The German police union and the CDU want cyclists who wear the reflective clothing. Others reject a rule – and the accident statistics of the police on the lack of lighting surprised.
The German police union wants to bring light into the dark on the bike paths. Land chief calls for a warning waistcoat for cyclists in the dark. In addition, it reaps predominantly skepticism, but enthusiasm with the CDU. Their transport policy spokesperson Oliver Frederica wants to “address the issue in the coalition and consider whether we make a Federal Council initiative out of it.”
Brickman reports of an eye-opening experience at a meeting of patrol and traffic police. There it was illustrated with photos, how well cyclists can be seen thanks to the West – especially in the rich in lights City, in which the bicycle lights are not always noticeable.
Others emphasize, however, that rather than adopting a new rule, it would be preferable to enforce the long-established light-driving method in the dark. This is also what Kerstin Philipp, head of the larger police union said: “If we had more police, we could do much more preventative. With more controls and presence, the educational effect would also apply. ”
The critics of a duty emphasize the fact that it makes sense to wear a safety vest as a cyclist. “Safety vests and cycling helmets contribute to self-protection, and that’s why I recommend it,” says Siegfried Brickman, who heads accident research for insurers. “For the dark season warning vests would definitely not be bad,” confirms boss Philipp. SPD transport politician Ole Reins says: “I find a voluntary good.” He does not respond to the CDU demand for a Federal Council initiative. “We also do not equip the pedestrians with safety vests.” This argument does not pull: “Pedestrians are not so fast and less on the road.”
The police department states that it is “in the best interests of every cyclist” to be well seen through light and bright, ideally reflective clothing. “While, according to police observations, there are still too many cyclists traveling in the dark without light, the voluntary use of safety vests has already increased significantly without any obligation.” The police recommend both safety vests and helmets.
The Greens and the cycling association ADFC reject clothing regulations. International comparisons showed that for safe cycling, it was the traffic climate had to be improved. The German lighting requirement would be sufficient if it were enforced. In Munster, it succeeded to increase the audience rating by controls from 40 per cent in the year 2007 to now 97 per cent. Who is caught without light on the wheel, pays 20 Euros.
Brickman justifies his demand for compulsory wasting with the fact that cyclists caused at least 54 percent of their 6952 accidents in 2013 as well. However, in a study by the police, the subject of lighting does not even appear on more than one hundred pages – not even in the list of the eight most common causes of accidents, which covers at least 94 percent of the cases. An indication of the problem of poor visibility provides at most the evaluation of the other cyclists accidents caused: There is priority violation in second place. Therefore, good high visibility clothing will be necessary for the drivers. Often this has to do with the fact that others have simply overlooked the cyclists. The discrepancy between the subjectively perceived as extremely reckless lack of lighting and their objectively minor role in the accident explain professionals so that moments of horror and near misses are not recorded.