Tag: reflective materials

Watch out for reflective elements!

The Office for Competition and Consumer Protection dealt with the issue of reflective vests and reflective elements that are to improve our road safety. Trade Inspection carried out a check for this purpose. What is it effective?

The inspection carried out by the Trade Inspectorate in the second quarter of 2017 showed that every second warning vest tested in the laboratory had a low luminance factor. This means the lack of adequate visibility of the user, which poses a threat to his health and life when he is moving on the side. In the case of reflective elements, no such irregularities were found, but there were objections to the instructions for use.

Most entrepreneurs have voluntarily removed errors. The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection initiated proceedings in five cases.

Kit has provided a number of advice to users on what to look for when buying and using reflective materials.

Watch out for gadgets. Companies often give out accessories that look like reflective elements. It is not known, however, whether they have appropriate properties, because they have undergone a conformity assessment procedure. Confirmation that the reflective element meets the requirements is the CE mark, placed directly on the reflector or the attached label.

Important information. Please note whether the manufacturer’s name and type of glare are on the packaging or label (1 – freely hanging, 2 – removable, 3 – fixed).

Instructions for use. It must be written in Polish. You will learn from it, among others how and where to fix the reflector, how to use it correctly, under what conditions do not use it and how to store it so that it does not lose its properties.

Be visible. Wear a reflector so that the headlights of the car illuminate. The lower, the better. Thanks to this, the driver will notice you in advance. Do not cover the back with a scarf or bag.

Right hand or leg. Fix reflective elements on the side of the vehicle movement. If according to regulations, you go to the left side of the road, wear a reflective band on your right hand or leg.

Check the condition of the reflective elements. If sewn on the clothing or backpack with reflective tape, for example in washing, replace it. If water got into the plastic reflective elements, buy a new one because the old one lost its properties due to the moisture.

Trade Inspection the clothing and flares

Trade Inspection inspected clothing for warning, reflective accessories and hearing protection.Reflective materials are becoming more and more popular. It is influenced by the increase of our awareness, but also by numerous educational campaigns.

Recall from August 31, 2014, reflective elements must be used by all pedestrians moving along the road after dark outside the built-up area, and not only children and young people up to the age of 15, as it was before. There are many reflections on the market. However, not all of them, as it turns out, provide total security.

Trade Inspection has decided to take a closer look at such reflective accessories. The audit took place in the second quarter of 2017 in nine provinces. Inspectors checked mainly wholesalers and stores. They looked at 53 products and questioned 16 of them (30.2 percent). Grounds? Even the negative results of laboratory tests, errors in the instructions for use and the lack of a declaration of conformity confirming the manufacturer’s conformity assessment procedure.

The vests were dangerous, they were not visible enough

Every second warning vest tested in the laboratory had a low luminance factor. What does it mean? Lack of adequate visibility of the user, which poses a threat to his health and life when he moves to the outside.

So how to choose reflective vests?

As advised by Outkick experts, let’s watch out for gadgets. Companies often give out accessories that look like reflections. It is not known, however, whether they have appropriate properties, because they have undergone a conformity assessment procedure. Confirmation that they meet the requirements is the CE mark, placed directly on the reflector or the attached label. The instructions for use must be written in Polish. We should learn from it, even under what conditions, do not use it and store it so that it does not lose its properties.

Warning. Wear a reflector so that the headlights of the car illuminate. The lower, the better. Thanks to this, the driver will notice you in advance. Do not cover the back with a scarf or bag. Fix reflective elements on the side of the vehicle movement. Check the condition of the reflectors. If sewn on the clothing or backpack with reflective tape, replace it. If water got into the reflection, buy a new one because the old one lost its properties due to the moisture.

SP No. 6 in Locus, the most “Reflective School”

Primary School No. 6 F. Chopin – the best school in the podia in the prestigious “Reflective School” competition organized by the Traffic Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters in Krakow, Marshal’s Office of the Road Safety Council.

The patrons of the campaign were: the National Road Safety Council and Radio Krakow. The aim of the competition is to promote among students the rules of safe road travel and the obligation to wear reflective materials, deepening parents ‘and guardians’ awareness of the use of reflective elements, promotion in the local environment of all initiatives shaping the proper attitudes of children and parents in the field of road safety.

The initiator of the action at the school is Ms. Migrate – headmaster of the school. Already from September this year, the whole community of “Sixes” actively participated in the Competition. At school, a number of activities were undertaken to implement the above assumptions in which all teachers and students were involved, with the support of parents, sponsors and school friends. The coordination of the competition was taken up by Mr. Paulina – a teacher of mathematics.

Safety rules for the youngest students on the way to and from school were discussed by police officers, distract guards and inspectors of the Municipal Guards. First-grade students learned proper behavior as part of the nationwide campaign on “Safe Way to School”.

Lectures on City Guard officers are just some of the activities addressed not only to students but also to parents. In turn, the September challenges: “reflective day of the boy” combined with reflective fashion, cleaning the world, “reflective sports tournament” for children from nearby kindergarten No. 5 in Bolkus, “reflective multiplication table”, exits, trips, rallies – it’s actions, in whose main idea was to show and promote the use of reflections and safe navigation on the roads, especially after dark.

The collaboration of the director of the school of Migrate, catechist of Anna Gorki with the parish priest of Saint. Barbara, priest Stanislaw Partita resulted in interesting and innovative activities within the framework of the competition: dedication of first-graders in satchels combined with reflections, and also the action “Help your Angel Guardian – be visible”.

In turn, on the initiative of Ms. Paulina, the school participated in an event on the Bolkus Market: “Be visible, let yourself be noticed”, whose main organizer was SpottedOlkusz.Pl and Silver Sky. The action had a 9noble purpose – collecting nuts for a sick boy. In return for collected and donated caps, students received reflective vests and reflective tapes, which will contribute to the safety of students, especially during trips and exits.

This important topic was also discussed during preventive theater directed to students of our school, as well as during educational lessons when the students watched an educational film about road safety. During the technology lessons, pupils discussed issues of this topic, as well as self-made reflective stickers.

Banda and security

Among the concerns of the holiday committee, the safety of people is an important part of the events it organizes. Festivals of this kind which concentrates a large number of young people are conducive to incidents or accidents, sometimes serious ones, for which one will inevitably seek the responsibilities of each one. The organizer is on the front line and must comply with very strict safety regulations. And it is also important to wear reflective vests at night.

Thus, during the Night of the Banda, we saw people from the Red Cross rotatable to their shoulder belt which sewn-on reflective fabric. They were armed with radios, to patrol in pairs. When declaring the event, the committee wanted a backup device. Departmental Red Cross had assessed the need and a convention had been passed to monitor the entire site. Antony Chapala, territorial director of emergency and first aid, was in charge of operations and led his teams. Same and the firemen were ready for any eventuality. Fortunately, using reflective materials in our life no accident to lament!

Reflectors to ensure passive safety

In the dark season, being a cyclist is not only important to see but also to be seen. In addition to the active illumination by the headlamp and rear light reflectors increase passive safety by wearing reflective vests at night.

It is a joke of history that still mandatory pedal reflectors were prescribed in 1937, inter alia, to the National Socialists money into the coffers. Who manufactured and sold them, had to pay royalties to Anton Loeb GmbH – major of a company of the SS, for the quite meaningful innovation turned out to be the surprisingly lucrative business.

Reflector also on battery lighting duty

Regardless of this inglorious past, reflective materials undeniably increase the visibility and thus the safety of cyclists. In addition to pedal reflectors, which, as in the Moto “Reflex Pedal” (55 Euros) – although according to the motto “better than nothing” not completely compliant – are also interpreted in a modern way, a laterally radiating passive lighting on the wheels is prescribed by the SUVs, as well like front and rear reflectors; The omission of the Dynamo obligation has not changed that!

Those who find it very different when thinking of clamping objects between their spokes man fortunately and quite legally resort to an alternative to the popularly known as “cat’s eyes” spoke reflectors: “We have virtually all touring tires fitted with reflective tapes as standard or in the entry area optional available “notes Doris Kbyte van Schwab. Also in the sports arena and with spike tires, there are corresponding models.

Two birds with one stone in a similar way strike headlights and taillights with integrated reflectors, which are even offered in the battery-powered variants. While only one reflector is needed in the front, the SUVs requires a passive second light source at the rear next to a large reflector with Z-mark.

At night, in the rain and winter

The ideal cycling season does not last for a whole year. In autumn the days are shorter, it cools and rain. Snow falls in the winter. However, the Nordic proverb says: There is no bad weather, only bad clothing.

The absolute basis is to have a wheel equipped with appropriate reflectors (white on the front, red at the back, orange on the string and yellow on the pedals). Replace reflectors in the string with the reflective tape on the casing, reflectors at the front and at the back with reflective stickers.

In town, you do not usually need a headlight. The streets are illuminated. But the blinkers are necessary. The front flasher is more important than the rear. For the driver’s rear is usually shining “in the mirror” and therefore reveals you even when you are light passive in the back. In front of you, cars come “from the side” and the best reflectors will not help you. Almost the same job as the rear blinker makes the reflex tape on the left calf.

In urban traffic, I can shine or flicker in the dark. Cars were previously required to shine “in low visibility,” which is exactly the condition that you should also shine on. In utter darkness, you are visibly visible with reflective materials, but in the dark, the reflectors are merging and you have to shine actively. Lighting sets with a sensor can be started automatically.

Reflective vest, flashing reflective ribbons and other massive light equipment over and above normal lighting will ensure you will be seen not only by overtaking drivers but also by pilots of aircraft landing at Ursine Airport. Consider whether it is worthwhile to shift this limit to how much light the drivers consider normal. The vest and the more powerful light fit on high-speed roads, long-distance stretches, or when “shit-shit” falls at the end of November. On the other hand, “raising” the driver with a dazzling lamp and a black coat is also not a good idea.

For a regular ride in the dark, it is worthwhile to have a deposit in addition to the “main” lighting.  the battery at least a spare battery, to the dynamically-driven light an emergency small flicker in the event of a malfunction.

Do not say that in the mountain of flashing scrap you will not find at least one that you can take with you… A left fuse on the seat post, a color changing light, a supermarket blinker, a low-beam headlamp bought there.

When you get into a situation where you need to drive without lights, you have to go slower along the secondary streets and give up the idea that you have priority at any crossing, even if traffic signs are hundreds of times the opposite. And your next trip has to lead to a cycle shop.

Revolution on the roads: The failure of reflective elements is fine!

Revolution on the roads! Today, at midnight, new pedestrian duty has begun, and now they have to wear safety vests at night and in bad visibility to see them well, otherwise, they can face a fine of up to two and a half thousand crowns. But as we found out tonight, pedestrians hardly know about it, and it does not solve it.

New people do not know about the new regulation, or they have to wear reflective elements with reflective materials, simple and simply do not solve. People who return home at night along the road are not at all visible. Police officers can now give the unlit pedestrians a fine of up to two thousand dollars, and in the administrative proceedings, they are likely to be fined by another 500 crowns higher.

For example, some publishers are already thinking about taking their reflective tapes or vests for their regulars, and they will send them on their night returns home.

Police officers across the country in the coming days and weeks are planning a special night action focused on pedestrian controls. In one breath, however, they promise to be a little more benevolent about the fines for the transgressions.

Perhaps the measures already introduced in Slovakia and the number of killed pedestrians has dropped by almost half in five years. In the last three years, more than five hundred pedestrians died in the Czech Republic, more than three hundred in the night.

BESIP: “Do we see?”

BESIP sends a clear signal: “Be Aware!” In the fourth year of Signal festival, he tried to highlight the importance of using reflective vests and to show a new pedestrian visible trend. On the Fruit Market in Prague, human beings literally lit for four days…

BESIP, with the support of Europe’s “Transport 1” 2, has prepared an exhibition on the Fruit Market in Prague, based on reflexive elements, from their use to clothing to more and more popular reflective tapes. An attractive part of the exposition and some look into the future, was the use of active light on clothing.

Being a festival of light, BESIP also showed the future of pedestrian visibility. He contacted the Technical University in Liberec, where he patented the unique use of nanotechnology to illuminate various items, including clothing. While others lit up a variety of objects, people and dummies lit up in BESIP’s presentation.

As of February 20 this year, an amendment to the law, which clearly sets out pedestrians outside the municipality, is obliged to wear reflective elements that are visible to all other road users, i.e. front, back, and side. In this sophisticated period, it should be remembered that the reduced visibility is not only the time from sunset to its exodus but also fog, heavy rain or snowfall, so reflective elements are mandatory under these conditions even at the time of day.

Above all, reflective elements have saved many lives

Foreign experience has shown that reflective elements can reduce the pedestrian’s participation in a fatal accident by up to ten times, in poor visibility. In other words, 10% of pedestrians would have the chance to survive, and for cyclists, this percentage is even higher – up to 30% of riders on bicycles could live if they were sufficiently visible. That is why it is very important for pedestrians and cyclists to use reflective elements that will clearly increase road safety.

That such elements have their merits, they know, for example, in Estonia. While there were 47 pedestrians killed in 1999, there are only seven in 2010! The fact that the obligation to wear reflective materials in reduced visibility has been enforced in this country has certainly contributed to this. Since 2011, they have even been obliged to wear reflective elements in Estonia even when moving under reduced visibility in the city. However, Estonia is not the only one in Europe. For example, pedestrians in the Scandinavian countries, in Spain, or with our neighbors in Slovakia have this obligation.

Do you know retro reflection?

Unfortunately, in the publication, the most important thing is to define what “retro reflective materials” are and what they should look like. “For example, we have fluorescent materials that increase visibility in daylight and at dusk, but they lose their function in the dark”, explain the pitfalls of a simplified search for Bezique Chief Martin Farrar. In addition, we have found that not every orange or light green working vest is wearing real retro reflective tapes – 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 reflective 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 admit I’m a little confused. It is the Latin word of origin. The reflector means bending, turning, returning. How do I translate retro reflex, I do not know. I probably turn, bend back, back. Or I turn, bend back. I wonder why this term was born. “said Daniel Corte, 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…

Hurricanes are threatened with fines: without reflective elements at night

A twenty-year-old young man, who was headed for the road from Becalm to Led nice, was completely naked. He now faces a fine in administrative proceedings. He was not wearing reflective vests.

A man walking along the edge of the unlit road was discovered by the Becalm policemen on one of the past days to two hours after midnight.

“Why does he go naked on the road,” the young man explained, warming him and planning a night bath. As he was warmed up not only by walking and hot nights but also by more than two profiles of alcohol, the city policemen bathed him in this state. “the spokesperson of Becalm policemen Novak said.

The man carried his reflective clothing in his bag, so he then dressed and went under the supervision of the police officers to the way leading to his home. But the whole thing was not over for him.

“Since the nakedness in the dark was invisible by the danger of road traffic and the absence of reflective materials have sinned against the pedestrian obligations stated in the Road Act. His administrative offense will be dealt with by the administrative body,” concluded Novak.