Every year, changing to wintertime causes a peak in road accident. Pedestrians and cyclists are the most concerned about the road safety.
The transition to wintertime does not only have the effect of saving energy. Indeed, each year this translates into an increase in road accidents, especially for pedestrians. Road Safety reports an increase of 5.9% between November and October, for this category alone between 2012 and 2016. Pedestrian mortality is 43% of the annual total between October and January, over these years.
These accidents are explained by a nightfall that occurs earlier, and starts during peak hours. During the time slot from 17h to 19h, the increase in accidents amounts to 47%! According to the National Observatory of Road Safety, this surplus of accidents is “a consequence of reduced lighting time, pedestrians without reflective vest are hardly perceived by other users, while they feel to be seen.
The risk also applies to other so-called vulnerable users, such as cyclists. For this last category is added another factor, that of reflectors and lights not necessarily in good working order, after journeys in broad daylight where they proved useless.
In addition to checking the equipment, the Road Safety advises to wear clear clothing, or even with reflective strips. This led some thirty prefectures, and representatives of the association of insurers Area to distribute free 60,000 kits of visibility, including a yellow reflective vest, a matching backpack and a reflective bracelet. An operation called “Well Seen Together” and which is supported by Nelson Montfort.