Author: vivianq

Reflective tape can save your life

Do you know why the reflective tape for clothing is so important?

Many tests have shown that if a person is in a dark, blue dress, for example, the driver is able to record him at a distance of 18 meters. This is better for example with the yellow color of the garment when the pedestrian is recorded at a distance of 37 meters, in white then the driver sees it at 55 meters. However, even this distance is not enough to avoid pedestrians safely at night. Pedestrians should therefore always have some element in their clothing to make them more visible.

 

Fluorescent materials increase visibility in daylight and at dusk, but in darkness they lose their function. The use of reflexive materials is preferable – they reflect light in a narrow cone back to the source, up to a distance of about 200 meters. They greatly increase visibility in the dark and in low visibility. Reflective material can be seen at night three times the distance of white clothing and more than 10 times longer than blue clothing.

 

Reflective items are best placed at the end of the sleeves, close to the knees and to the waist level (cyclists like helmet and bike, for example). We can then buy clothes that are already equipped with reflective materials, as well as school bags with reflective stripes.

How big and where the reflective element should be

The amendment to the law, which commands to wear reflective elements in reduced visibility and out of the village on unlit streets, does not quite say how, where, and what size reflective elements are to be.

 

“You do not have to wear a reflective vest. Just a good complement of retro reflective material of distinctive color (yellow, light green, orange, etc.) that is visible to other road users. Ideal for example is a reflective strap placed on the leg or hands (ideally on both limbs) towards the road. You can carry your belt comfortably in your pocket or bag, where you do not take too much space and use it when needed. For example, a reflective element that is part of the clothing, the backpack or the bag is sufficient if it is sufficiently visible to other road users, “the Ministry of Transport writes on its website.

 

Simply put, in theory, a reflective element might be enough on the jacket sleeve two inches two inches. The Decree states in what situations the elements should be worn, in what weather, but not their particular form and location on the body.

 

What threatens you when you are invisible?

If police officers see you in a badly illuminated location outside of the village and you have no reflexive element, theoretically you may be facing a fine of up to two thousand dollars. “There is a fine ranging from zero to CZK 2,000 per block, from 1,500 to 2,500 CZK in administrative proceedings. Instead of granting sanctions, however, police patrols will talk to people and give them reflective tapes and bags to keep the law from breaking and moving safely on the road, “the Ministry of Transport said. The diary was confirmed by the spokesperson of the Taco police Dagmar. “Initially, police patrols will, if they see unmarked pedestrians, highlight the validity of the amendment to the decree, agree, if possible, distribute reflective tapes,” she said.

 

Even though you have to put these straps on the limbs so that you can turn them over in the winter months and see them at the same time, it is not only by the police. “We are perceiving pedestrians as being beneficial by reflexive materials on the street. Vehicle traffic police patrols are currently equipped with reflective tapes, and in direct service, police officers unloaded unmarked pedestrians. The amendment to the law, however, does not mean that the traffic police will massively fine all unmarked pedestrians. Although pedestrians will be involved in a misdemeanor, in these cases the police will, in particular, approach the understanding, explanation, preventive action, and pedestrian visibility by reflex tape itself. By the end of 2016, we assume that we will deliver up to 250,000 pieces of reflective tapes in this way, “said Tomas, Director of the Traffic Police Service of the Police Presidium of the Czech Republic.

 

The Decree could also remember the city

To wear a reflective element according to the pedestrian regulation is obligatory when moving out of the village under reduced visibility (not only at night, but also at dusk, fog, etc.) on the roadside or on the edge of the road in a place not illuminated by public lighting.

 

Thus, the decree deals with the movement outside the village, but also within the marked village and town we find little illuminated sections. “It is in many municipalities,” the police spokesman confirmed – for example, the section of Street, where a number of workers move to or from the evening shift in one of the races. And the decree should also apply to the pedestrian and cyclist trails, which are also several in Taco. “Although it does not specify this decree, it is still a road, so the reflective elements should be worn by pedestrians on pedestrian and bicycle paths,” added Giroux.

 

According to the recommendations of the Ministry of Transport, it is good to use reflexive elements where there is a danger that the driver cannot safely recognize the pedestrian. The aim is primarily to prevent serious and fatal accidents caused by the fact that the pedestrian was not sufficiently visible on the road. Between 2012 and 2015, 523 pedestrians died, of which 303 at night. In the last year alone, 72 people died, who were not seen at night. The driver, who meets the pedestrian in black at night, is about 18 meters long for an adequate response. At about 70 km / h, it is less than a second.

A year and a half with mandatory reflective elements

For eighteen months, pedestrians outside the village have to wear reflective vest. Do they do it? In addition, how did it show up in statistics?

 

It will be a year and a half from Sunday, when the pedestrians should start shining on our roads. On February 20, the following formula was added to the Road Traffic Act. “If a pedestrian is traveling outside the village in a low visibility on the roadside or on the edge of a road in a place not illuminated by public lighting, he is obliged to wear elements of retro reflective material placed so as to be visible to other road users. ”

 

It is just before 9 o’clock when we pass the sign indicating the end of Prague. We decided to see how the Czechs adhere to the law. True, the main season of all kinds of reflectors, straps and strips for clothes are gloomy autumn and winter. The law, however, applies without exception to the end of a fudgy summer. Is it dark or not? That is what we call when we are coming from Redoing towards – we meet a completely unlighted runner. Legislation reduces visibility by clearly distinguishing other vehicles, persons, animals or objects on the road. It is not just darkness, dusk or dawn, but also heavy rain, snow and mist.

 

From a statistical point of view, the new regulation looks promising. Perhaps for the first year of validity, the number of pedestrians killed in the night outside the village fell from 37 to 31, which is almost a fifth decline. It has certainly played a role in a massive communication campaign, warning about the possible consequences of invisible night walks. The parts of reflective tape are more prominent: “After the effectiveness of the law, we recorded a total of 24 killed pedestrians under reduced visibility. In seventeen cases, the pedestrian did not have a reflective element, “shocked Petra from the Police Presidium.

 

“Yes, I know I should have a glittering tape. I wear it in the winter, but it is not even dark now, “says the cross-country skiing we meet on the edge of the Alaska. At least he is dressed in a distinctive red shirt – but it would not help before the law. “After the introduction, we have advised that we will especially explain to pedestrians the meaning of this duty. At the same time, we warned that with the approaching end of the year, which is most risky for pedestrians, police would also be faced with block penalties for failing to comply with this duty, “explains Haven in safety vest.

 

Dangerously, however, not only pedestrians, but also drivers, behave in the dark. “Classical halogen headlamps are about a hundred meters long, so they have to adjust their speed. If we do not, we often do not have enough room for an adequate response. At the last minute, we are unable to react, “says Bezique chief Martin.

Wear reflective tapes to keep safe on the road

20 downed pedestrians, two of them dead in a week. “The number of hiked pedestrians is increasing rapidly. Within one day, there are four injuries, “warns Regional Secretary Michael.

 

Soon it diminishes, and pedestrians can not be seen in the evening dark. “The obligation to wear reflective strips outside the village is imposed by the law, but I am very much in favor of people being carried in the towns, too,” says region police.

 

It responds to the tragic accident in which a woman died last week. BusLine also responded the alarming number of injured or killed pedestrians. Her drivers now give out reflective tapes as part of a campaign, along with a bus ticket.

 

According to a representative for Nikola, it has its logic. “The most vulnerable travelers are mostly traveling on a bus stop or on a bus, and often walking along the edge of the road,” she explained the reason for the campaign, which was also launched by the TV reportage.

What standards should cyclists meet

In a pedestrian crossing signposted as such, the cyclist in reflective jacket cannot cross it transversely (not even to make a turn or a change of direction). If you want to cross to the sidewalk in front, you will have to get off the bike and take it on foot; in that case, it would have priority of step because it would stop being a cyclist to become a pedestrian.

 

It will only have priority if it is traveling by a bicycle lane or by a marked passage for cyclists.

– The cyclist in reflective clothing must ride in the center of his lane, like any other vehicle. This is done because in urban environments the cars parked on the sides could suddenly open the doors and favor a collision. In addition, the cyclist can turn left or right (signaling) conveniently to his destination.

– The assumptions in which cyclists have priority of step with respect to motor vehicles are established in Article 64 of the General Circulation Regulations, are the following:

  1. When traveling on a bike lane, pass for cyclists or shoulder marked properly.
  2. When to enter another road the motor vehicle turns to the right or left, in the permitted cases, and there is a cyclist in its vicinity.
  3. When circulating in a group, the first one has already started the crossing or entered a roundabout.

 

– In addition to the above assumptions, article 59 on intersections states that “even when it has priority of passage, no driver shall enter with his vehicle at an intersection or in a pedestrian or cyclist pass if the situation of traffic it is such that, predictably, it can be stopped in a way that obstructs the transversal circulation “.

– When traveling at night, it is mandatory to use front light and rear reflector on the bicycle, as well as a reflective garment on the part of the cyclist.

– The other mandatory rules for drivers are also for cyclists, including BAC (yes, you can be fined if you go by bike drunk, although you will never lose points if you take an administrative penalty).

What documents can the PMT ask for road safety

Inspector Carlos in reflective clothing, from the Municipal Traffic Police of the capital, recalled what documents can be requested and are required to transit in a vehicle, in addition to the most frequent infractions of drivers.

 

To park badly or in prohibited places, like, for example, on the pedestrian strip, and to drive in state of drunkenness are the most common faults, according to the inspector Carlos, of the Municipal Traffic Police About thirty infractions per day are recorded for bad parking, which can cost three to 10 days, between about G. 300,000 and 780,000.

 

To drive alcoholic would cost from 10 to 20 days, between G. 780,000 and more than G. 1,000,000. The case of motorcyclists also has the same amount, depending on the infractions they commit. Parades said that there are cases and cases: people who drive without a helmet, sheet metal or reflective vest, for example.

 

Regarding the documents, he reiterated that the PMT could request driver’s license, municipal authorization, and green card of the vehicle, which is the driver’s obligation to have at that moment. Not having some of these is the immediate cause of retention of the vehicle in the municipal corralling until the papers are put in order and an amount is paid.

 

He added that the National Police in safety vest, in addition to the cedilla, could also request a driver’s license, because if the driver does not have it, this represents exposure to the danger of ground traffic. Finally, he insisted that the lights of the car or motorcycle should be lit while driving en route, either day or night, in the city or in the interior of the country.

Minister answers questions about the use of reflective vest

Do motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians have to wear the reflective vest? It was one of the doubts answered by Andrés Gomez-Lobo in the DNA Test.

 

The Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Andrés Gomez-Lobo spoke with Andrea and José Antonio about the use of the reflective vest, whose possession in the car is mandatory from the first of January of 2016 that has just begun.

 

The head of the portfolio answered some of the doubts that have most resonated in recent days:

Why the yellow color of the vest?

“The reason for that is because it is a color that is very visible during the day” and “at night, what you see are the retro reflective bands that you have”, assured Gomez-Lobo.

 

Is the use compulsory, or only carry it in the car?

“You have to wear a reflective vest as part of the emergency kit, and this vest has to be accessible from inside the car’s cabin,” said the Minister, explaining that it is not necessary to hang it on the passenger seat, although it must be visible. It could be useful to show that the artifact is actually possessed.

 

Should motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians use it?

“No, in the current normal, no, now, we always recommend that pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, who are particularly vulnerable on the tracks use a reflective element and hopefully the safety vest,” he said.

This is an aggravating factor for road safety

Lieutenant of Traffic of the Civil Guard and responsible of the detachment of To Corunna, Jose Manuel Lopez participated yesterday in the campaign of sensitization initiated. “The data are worrisome both at the provincial level and the Costa. At the provincial level, we have 10 pedestrians who died in 2016; six in 2017 and three so far this year. These are very worrying data because, in most cases, they were abuses in which the victims were not wearing something as simple as a reflective vest.

 

According to the head of the detachment in A Corunna, these ominous statistics are even worse in a rural like the Costa: “Population aging and dispersion act as an aggravating factor. People need to run their errands and have to go on general roads, with a great movement of traffic. These pedestrians, either walk, or vehicles that do not require a driver’s license, with the risk that entails.

 

This campaign aims to be an awareness of the need to follow the indications on road safety. “It’s no use having the reflective safety vest at home. You have to use it whenever you go out; it is the only way to be visible to drivers, because the risk of being run over is very high. If you add to that a poor public lighting, adverse weather conditions, and the use of dark clothes, the possibility of an outrage increases exponentially. ”

 

This campaign of the Provincial Traffic Headquarters in collaboration with the Civil Guard Traffic Sub-sector of a Corunna is carried out in all the detachments. In the province, A Corunna, Santiago and Ferrol, but it will be especially significant in cameras such as the Costa, in which almost half of those killed in the road network were passers-by without high visibility clothing.

The technical vehicle verification could be required in Chile

Oscar, director of Road Safety, indicated that in a police control of the neighboring country, they will be able to request the VTV ticket. It will also be necessary to bring the “pushchair” for minors and the reflective vest.

 

The director of Road Safety, Oscar, recommended to Mendoza to travel to the trans-Andean country to carry out the vehicular technical verification because in case of passing through a police control, it could be requested by Carabineros.

 

“The subject of VTV is stipulated in the Chilean Traffic Law and can be requested by Carabineros. This does not imply that they ask for it at customs, but it can be requested, “Declared Homolog. He also recalled that “it is mandatory to take the child protective chair” and “the reflective safety vest“. The fine, for not having the approval certificate, stipulated by the Chilean government, “is around 1300 Argentine pesos.”

 

“In Mendoza, the cost of verification is 500 pesos up” is depending on the vehicle in question. The director of Road Safety said that “there are five checkpoints, four in the Greater Mendoza and one in San Rafael” and took the opportunity to remember that “in the course of 2018, the VTV will begin to apply in our province.”

 

Regarding the vehicle controls that will be during the holidays, he commented that “both Christmas and New Year, there will be 25 operations, with 8 dynamic positions that will vary depending on the vehicle situation.” Finally, Oscar referred to the numbers of victims that occurred throughout 2017. “This year there were 189 deaths in traffic accidents, high numbers compared to 135 last year. Anyway there were two major tragedies that trigger the statistics.”

Motorcyclists must wear reflective vest and helmet

The National Government made official this Tuesday, through decree 171/2017, the changes provided in the National Traffic Law to have a greater control of identification of motorcyclists and thus combat the “motorcycle.” The deadline chosen to implement the standard is June 15. The measure establishes, among other points, the obligation to carry the number of the patent in the helmet of the driver and his companion.

 

The resolution establishes in its first article that “the domain identification of the multivehicle, adhered in letters and reflective numbers, without matching the background color of the helmet,” and specifies that it must be placed on both sides of the protective garment. Then, it indicates that the driver’s companion “will have the obligation to use a reflective vest, with the identification of the domain both on the front and on the back.”

 

On this last point, he points out that “the color of the bottom of the vest will be pure yellow, sand yellow or orange yellow” and, in the middle of two horizontal reflective white bands, “will be printed in reflective white letters and numbers, the domain number of the vehicle.”

 

Also, the new regulations adds that “in case of not wearing reflective vest, the companion must wear garment with reflective bands or combined material (…), in addition to having adhered or printed legibly the domain of the vehicle that occupies”. In another article, meanwhile, states that “the obligation to wear the helmet and if necessary, the safety vest with identification, extends to the time of entry, exit and circulation inside the service stations, being mandatory use for the purpose of fuel loading.”

 

On the end of the decree and “for the purpose of optimizing motor vehicle circulation control operations”, the Executive Power invites the provinces and the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires “to determine in their respective jurisdictions the restrictions on motor vehicle traffic with two occupants in certain areas and / or on certain days and times “.

 

In the recitals, it is mentioned that “the massive use of motor vehicles throughout the territory of the Nation, and beyond the comfort provided by this means of transportation, its accessible acquisition and its economy, has facilitated in parallel the concretion of criminal acts on public roads, highly reprehensible by society “.

 

In addition, it is noted that “the implementation of these measures will facilitate both those affected, as witnesses, the security forces and the operators in safety uniform of video surveillance cameras, to identify the perpetrators of the crimes, and also enable greater visualization by third parties, in order to reduce the accident rate”. The decree, which “will enter into force on June 15, 2017”, bears the signatures of President Mauricio, the chief of staff, Marcos; and Ministers and Dietrich.