I run down country roads, so I don't have any sidewalks or pathways to run along. I find it very important to run on the opposite side of the road, facing traffic. Why is this important? If you're running towards the traffic then you can see and be prepared for anything coming at you. The vehicles behind you don't have to worry about swerving out of the way to get around you, and thus shouldn't startle you ..there's a lot of space between you and the traffic behind you.
Also making sure of your surroundings and listening to the oncoming traffic and staying aware for animals of any kind. Just recently (a week ago Sunday) I had a big scare when 5 of my neighbor's dogs came running out at me, one of them was nearing the attack mode. His owner had to come retrieve them 3 times in less than 5 minutes. This lead me to get knowlegeable about how I should react in situations like this. Learning about such vital things, like never turn and run away from ANY kind of dog, makes you proactive and keeps you (hopefully) out of some dire situations. Reading up on how to protect yourself from such dangers gives you a better sense of security. Mind you, running with some bear spray might also allieviate some stress too!!
One other VERY important piece of equipment I run with is my phone. You never know when or why you'll have need for it. Besides injury, you could become lost or find yourself in a bad situation. I have had to use it a few times to have someone come rescue me, when I've gotten injured and couldn't make it back home. On my phone I have downloaded the Road ID app. This is a fantastic app for runners, especially ones that run alone, like myself. When I am running in locations I am unfamiliar with I set up my Road ID App and it sends messages & keeps track of my whereabouts, through GPS, to the people on my contact list. This is reassuring because if I stop running for any length of time or if I have not turned off my app in a certain period of time (that I set up prior to leaving), it will notifiy those people. The other feature of this app is that I can set up the wall paper with all my allergies and emergency contacts, so that it's readily available to anyone if they find me and I am unable to tell them this information.
I am not a fan of running in the dark, especially running by myself & hoping my neighbor's dog doesn't run out at me. I recently bought a pair of knuckle lights & they are marvellous! Not only do they shine bright so you're noticeable, they also fit conveniently on the knuckles so the light shines a beautiful path ahead of you!! The other important thing to wear is reflective gear!! There are some pretty neat items out there to help with reflectivity. Some running clothes even have it built into the stitching. Wearing reflective gear is VITAL to you as a runner, you are visible to the traffic. These types of items should be worn at dusk and dawn as well.
So you see, there are some pretty important reasons why safety should be a priority for all runners.