Tag: reflective materials

There is no reflective tape as reflective tape

The duty to have reflective materials on clothing is in law this February. But there are still many tragic accidents with “invisible” pedestrians. In most cases, pedestrians simply had no reflective elements. But as BESIP pointed out, some reflective tapes that pedestrians buy do not work as well as they should.

 

The reflective tape is one of the ways to meet the requirements of the new road law for pedestrians who go outside the village in low visibility. However, according to BESIP’s Department of Transport, not all tapes are the same.

 

They should be right at 200 meters. “There are also cases where the material works only within a distance of 60 to 70 meters,” said Martin, director of BESIP. How well the reflective tape is visible should give a leaflet, respectively marking directly on the tape. The elements that meet the European standard EN 13356 are well visible.

 

Top on foot

In addition to the tape itself, however, its location also plays a role. It may seem best to place it on your sleeve. But from a security point of view, this is not the case. Car headlights shine to the ground, so the legs are first seen. The reflective strap on the leg is the most effective solution that truly guarantees pedestrian visibility up to 200 meters.

 

Reflective strips handed over 300,000 to the police and BESIP staff this year. Yet many pedestrians still do not use them. For example, during a traffic safety event last week in the Ústí nad Labem region, police officers controlled 193 pedestrians, 111 of whom were “invisible”.

 

Your money or Your Life

For the time being, police officers usually need to talk. However, by law, people who do not use reflective elements(like reflective vest or reflective tape) are threatened with a fine of up to two thousand, when they go off the road outside the village.

 

The rule is not the lawmakers’ will, it responds to the annual tragic accident statistics. Eighteen pedestrians only died on the roads this year in October, which contributed significantly to the particularly high number of road accidents during the month. According to Traffic Lines Director Tomas Lerch, visibility contributed to most car crashes with pedestrians.

First-grader set

The coming weekend for many parents and their children will mark by going to the shops because traditionally it is on the last weekend of August that a large-scale purchase of goods for school takes place. Moms and dads get school uniforms and shoes, as well as snapping up stationery from the shelves of shops, from whose abundance crammed shelves.

 

The first-graders collection itself, unlike its cost, has practically not changed over the years. And the first product that should be put in the basket is definitely a satchel or a backpack.

 

There are a lot of manufacturers on the market, choosing the best of which is not easy. Products which in recent years has grown greatly in quality and design. Meets all the requirements of modern school fashion. All backpacks and backpacks for 1-3 classes made with a rigid frame, soft wide straps, reflective tapes, have many pockets.

 

Given the intended content (books, notebooks, stationery, possibly interchangeable shoes), you need to choose high-quality satchels, be sure to try it on the child, and also pay attention to some important details:

 

According to GOST, the empty weight of the pack should not exceed 1 kg. At the same time, the weight of the filled children’s knapsack should not exceed 10 percent of the mass of a first grader;

The width of the portfolio should be approximately equal to the width of the child’s shoulders;

The presence of an orthopedic back repeats the natural curvature of the spine and contributes to the formation of posture;

The top edge of the bag should be at the same height as the shoulders, and the bottom should be at the waist level;

The ideal width of the straps is about four centimeters. By state standards they must be regulated;

A big plus if the backpack is made of waterproof fabric with a plastic bottom.

In addition to the practicality of the bag, it is necessary to pay attention to its design: here the main adviser for parents is their own child. By the way, according to this principle, it is worth choosing and stationery for the child:

 

let the parent is responsible for functionality and convenience, and the student is responsible for visual appeal.

 

After all, he will have to use all these riches every day. And, for example, the same bag with the image of your favorite cartoon character will add a couple of points in favor of the love of school.

 

We also recommend purchasing a pair of stylish reflective pendants or stickers which made of reflective materials along with the bag, as the student will go to school early in the morning, long before the first sun rays appear on the horizon. And the so-called flickers will help make the child more visible on the road or in the yard.

 

No less important attribute of the school life of the first grader is a pencil case. Here, the rampant fantasy is great, and it is important for parents to warn the child against buying something impractical. For example, a case with compartments will suit the little neat workers, and suppose the “cosmetic bag” is worth taking to those students who are always in a hurry and will not waste time and energy putting each pencil into their division.

 

It is worth noting that it is better to choose a pencil case with a zipper than with stickies because tearing them away, the child will create noise and distract classmates and the teacher from the educational process.

3 tips for running in the dark

Especially in winter, when the sun rises late, sets early and there is summer time, it is inevitable to go out in the dark, or in poor lighting conditions. And unfortunately there is not always a way to run on exclusive tracks for runners and closed to traffic: we often end up running on the street and on the sidewalks with the consequent dangers given by the traffic of cars and motorcycles.

 

When you go out running in the dark it is essential to think first of all about your safety, trying to be as visible as possible. In at least three ways.

 

  1. Use clothing with reflective materials

Especially in the winter running clothing lines all brands now include reflective tapes or fluorescent colors at will: look for those with the highest high visibility surface (and obviously forget uniformly colored jackets and tight).

 

  1. It especially highlights moving parts

Put yourself in the shoes of a motorist absorbed in his thoughts: he will see you better, first and more clearly if he sees something illuminated moving on his horizon. Then add reflective bands to legs, arms and if you can even to shoes (you can also use reflective tape on the heel).

 

  1. Use intermittent lights

For the same reason, intermittent lights will more easily catch the attention of a motorist than fixed lights: so ok the headlamp, but also hold a torch, or attach a small light bulb to the forearm, and put them in intermittent mode.

A reflector that saves lives

It is impossible to tell how many people wearing a reflective vest saved their lives. Most often, millions of wise pedestrians are mentioned, who from the accident saved the reflecting “guardian angel”. Why are the reflections so important? As explained by PZU experts, with poor visibility, no reflective materials, the pedestrian is visible on the road in the car’s passing lights from a distance of only 20-30 meters. At a speed of 90 km / h, the driver overcomes 25 meters per second and may not be able to react when he sees a pedestrian. However, if the pedestrian is equipped with a reflective element that reflects the lights of the car, the driver will notice it already from a distance of 130-150 meters, which is much faster. It can save a living life. “If we are visible on the road, we become much more secure. Just pin the reflection to the school backpack or put on your hand. Such a small thing – a reflection, in certain situations may prove invaluable and protect a child from an accident,” explains Dorota Macieja, a member of the PZU Życie Management Board.

 

For years, various institutions have been trying to convince pedestrians to wear reflective elements.

 

On January 25th, the “Reflex Day” is celebrated. Its originators are Norwegians, and since 2017 it is celebrated in Poland. The primary objective of the campaign is to promote the use of reflective elements with reflective tapes, especially by pedestrians. The PZU is also encouraged to wear the reflections of the youngest road users. As part of the “Reflective – safe child on the road” campaign, by the middle of September, she will provide 1.6 million reflections with a flashing light built-in to all primary school students from grades I-III in Poland. The campaign was under the honorary patronage of the Ministry of National Education.

The idea of an inventor: “Bio-dynamic only reflectors”

So that pedestrians and cyclists are better seen in the dark what makes an inventor so? Here is a report that fits the season. Inventing begins with the feeling: “That cannot be, that must be better!” One year ago, I heard that young person not visible enough in the dark. They prefer dark clothes. “In the dark season, road traffic is primarily about visibility,” warns the ÖAMTC. Here’s this phrase that makes me shudder when I think of people in a hurry with mobile phones and poor visibility: “Only four percent of pedestrians carry reflectors and a quarter of cyclists are out of lights.” My contribution to the solution I present here because these new reflectors can save lives. I hope that as many as possible hear, share their experiences and that more awareness arises. Sweden is a shining example to us, there you inevitably have more experience with darkness and reflectors. Looking A year ago, my search for a solution began. Everyone I talked with was aware that people in traffic were not visible enough, they had already experienced it. In a large sporting goods store, I heard, “We do not have a single reflector”. In the wholesale supermarket, I found exactly two pieces of a white, crest-shaped upholsterer with a reflective surface, smaller than a bank card, with the inscription “Sporting”. That’s when I started experimenting, first with a suspension on rubber straps. I tried to understand the aspects of technology and human behavior. I studied the technically flawless products that I found on the internet and wondered why they are little used by teenagers and adults.

 

A new way: the concept made the difference Finally I found, I could hardly believe, a really new solution. All the parts that make it up are well known, but the combination is something new: you will not find any reflective materials with this combination of properties. What is different? First, my reflectors are “reflectors only”, the entire surface is reflective gray. The dull gray or black elements are therefore maximally effective and unobtrusive at the same time. They leave the look of the clothes unchanged. If the focused light of a spotlight falls on them, they throw it back, but only in the direction of the light source. A chattering group of people, for example, will not be disturbed. Second, these reflectors are so small and light that they can always be there. The third point is for me (pardon!) “The hammer”: the movement, generated by the bio-dynamics of walking or cycling, is sent along with the light signal. Now we have a light signal modulated with a message. We have this message so deep within us that it – Respect, the man on the move! In our attention scale always (!) Top-ranked as the most important.

 

The features of “bi-dynamic only reflectors”: small and light: the reflectors fit into all hand, coat and trouser pockets. Convenient by simple and quick donning, no contact pressure, no weight. It takes 15 seconds for the wheel reflectors. Unobtrusive: a matte, gray area the size of one or two check cards. The elegance or coolness of the outfit remains. (Only the “cell phone case” is made of slightly more fabric.) It is available in yellow or dark blue and has a larger reflective surface, as shown below.) The entire surface reflects. The reflected light, however, only sees those who look exactly out of the direction from which a spotlight “beams” onto the reflector: for them, the dull gray surface becomes a mirror that sends back the bright light. The reflectors are placed at the maximum moving points, at the wrist or ankle. From here they send their bio-dynamically modulated message “Here a human being moved!” forward, sideways and backward.

The government is giving away reflective vests

The nationwide campaign for the safety of pedestrians on the roads “Good to see you” was inaugurated by the Minister of Justice Zbigniew and the Minister of National Education Anna in the primary school.

 

The campaign assumes next to educational activities, the distribution of 3 million reflective vests among children in Polish schools by the end of the year..

 

As she pointed out during the inauguration of the action, it is another solution for children to feel safe and their parents as calm as possible. “The most important thing I want to tell you is that we must be together with your parents and teachers who want you to be the wisest, make you happy, be safe,” said the minister, addressing the children.

 

She is reminded that the Ministry of National Education is preparing legislation to ensure the safety of students staying in school and going to school, teachers talk about safety on a daily basis, and the directors have sets of procedures. “Today we are together just to be happy that we have more solutions to make you feel safe, and your parents calm about the fact that they guaranteed you a good school and safe school.” she noted.

 

Zbigniew stressed that for parents and caregivers, the life and health of children are the most valuable. “Our task, the duty is to do everything to make you even safer,” he addressed the children. “Parents, your guardians have such a dilemma – on the one hand, they are happy, they are proud, you become more and more independent, but this greater independence is often accompanied by anxiety. Parents have that will always be to worry about you”. he stressed.

 

As he made a reservation, referring to Janis Kolchak, “there are times when children have to be left alone – face challenges and threats themselves, there are times when parents cannot accompany you (…) and we have prepared a program for such moments connected with improving your safety on Polish roads and streets.” he stressed.

 

“Because it is obviously safe – someone who is visible on the road is much more secure.” reminded the Minister of Justice.

 

As he explained, as part of the Justice Fund, which is to prevent crime (and the Ministry of Justice is in charge of it), money was allocated “that such events, which unfortunately take place on Polish roads, and sometimes are also a crime, were as little as possible”.

 

“That’s why today we will give you reflective vests that are designed to make you more visible, i.e. more secure” – emphasized Zbigniew. As he informed, vests will be delivered to all schools by the end of the year – for all children.

 

The head of MS pointed out that they will receive “a total of 3 million children because in Poland too many children participate in collisions involving the car”. “We want these events to be much less – ideally they should not happen at all, and certainly we can limit them if you are more visible.” he added.

 

As the organizers of the action explain, its size is caused by the scale of the threat. In 2017, there were 32760 accidents in Poland, in which 2381 people were killed and 39446 were injured. In 2822 road accidents, children aged 0-14 participated – 56 children were killed and 3116 injured.

 

It appears that from among the total number of accidents in 8197, pedestrians participated, and at pedestrian crossings, there were 13% traffic events.

 

During the Monday inauguration of the campaign, staff from the Police School in Katowice emphasized that reflective vests with the reflective fabrics significantly increase the chance for the driver to see the pedestrian. In unlit areas, with poor visibility, they should be visible in the car light from a distance of about 200 meters.

 

The ambassador of the action is actor Cezary Pazura, who among others occurs in the advertising spot promoting the campaign, and also puts the sound in the accompanying cartoons. On Monday, he said that he remembers his friend’s fatal accident from a childhood in a small town, although he was walking correctly on the left side of the road.

 

“I am happy that there is an initiative that children will get these vests for free, because sometimes we do not think about such things. Children in the city are easier at all, there is the light that regulate traffic. There is street lighting. In small towns, safety is often a big problem. “said Claw.

 

In addition to the 3 million reflective vests with reflective materials, the action “Good to see you” will include an educational campaign. Every student in the elementary school is to receive a leaflet (with a lesson plan on the back) containing “7 reflective road councils” – comprising a handy guide for safe behavior on the roads. All basic schools are also expected to find lesson plans on the subject.

 

Active advertising spots and accompanying cartoons are to be shown on television and the Internet. The message is to be: knowledge (on the rules of participation in road traffic), awareness (consequences of non-compliance with rules), responsibility (awareness of the impact of own behavior on own and other safety), readiness (adapt to conditions, also by inserting a vest) and kindness (positive attitude towards other traffic participants).

A shining example for the children

Great was the joy when police chief commissioner Manfred attended the first graders of Heinz- School. It immediately struck the children that the police officer had come to school with a special safety vest.

 

Well visible, when it gets darker. He wore the safety vest of the police, which makes its wearer well visible from afar for other road users through its bright signal colors and the reflective tapes – especially important in the dark season. The enthusiasm of the students was huge when Manfred announced that he.

 

In the second week of school, the first graders of the elementary school were visited by the two policewomen Karin and Verona. Both told the children about the dangerous situations in traffic.

 

They also made it clear to children how important it is to wear suitable safety equipment. Each student received a reflective safety vest and reflective wristband which is made of reflective materials. In the parking lot in front of the elementary school, the children then practiced the correct behavior on and in the school-builder, guided by the two traffic experts.

First graders received safety vests

“School in sight. Kids in view”, This is the motto of this year’s security campaign for first graders of the ADAC Foundation, in which more than 36,000 from West Germany 760,000 safety vests are distributed to first graders in Saxony.

 

As a prelude, Saxony’s Minister of Education Christian visited the 95th elementary school “Caroline” in Dresden today. Together with representatives of the action partners, he presented the West to 104 ABC shooters. Minister of Education Christian thanks the ADAC Foundation and the Deutsche Post DHL Group for this important event: “The best protection for our new school students is to be seen. The girls and boys with vest are visible at dusk up to 150 meters for motorists. That’s five times as far as dark-clad children. “says Pixar. The Minister also pointed out that traffic education was firmly anchored in the elementary school curriculum. Thus, in the first to fourth grade in the subject, the most important traffic rules and traffic-oriented behavior are taught.

 

Wearing a safety vest gives children and parents additional security when, in the fall, many first-year students master the way to school for the first time in the dark. Elementary school students often cannot properly assess the danger on the roads and because of their height, they often lack an overview. In addition, the directional hearing is not yet pronounced and the field of view is limited. So the children cannot always recognize approaching road users “out of the corner of their eyes”.

 

The signal effect of the safety vest of the ADAC Foundation makes children visible from afar for all other road users. An effect that protects you not only on the way to school but also during your free time. Helmut, board member for traffic and technology of the ADAC Saxony, sees the parents primarily responsible. “The safety vest with reflective tapes only serves its purpose when worn. That should just be a matter of course. ”

 

The entire logistics – shipping, customs clearance, packaging and shipping – from 30,000 parcels to 16,000 elementary schools will be provided free of charge by Deutsche Post DHL as a contribution to cooperation. “We are proud to be involved in this important task. With our expertise as a logistics provider, we ensure that the safety vests with reflective materials arrive wherever they are needed: directly in elementary schools, directly with the girls and boys who, as first graders, often make their first independent steps as road users, “says Ina, Head of the Department of Transport at the Deutsche Post Dresden branch.

The ABC shooters are coming

On 11 September, 8,630 first graders in Upper Franconia set off for the first time on their way to school. Many people make sure that nothing happens to them.

 

At the beginning of school, Sparkasse equips all first-graders with neon yellow, reflective vests. So that no child, no matter what age, on the way to school something happens, committed each year many people volunteer as a school mate. But the police and the traffic control Fichtelgebirge are worried: In the school year 2017/2018 were about 100 school helpers less (740) than in the school year before (830) on the streets of Upper Franconia to help the little ones in dangerous places on the road.

 

How fast something can happen was shown last year. Two children were injured on their way to school, reports Wolfgang, responsible for traffic of the police inspection Wunsiedel. A 13-year-old middle school student and an eleven-year-old student were overlooked by motorists. In the school year before, three accidents involving slightly injured children occurred in Wunsiedel. In Bavaria, four schoolchildren have already died in 2018.

 

This means: The police and traffic surveillance work do not end with the first graders. Even students who are already attending the secondary school are not protected against accidents. “In 69 percent of school-time accidents in Bavaria from January to March 2018, the students were between eleven and 14 years old,” says Hubert of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior. “The paths are usually on, the school days longer, the children are tired and careless,” said the first police chief commissioner possible reasons for the quota.

 

Therefore parents should definitely use the last days of their holidays to choose the safest way to school: “Often a small detour is worthwhile if traffic light or routes managed by school students can be used,” says Hubert. On most homepages of schools, there are school maps and the police or the traffic guard help parents to find the best way. “The shortest way is not always the safest.”

 

Parents should also train the way to school before the beginning of the school year with their children. “Preferably at the same time the child is on the road every day,” advises Hubert. In dangerous places, they should have their protégés suggest solutions and behaviors, and make sure that the child always stops at the curb and seeks eye contact with drivers before crossing the street. Being a good role model is still the biggest learning experience.

 

It is also important to send the little ones in time for school and choose the clothes so that they are well seen especially in the dark winter months. “After a week or two, unfortunately, you hardly ever see a child wearing a high visibility vest with reflective materials, and you want to wear it every day,” says Hubert.

 

The elementary school made a small competition in the past school year, reports Vice-President Silke. “The first class to wear their light trapezoids the longest should get a reward.” In the end everybody would have gone so well that each child got a little something.

 

Again and again, the schools and the police point to the problems with parent taxis. The cars park in the second and third row to let the children get off. Students scurry between the cars and are endangered.

 

Children should only come to school by bicycle after they have passed the fourth grade bicycle test. The same applies to scooters and inline skates. “Even if a child drives well, it makes a difference, whether it is on dirt roads and meadows or in traffic,” warns the second mayor of the city, Horst scourge.

 

Girls and boys react spontaneously, have a limited field of vision and often do not know the traffic rules. And Hubert emphasizes: Many children would not know at this age, for example, a blind spot. “But a blind spot does not forgive ignorance.”

Let’s take care of safety on our roads

A nationwide social campaign is underway. “Let’s take care of safety on our roads – live life”, which aims to draw attention to your own security after dark.

 

In 2017, 873 pedestrians were killed in road accidents in Poland and 7,587 were injured. The autumn and winter season is a tragic period for pedestrians, 549 people died in this season in 2017.

 

One of the reasons for road accidents is the lack of wearing reflective vests in the evening and night by pedestrians. Particularly exposed are residents of villages and small towns, where street lighting is sometimes turned off at 21-22. There are no sidewalks, and the shoulders are often unsuitable for pedestrians, including those in wheelchairs who are pedestrians by law.

 

Pursuant to the provisions of the Road Traffic Law, pedestrians who move along the road after dark outside the built-up area are obliged to use reflective materials in a manner visible to other road users. An exception is provided in the regulations: a pedestrian can move around outside the built-up area without retro-reflective elements, if it is on a road intended for pedestrians only or on the sidewalk.

 

Outside the built-up area, the roads usually do not have separate pavements and are mostly not lit or are poorly lit. In addition, drivers develop much higher speeds than in the built-up area, and pedestrians in dark clothes, without reflections, unfortunately are completely invisible to drivers. Correctly worn reflectors can save lives by walking.

 

The reflective element should be placed in such a place that it will be in the field of car light and it would be noticeable for drivers approaching from both directions (back and front). The car dipped beam illuminates the path asymmetrically (more light is directed to the right side of the road), therefore it is recommended to walk the left side of the road (in the opposite direction to the vehicle traffic) wearing reflectors on the right hand or leg (from the direction of vehicle movement).

 

Here are some rules for good pedestrian visibility after dark in traffic:

 

1.Wear reflections – no gadgets!

When buying a reflector, pay attention to whether the CE mark has been affixed to it, the name of the manufacturer and the type of the product and whether the instructions for use are included. The lack of these elements means that it is a gadget – not a reflection.

 

2.Be visible – do not cover it!

Check if the reflective elements are not covered by, for example: a scarf, a bag or a backpack.

 

3.You care for health – be an example!

Do you like to run? Use reflective elements if you do not permanently wear sports clothing.

 

4.You love – take care of security!

Make sure your loved ones are visible on the road and use reflective elements.

 

5.Live – think!

Do not enter the road directly in front of a moving vehicle, including a pedestrian crossing. Wear reflective clothing.

 

Let’s be seen on the road, roadside and sidewalk.