Month: January 2018

The exhibition for reflective traffic signs

The artist in reflective clothing and former sprayer Epos 257, who left his hidden identity not only from his youth, but also the instincts of a street hooligan, exhibits in the National Gallery. The first exhibition institution had the space of the corridor of the Prague Trade Fair Palace, a place that communicates directly across the street through the glass wall.

 

Even though Epos 257 is a graduate of the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design, he exhibits in established galleries, and even became involved with the “establishment” when he represented the Republic in 2010 in Shanghai. His work, however, still keeps street grip and criticism. The Exhibition in the Trade Fair called Retro-reflection, which will last until June 4, is slightly subversive. This Thursday, April 20 at 17:30, a commented tour will take place.

 

The theme of the exhibition is the traffic signs, namely the Z3 brand marking the sharp turn that the artist has mapped throughout Prague. Then he made a copy, and the original tagged them for them. “I worked for Retro-reflex for more than three years. I often travel through the city landscape, drive through it, walk on foot, map its terrain, and collect partial artifacts. Retro-reflection sign is a map of road signs that have become symbols of my city, “says Epos 257.

 

However, the main exhibit of the exhibition is not physically present in the Palace. A giant reflective mosaic made from stolen – and replaced – brands hangs on the facade of one of the apartment buildings. However, visitors to the exhibition see it through live transmission and accompanying documentation.

 

The exhibition also includes an orange reflective vest, which the author of many street interventions considers his most important work piece. “The orange vest works in the public space as an operating permit. Although it is strikingly colorful, a person paradoxically becomes invisible, “says Epos 257, which derives its pseudonym from the paragraph of the Criminal Code, which until recently defined the damage to a foreign matter. It therefore refers to the artist’s spraying history.

 

 

Mandatory pedestrian reflective elements: Better than nothing

In February, the pedestrians are obliged to wear reflective surfaces. Nevertheless, nobody deliberately says what to look like and there are shops full of shunts. You would have to live abroad or on Mars so that you do not hear about new pedestrian obligations in the Czech Republic wearing reflective elements outside of the village for reduced visibility. In February, it will go out in a collection of laws and then start paying in 15 days.

 

The approval process took so long that the media, the politicians and the policemen were talking about it for months, as it is a good idea if the measure brings at least one saved life. In the autumn, the campaign began, this year being sold to half a million reflective tapes, 100,000 bags for seniors and tens of thousands of shining laces for young people. The numbers of the victims are dull, since 72 pedestrians died in the dark last year. This is what good foreign experience speaks of, where such a duty has been paid for years, and the number of deaths has dropped very fast.

 

Do you know retro reflection?

Unfortunately, in the publication, the most important thing is to define what “retro reflective elements” are and what they should look like. “For example, we have fluorescent materials that increase visibility in daylight and at dusk, but in the dark they lose their function,” depicts the difficulties of a simplified search for Martin. In addition, we have found that not every orange or light green working vest is wearing real retro reflective elements – those that reflect light at night and draw attention to the character in the dark!

 

Although the transport legislation suggests that the term “retro reflective” refers to the emergency stop of a vehicle outside the village or the permissible pedestrian signs, the executive decree shows examples of orange “roadside” assemblies and vests with the inscription “School”, which in both cases, it is difficult to dress the participants.

 

In addition, this link is missing in the passage about their new designation. Members have already been caught up during the vote. “Retro-reflective materials – it’s a very difficult word, and I confess I’m a little confused. It is the Latin word of origin. Reflector means bending, turning, re-turning. How do I translate retro-reflex, I do not know. I wonder why this term was born, “said Daniel, a deputy and linguist from TOP 09. For the sake of order: a term that has been spelled out for years is commonly used for the principle of the retro reflection of light…

 

 

 

Mandatory safety equipment on abroad

“Frequently, drivers think that they are just as mandatory safety equipment as in the Czech Republic and argue either with the Vienna Convention or with the Geneva Convention. The problem is that these conventions only mention the technical equipment of the vehicle, not the mandatory equipment. Therefore, we have to equip the vehicle in every state,” explains Aldrich Vanier, who is a lawyer.

 

For example, reflective vests for everyone in a vehicle are mandatory in Italy, France, Slovenia, Hungary, and again in Poland and, under certain circumstances, in Slovakia. Reflective jackets must be in the vehicle and not in the trunk. This is fine for example in Austria or Germany. In Austria, the safety vest is compulsory only for drivers, but for others in the vehicle it is recommended. However, if they have to stop and get out of the vehicle on the local road or motorway, everyone who leaves the car must wear a reflective vest. Similarly, in Bulgaria or Estonia, the vest is mandatory for anyone leaving the vehicle during an emergency, in Bulgaria this is also true for bikers.

 

Unlike in the Czech Republic, the warning vest is in some countries subject to traffic regulations and not to a prescription for vehicle equipment. In Finland, the visors are mandatory for pedestrians as well as reflective elements in the Czech Republic and other countries, for example in Slovakia. The fire extinguisher is in turn required in Poland, Ukraine or Greece and Bulgaria.

 

The Croatian specialty is that vehicles with a trailer must have 2 triangles. In a popular Czech destination, children under the age of 12 must not travel to the front seats. The exception is children up to two years old placed in an “egg” and with an airbag off. In Cyprus, it is forbidden to carry a child under five years of age in the front seat. It is forbidden there for drivers to consume food and drink while driving.

 

And each vehicle must have two warning triangles as required, which is also required in Turkey. Children under the age of 12 and less than 1.35 m cannot be transported in the front seats of cars, this is in Lithuania. In Luxembourg, a child aged 3 to 17, measuring less than 1.50 m, must be transported in the car seat only in the rear seats. In France, a child younger than 10 years of age may not travel in the front seat if the rear seats are free.

 

Hungary is often the transit country for those heading for the Adriatic. “Please note that the rear position lights must also be illuminated in retrofitting for daytime running lights,” warns ÚAMK. In Spain, you can have a fixed navigation on the windscreen, whatever else is forbidden. A driver with dipodic glasses or contact lenses must have one with them as a replacement.

 

You have to change it for reflective vest

Updated: The Minister for Transport has specified how things are related to reflective vests. “The protective features of vests that conform to the earlier European Standard EN 471 are safe and meet the technical requirements. I would therefore like to reassure the drivers that they do not have to throw away the vests they bought earlier and buy new ones. It is true that the vest, which is part of the mandatory equipment, must comply with the European Standard (EN 471 or EN ISO 20471). However, no prescription shows that older vests meeting this norm are not right and people can not use them, “Transport Minister Dan wrote in his statement.

 

Usually, yogurt, meat, bananas will spoil, and perhaps the expiration time would be understood in the mandatory first-aid kit. But at the reflective safety vest? The European Union and therefore the Ministry of Transport do not like the reflex vests of Czech motorists reflecting, so you will have to replace those existing ones with some more reflective ones. The new standard, which is referred to as reflective vests, has been in force since January this year, said News. This is the application of the European directives governing the designation of products intended for the mandatory fitting of a vehicle.

 

The new standard is labeled EN ISO 20471: 2013 and the so-called Notification Person and its four-digit identification number must be included on the reflective vest. Old vests according to ČSN EN 471 or EN 20471 can not be used as part of mandatory vehicle equipment. The question is how much the police officers will rely on reflective yellow vests for inspections. However, this could be a crucial element if they can not find any violation of the law when thoroughly scrutinized. You know, the comma must be filled.

 

Keep the safety equipments for safe

First aid kits are reminiscent of field hospitals, and there are a number of unnecessary things in them, meaning transport and health experts. People often do not know how to use most of the first-aid kit in an accident. In 2018, there is a bigger wave of their expiration, and the police in safety vest will focus on it. Check your date on yours.

 

It is overly equipped, but things that most people cannot use. Some parts of the equipment are inappropriate or even life threatening. Speech is about the first aid kit. Unlike other countries, every Czech driver has to carry them in the car, and its content is specified in a decree.

 

“The scope of the first-aid kit equipment reminds me of a small field hospital. These bandages and patches. He would have one universal, a snapper and better gloves that would not break, “said the road expert Roman Road Safety Team, with the fact that there is also a clearly specified length of the scissors:” It is rather important that they are strong enough and that they would manage if necessary, cut the seat belt, “he added.

 

Health experts also confirm the fact that some things are unnecessary or unusable. For example, there are a number of patches, three-piece scarves or a plastic mask. In addition, a number of dressings with cushioned pads for serious injuries. “This cushion can not be said, this fabric has minimal absorption. As a pad, use the entire bandage if necessary. We take him and put his hand on his gloved grip on his wound. We will attach it by the second bandage, “the Prague rescue practitioner and the First Aid lecturer from Robert Placket said in the Czech Radio, adding that one of the two non-functional bandages would be functional.

 

It does not work well with a few latex gloves. Nervous drivers rip gloves during a rescue operation, and there is no other pair in the medicine box. “In my opinion, in this case, it would be enough to improve the material from which the gloves are produced,” Buds said. Another option is to buy a backup pair of reflective gloves and add it to your first aid kit.

 

 

 

Are you threatened with bad reflective jacket

Up to 90 percent of reflective vests for motorists sold on our market do not meet European standards. These, for example, indicate how much reflective elements on the vests must reflect the light, and what dimensions such elements must at least have. Motorists can get a fine of up to 2,000 crowns, but more importantly, in case of road problems you will be much less visible in such a vest.

 

However, according to the Minister of Transport, Dana, it is not necessary to change the current vests, because the new standard only applies to newly manufactured products. Only drivers who do not find any label or certification on the jacket should change it.

 

If they have a certified vest in the car, they can be quiet. It is more about looking good at purchasing a new vest, which we can change for example as lost or damaged. Some technical inspection stations, however, do not give technical advice to drivers if the vest is not in accordance with the latest standards. At first glance, you do not know both jackets, but the analyzes made by one of the distributors show great differences. The uncertified one usually has a reflective surface area smaller than the standard, and most of the light reflects at least.

 

“The biggest impact this has on the final consumer, the motorist, is not so visible,” said one of the distributors Michal. Distributor estimates that vests that do not meet valid standards are up to 90 percent. Of course, they are also making money here. A vest that has not passed a compulsory certification in a test room is cheaper, up to 40%.

 

The problem is that when the product enters the market, the state is not supposed to intervene. The manufacturer himself sends a batch of vest for testing, and if he passes, he gets the certification with which he then sells the safety vest. According to ÚAMK’s assistant service, it is up to him to make the series honestly or if some vests are cheated. Control is only possible when the vests are on the market. However, now when shortcomings occur, the guilty may face up to a million fines.

 

Warning vests that do not give the warning to other drivers do not, according to the Ministry of Transport in the car, what to do. “If the product does not comply with the mandatory safety requirements and still claims that it may be obligatory, then it would be deceiving the customer,” Tomas Nevoid, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport, told TV Nova. For a deceptive advertisement, a fine of up to 5 million crowns may be imposed.

 

Moreover, if the vest does not have the right reflective elements, it is dangerous and the manufacturer has to download it. Knowing the safety eyewitness with the naked eye is complex; people are relying on labels as well as information that the vest is intended for mandatory equipment. Even if you have the right vest in the Czech Republic, you can still get a fine abroad. “There is one possible collision, and that is the green color used by German police for their vests,” IAM spokesperson explained.

 

In addition, another hitch is in the number of vest. In the Czech Republic, the law prescribes the vest one, in France, Italy, Hungary or, in Croatia, it is mandatory for all passengers. Fines for missing vests go up to thousands of crowns. Although in the Czech Republic the high visibility vest is only one mandatory, if you get out of the car on the road in low visibility, you have to have reflective elements, at that moment the law is for you as a pedestrian.

 

The police will fix your ticket for the lack of glare after dark

Do you remember the obligation to wear reflective clothing after dark? The police control compliance with this provision and give away subsequent mandates.

 

Police officers from the Silesian road have taken to the pedestrians who, after dark, do not have any reflections in the un-built area. On Thursday evening, the inhabitants of the Zawierci podia found out about it. Similar shares will also be carried out in other places. Three patrols in the area checked if pedestrians know the rules. Such actions are very important, because many pedestrians forget about reflections. Accidents involving pedestrians are very common. In nine months, as many as 56 pedestrians were killed on the roads. In 2014, it was 68 people. Recall that from August 31, 2014, pedestrians are obliged to wear retro-reflective elements in non-built-up areas. People often forget about it. In just two hours of action, the patrol stopped three people. Everyone claimed that they do not wear flares, because they only went out for a moment.

 

I do not have any reflections, because I rarely walk at this time – one of the women, who was stopped by a police patrol, explained. Each of these people was visible only from a few meters away. The reflectors, on the other hand, ensure the visibility of a pedestrian from several dozen meters. The police were merciless and consistently punished pedestrian mandates. Recall that the mandate for the lack of glare is a minimum of 50 zlotys. The cost of the reflection is about 7 zlotys. On Thursday, police officers also handed out safety vests and reflective bands.

 

 

A reflective gift for an athlete

Most of us already have at least selected gifts, but if you still have shopping in front of you, we present a list of gifts ideal for the athlete. Today we will look at reflections because they are inexpensive, their choice is very rich, and they are useful. Here is why the reflective products are perfect for a gift.

 

Reflective gadgets can save a runner’s life!

Poles are becoming more and more active. Negative temperatures, darkness, even rain cannot draw thousands of compatriots away from their daily training. Movement before work or after returning home is the best way to rest and take a distance are professional matters. Who moves, gains strength, good figure, and well-being. Unfortunately, it is still too rare when thinking about your own safety to make a dispute. Although active people have already learned how to choose the right clothing and shoes for maximum comfort and protection against injuries, but the need to ensure proper visibility after dark is still neglected.

 

Cyclists and runners often move in city traffic. Dark tracksuit and adverse weather conditions make them almost invisible to drivers after dark. Even at low speed, the braking distance is long enough to prevent the driver from making any maneuver that avoids the accident. The use of a reflector improves visibility from 30-40 m to even 150 m. Thanks to this, the driver has time to slow down or pass a pedestrian or a cyclist. – says Anita Nicias from the online store with reflexive accessories for active people.

 

Reflections and legal regulations

Not everyone knows that wearing reflective vest after dark is mandatory outside built-up areas, and for their lack, the police can impose a mandate up to PLN 500. However, it is not a vision of punishment, and care for safety should prompt athletes or their friends (or loved ones) to buy a wristband. Christmas is a traditional period when we look for gifts. By buying reflectors or LED accessories, you can be sure that it will be a hit gift that will please the recipient and will definitely be used.

 

There is a whole group of universal reflectors available on the market for people practicing sports such as: self-tightening straps, reflective braces, warning vests, reflective T-shirts, reflective caps. For runners, cyclists and Nordic walking enthusiasts, you can choose dedicated reflective gadgets that take into account the needs of each of these groups of athletes.

 

Reflectors for runners

The basic reflective equipment for the runner can be a reflective t-shirt with fluorescent stripes, luminous shoelaces, and LED overlays for shoes. Such a set can be supplemented with a reflective tube, which is very popular due to its multiple uses. You can make a balaclava, shawl, tie on the wrist, and use it as a hair band or a headband. Runners also need a flexible reflective band and a sachet for keys or a telephone. Fashionably, safely and practically – high quality reflective products will be useful for every active person.

 

Reflectors for cyclists

Cyclists can successfully use reflective gadgets for runners. However, they should also focus on equipping with the reflections of the bicycle. – The basic thing is a flag. In addition to her, it is worth thinking about the led pad mounted on silicone hooks. It is a great product. It is visible even from 400 m and can be hung on a frame, basket, or wheel. For cyclists there are also balls and sticks for spokes and various LED bicycle lamps.

 

Reflective Gadgets for those who practice Nordic walking

This group of sports people must have good visible clothing in the first place. For them are designed different reflective T-shirts, soft-shell jackets and various useful finer gadgets. A good gift can be, for example: a reflective cover for a mobile phone, a set of reflective clips on the leg or multicolored bands. Reflectors are essential for athletes, but they are useful to us all. Children will be happy with a pendant or a reflective key ring. Such inexpensive and aesthetically made little things are worth adding Santa to the gift bag.

 

What safety equipment is worth to carry in a car

What safety equipment is worth to carry in a car every day and what is unnecessary? Well, that is not an easy question because every driver has different needs. It also depends on the season or distance covered. However, let us try to choose those universal elements that can always come in handy.

 

First, the car is not worth reloading with dozens of items that will unnecessarily take up space in the trunk, to increase the mass, and thus the combustion of the car. If it is summer, for example, a shovel or chains for wheels, as well as a scraper or winter washer fluid will be unnecessary. Let us go one by one.

 

Mandatory equipment

Let us start with the mandatory equipment of the car, which is required by regulations. In the case of Poland, the list is … very short. Every driver must carry a warning triangle and a 1 kg fire extinguisher. Everything else depends on us. Let us add that the triangle is set at a suitable distance behind the car in case of immobilization of the car or in a visible place behind, during towing. As for the fire extinguisher – due to its small size it will only be useful for extinguishing a small fire. It is best to carry it in the cabin, and if it is already in the trunk, it is always on top, not under the floor or a pile of other luggage.

 

What to take always

It is good to have at least one reflective vest in the car. If it is necessary to leave the car standing on the side of the road, for example when replacing a wheel, the driver in the vest will be visible from a distance. The vest should always be at hand and not buried in the trunk. The first aid kit is also necessary. Combined with the basic knowledge about first aid, it can save many lives, including the owner of the first aid kit, when an accident occurs, and accidental witnesses will use his equipment. What should be in the first aid kit? Latex gloves, rescue thermal film, mask for artificial respiration, materials for dressing, triangular shawl, scissors, etc. An instruction for first aid may also be invaluable.

 

It is good to have a basic set of fuses and light bulbs, although not every replacement of the bulb is possible without the use of special tools or even a visit to the site. You never know when the sun will come out from behind the clouds. From autumn to spring, that is for most of the year, its rays fall at a large angle. Spare, duty glasses will increase comfort and safety of driving.

 

In the era of Smartphone, without which most of us cannot imagine normal operation anymore, a spare charger will be necessary, connected to the cigarette lighter socket, or to a USB socket, if it is in the car. Of useful things, you can also mention the ready print of the road traffic, which will prove salutary in this stressful situation.

 

It is also worth carrying a lift with a key to unscrew the wheels and gloves. The latter will be useful not only when changing the wheel, but always when you need to lift the mask, for example, add the windscreen washer fluid without the risk of dirtying your hands. In case, it is good to have a packet of tissues, on hand. If your hands get dirty, you can wipe them quickly and easily. Finally, among the useful items, replace the flashlight – when at night, when replacing a burned out light bulb, you will need to illuminate under the hood and a penknife or multi-tool type tool, having built-in pliers, screwdrivers and many other universal tips.

 

War between taxi drivers at the airport

Taxi drivers from the corporation that operates the airport declared war on the non-attached. They defended by reflective vests with the “recommendation” of the airport.

 

Taxi Corporation City plus Neptune Taxi for ten years leases from the airport two of three coves for taxis, including one adjacent to the terminal. The third, one hundred meters away from it is intended for taxi drivers of other corporations and so-called non-members. In addition, everything would be okay, if not for years of conflict between affiliated and non-attached taxi drivers.

 

The conflict between taxi drivers has been growing for years, but escalated when the number of taxi drivers outside the corporation began to grow rapidly. In addition, the number of customers is using City plus Neptune to decrease.

– During the day, approximately 100 to 140 of our taxis arrive to the terminal. When there were six, maybe seven, few years ago, there were no problems. Now there are more than 20 of them, and the methods they use to get customers are as much controversial as they are effective. We must sometimes stand for a few hours to enter the first place, and they enter the hall and accost people – says Wildman in yellow vest, one of the corporate taxi drivers.

 

“Methods” means a first soliciting customer at the terminal, which is theoretically forbidden at the airport. – In addition, there are insults, punishments, such as threatening to burn a car. Whenever this happens, our taxi drivers make reports. I have more and more of them. In the end, they will go to the police – says lesser, president of the CNP. That is why a week ago, “official” taxi drivers have put on a vest with information that they are a corporation recommended by the airport.

 

In addition, we have allowed them to enter the terminal area, where they are visible to passengers. The terminal has plates with information in Polish, English and German, that it is a trustworthy and recommended by us company. I think that we are on the right track to resolve this conflict – says Mare Karaka, head of the terminal. We were unable to contact any of the taxi drivers in reflective uniform outside the corporation, although we waited for them about an hour and a half.