Light makes safety a snap

WEST SPRINGFIELD - When you head out in your car and take a trip to the store, movies, work or any other destination, are you sure you've done everything you can to make it a safe trip?

"When I travel at night I'm very concerned for my safety if I break down, especially as I drive in the many rural areas that don't have street lights," said Therese Mallett, of Suffield. "I'm worried about whether other cars can see me, or will I be able to see the ground if I had to walk or read a map."

The U.S. Highway Administration reports 10 million people were sidelined in vehicle crashes in 2005.

And, if you happened to avoid getting into an accident, it may have been because your car broke down and pulled off the road altogether. The Highway Administration reports nearly 28 million vehicles broke down, stranding more than 44 million people.

Grand total: more than 54 million people were stranded by a car crash or vehicle breakdown.

Big Y has stocked all of its stores in Massachusetts and Connecticut with Roadside Emergency Lights manufactured by West Springfield-based Cyalume Technologies.

"It's a good item to have in case of emergency," said Big Y general merchandise category manager Scott Miller. "Flashlight batteries die pretty quickly, flares are too dangerous. The lightbars give motorists safe, reliable, long-lasting light in an emergency."

"SnapLight lightbars are based on the same chemical reaction as a firefly," said Sandy Weisz, vice president of marketing for Cyalume. "The lightbars turn on in a snap - literally - safely mixing two chemicals in a plastic casing to create instant light. There's no battery, bulb, flame, or heat - just safe light for emergencies, evacuations or distress signaling."

The price is $7.99 and included in the package are two roadside emergency lights, one red and one yellow; each will last two hours and has a hanging loop for signaling.

AAA of the Pioneer Valley is also tapping into this national trend and concern for safety. The SnapLights are available at AAA's West Springfield headquarters at 150 Capital Drive.

"We've had many requests for this type of product especially after holiday season when there were so many stories about people stuck on the side of the road. These people did not have proper equipment when they broke down," AAA spokeswoman Sandra Marsian said.

"I would feel safer if I had something to light my way. Whether I'm in the vehicle or have to leave my car unattended, I would feel better knowing there's some kind of light to warn other drivers," Mallett said.

Big Y was founded in Western Massachusetts and, to this day, the organization strives to do business with local companies. Miller said working with Cyalume - a West Springfield-based emergency light company - helps fulfill that mission.

"We're local. They're local...It's all about relationships and trust. Supporting local companies and keeping the jobs here - not sending them overseas - is very important to us," Miller said.