Main St, Phoenicia
- Saugerties Town Hall, 4 High Street, Saugerties
- Town of Ulster Library, 860 Ulster Avenue, Ulster
- Veteran Services entrance / Development Court Building #2, 2 Development Ct, Ulster
- Shawangunk Town Hall, 14 Central Ave, Wallkill
For questions or for more information, email: UlsterTSB@ulstercountyny.gov
“With shorter days and low afternoon light, 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 ride my bike, and I can tell you it makes a big difference, safety-wise. The 300 safety vests we gave away last year went fast, so we are more than tripling the supply for this year’s distribution. As always, we urge drivers to stay alert, slow down, and keep a safe distance from pedestrians and cyclists.”
Adhering to traffic safety laws and focusing on pedestrian safety is essential. In 2024, there were a total of 4,267 crashes on Ulster County roadways; 745 of those crashes involved serious injuries and 17 were fatal. In that same year, there were 82 crashes involving motorcycles, 50 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