While the number of dead drivers is falling rapidly, pedestrians are getting more and more. In November, they accounted for more than a third of the victims of accidents. Police officers want the pedestrian rules to be tightened – perhaps to wear reflective clothing. What other changes can be expected on the roads in 2011?
Taking a blue coat and going out in the dark over the road to the next village can be likened to a suicide attempt. According to the BESIP study, the driver of a moving car sees you in such an outfit only 18 meters behind you. She has no chance to react. At eighty-kilometer speed, it needs a minimum distance of at least two times. While the number of dead drivers in the Czech Republic has fallen sharply in recent years, there is more and more victims among pedestrians. Every fifth dead on the road is a pedestrian. Nearly two-thirds of them die outside the village.
November’s statistics are even scarier. Of the total number of 82 deaths in traffic accidents, there were 33 pedestrians. “This number is one of the last reasons why we will require the introduction of mandatory reflective vest for pedestrians next year, at least outside of the community,” said Leo Trail, head of traffic police.
In order for the driver to be able to react in the dark in the black, blue or even red dress in time, he would only have to go for forty. On the other hand, with the reflective elements on the clothes, one can see on the road at 200 meters. Police officers would like to have the obligation to wear reflective vests or elements in the amendment to the Road Act, which is already in the Chamber of Deputies, and the MPs should definitely vote on it at the first meeting in 2011.
However, MEPs do not have a common view on the proposal. “I think it would help to reduce the number of accidents on lower class roads,” the deputy chair of the Chamber of Deputies agrees. “I would support everything that brings people to reason, it is absolutely incomprehensible to me that pedestrians are not doing anymore, especially they should think about themselves,” adds Interior Minister Raked John.
Most MPs who have addressed MF DNES would focus on massive campaigns. “At every opportunity for pedestrians to recommend reflective elements,” says Finance Minister. “I walked for three miles to a pub in Belching and I wore a flashlight,” he adds. “Certainly, it would be good for people to have such a recommendation, but I can hardly imagine that this would be the duty of the law, how would she force it?” asks the deputy.
It is the issue of enforceability that most unknown to politicians. And also whether the “invisible” pedestrian on the road threatens only himself or the driver. And experts are also wondering if this would bring even greater aggression on Czech roads. “Reckless drivers might find a new excuse for them – if they collided with someone, they would have argued that they had no reflective elements,” says transport expert Petra Moos. Some carmakers already have their luxury cars equipped with night-vision equipment that the pedestrians themselves warn about.