The use of the reflective vest by motorcyclists has stagnated and far from being a mass security element. “A year ago we were a lot more optimistic,” Pablo, general secretary of the National Road Safety Unit, told Observer.
A national study on public road behavior that the agency will make public today revealed that the use of this mandatory device by Law 19.061 complementary to the Traffic Law does not exceed 30% nationally. In Montevideo, the indicator rises to 38%.
For the vest to affect accident rates, it should expand to at least 80% of motorcyclists.
According to the hierarch, the lack of control has influenced the adoption of its use. The Municipality of Montevideo will begin to monitor the use of vests or reflective jackets one year after the approval of the standard, although it was only regulated in April of this year. However, in a first phase, the driver will not be fined, but an observation will be imposed.
To solve this problem, Unease prepares a mass delivery of vests in conjunction with the Congress of Intend ants.
It is estimated that, in total, the motorcyclist intervenes in 40% of casualties with fatalities registered in the capital; while in the rest of the country it does it in a range of 60%. In Montevideo, there are about 300,000 registered motorbikes. 18.1% of motorcyclists killed last year were between 15 and 19 years old.
The driver gives the example
The observation study includes use of the child restraint system, safety belt, daytime running lights, helmet, and the habit of talking on the cell phone at the wheel. Idalou said that it was determined that, if the driver wears a seatbelt, 88% of the companions imitate it; but if it does not, the figure drops to 9.7%. The research was carried out in 45 points of the country, during four consecutive days. More than 46,000 vehicles (26,475 cars and trucks and 19,590 motorcycles and mopeds) and 73,000 passengers were studied.