Tag: safety vest

In the dark season, pedestrians and cyclists should protect themselves particularly.

For your safety on the road, you should rely on reflectors and suitable lighting, among other things.

 

When darkness, fog, and rain prevail, the visibility of cyclists and pedestrians in traffic is limited. Autumn and winter are particularly dangerous because they are more easily overlooked than usual by drivers and other road users.

 

Pedestrians and cyclists should therefore protect themselves: High-contrast clothing, good lighting, and the wearing of reflectors help to become more visible and thus to be safer on the road, explains the testing organization Dekra.

 

Especially with reflectors, a lot helps a lot. For both cyclists and pedestrians, the feet of the light beam from the cars are the first to be caught. “Reflectors on the shoes are never wrong,” explains Dekra spokesman Wolfgang Sigloch. But you should also pay attention to reflective clothing on the upper body – be it safety vests or special jackets.

 

Suitable light means more safety for cyclists

Cyclists should mount powerful LED lights. However, these must always be loaded. A dynamo solution with luminescent lights can also be useful.

 

From classic Dynamo in which the lights go out in the state, advises but rather Sigloch from. Because then it could be that you stand unlit in the middle of an intersection.

The policemen from the Grudziądz “traffic guys” are starting the “Safe motorcyclist” program, which aims to improve the safety of this category of road users. Mismatching speed to traffic conditions, incorrect overtaking, not keeping a safe distance between vehicles are some of the “sins” of motorcyclists, which most often lead to serious road incidents. Other road users are not at fault either.

 

The beginning of spring is the time when we start thinking about the first motorcycle rides. More and more two-wheelers enthusiasts appear on our roads. The number of motorcycle enthusiasts increases every year. Along with this number, unfortunately, their share in road accidents increases, which often end tragically for them.

 

The effects of road accidents involving two-wheelers are much more serious than that of a passenger vehicle. In such an event, the motorcyclist is protected only by personal protective clothing: helmet, coverall, gloves, and appropriate shoes. A motorcyclist should also ensure adequate visibility on the road – the correct condition of lights, a safety vest, motorcycle harness, or even the right color of the helmet.

 

Protective clothing is essential, but you should also remember to follow the regulations. Motorcyclist – the road is not a racetrack. You should adjust the speed to the traffic conditions, signal early and clearly about the intention to change the direction of travel or lane and keep an appropriate distance from other vehicles.

 

Attention should also be paid to other road users. Driver, remember! Motorcycles, due to their dimensions and relatively high power, move much more dynamically than, for example, passenger vehicles. Their acceleration is very high. When turning, changing lanes, or entering traffic, be sure to pay attention to motorcyclists. Try to focus your attention on him a little longer to judge the distance and his approach speed. For you, it is just a few seconds more, for a motorcyclist, the lack of this time often means the inability to react and avoid a serious accident.

 

Regardless of what vehicle you are driving, remember that every road user must take care of their safety and that of other road users. Let’s take care of each other. With mutual respect, there will be room for everyone on the way.

What do I do in the event of an accident? What should be considered in the event of a crash with an electric car? We have put together a few tips.

 

A car accident happened quickly. Sometimes there is only a bollard in the way, sometimes another car is caught parking. A moment of inattention is enough, and in city traffic, you are rushing into the rear of the vehicle in front.

 

But what if you are involved yourself and one of the cars involved in the accident is an electric car? Are there special regulations or does everything work the same way as with ordinary vehicles?

 

Cordon off the scene of the accident

Regardless of whether it is an accident with an electric car or a combustion engine: One rule always applies: In the event of a serious accident, the first step should be to notify the police and emergency services. In addition, the warning triangle should be set up at a distance of 50 meters and the scene of the accident secured. The locking is necessary: in every car accident, self-protection and the protection of the traffic that is still moving are mandatory.

 

In addition, those involved in the accident and helpers should drive to the right-hand side if possible. This also protects the flowing traffic. Tip: Take a few photos or a short video beforehand so that the accident situation can be identified. In addition, the hazard warning lights should be switched on and the safety vest pulled on. The trunk should be opened for better visibility. This means that vehicles are better recognized in flowing traffic.

 

This measure is necessary. However, if the accident took place on a motorway or a country road, those involved in the accident must also think about themselves. On the motorway, at any time of the day or night, those involved in an accident should not be on the road. For the next step, drivers should climb over the guardrail and approach the other vehicle from the grass verge.

 

Provide first aid

It is compulsory in Germany. However, a certain degree of self-protection is still urgently necessary here, if the circumstances permit. For example, pulling out an unconscious driver on the highway could be too dangerous if the car is close to the road. In this case, the casualty must be looked after from the passenger side. Basically.

 

After the emergency services and the police have been called in the first step, the emergency services should – if one can assess it – be reported to the emergency services about the severity of the injuries suffered by the accident victim.

 

In the best-case scenario, the injured party is pulled out of the car. However, this is not always possible, sometimes the injuries are too severe or the injured person is trapped. The attempt is now made to stop bleeding as well as possible and to keep the injured person as calm as possible. This is especially important if he complains of severe back and neck pain or if he can no longer feel his legs correctly. First aid now consists of keeping the casualty calm.

 

No help possible

There are accidents in which the layman cannot assist. This applies, for example, to an overturned vehicle or in cases where the driver is trapped or the doors and windows cannot be opened. Now the best help is to calm the injured person down. A side window can be smashed.

Even rescue workers give the tip, as the first aider, to look for other helpers yourself. It often happens that other cars stop anyway. It doesn’t hurt to get a second or third person to help.

 

Particular dangers with electric cars

E-cars are more and more common on German roads and are therefore more often involved in accidents. Recently there have been cases where electric cars caught fire, for example, due to short circuits. However, the fire performance of an electric car is no more severe than that of a torn open petrol tank.

 

Deleting is more complicated with e-vehicles. Even the fire brigade has to extinguish electric vehicles in a different way than ordinary cars. The fire extinguisher that many drivers have with them in the vehicle is not appropriate for batteries. The drug of choice is water – lots of water.

 

A bigger problem in accidents is the weight and stability of the vehicle – especially if it is not a small car. Because of their batteries, e-cars are heavier than their petrol-powered vehicles, so that a trapped person can often only be freed with a large device in a spectacular attempt at cutting. The rescue workers are of course adequately prepared for this. The fire brigade, for example, dismantled an e-bus near Munich, purely to prepare for an emergency.

 

Trapped inmates

People who are trapped in a demolished car can hardly or not at all be freed for the layman. Anyone who has ever seen the tools the rescue workers use to pry open the door of an accident vehicle has a good idea of the actual situation. Hydraulic presses are a must here. In any case, cutting out an accident victim is only possible with special tools operated by hydraulic pumps.

 

Burning car

Calling an emergency number concerning the fire and securing it is a must. In addition, the engine should be turned off, if it is still possible to get the key. With normal cars and small fires, the usual fire extinguisher helps initially.

 

Rescue person

In this case, it does not matter whether the casualty is injured during the rescue or has already suffered serious injuries. The person is pulled from the burning vehicle and taken to a safe distance, if at all possible.

E-car or combustion engine: helping counts

 

Whatever car is involved in an accident, it always needs help. It applies “to the best of my knowledge and belief principle”. This means that no first responder will be held responsible for mistakes. In hot and dangerous situations for everyone involved, only the scene of the accident should be secured and the rescue workers called. Helpers should never put themselves in danger.

Good eyesight is the basic requirement for safe driving. What you should pay attention to see yourself well and also to be more visible to others.

For many drivers, the subject of eye control is done once and for all with a passed eye test before getting a driver’s license. Drivers under the age of 40 often only have reduced visual acuity. These can be easily corrected with glasses or contact lenses. But eyesight naturally decreases with age. It is therefore advisable to have your eyesight checked regularly by an ophthalmologist. This recommendation applies to all road users.

Recognize eye diseases

From around the age of 40, more serious eye diseases can occur that endanger safe driving.

The tricky thing about many eye diseases is that they do not occur suddenly. In many cases, they develop insidiously and are not immediately noticed by those affected, such as cataracts ( cataracts ), glaucoma ( green star ), and age-related macular degeneration. It is therefore advisable to have regular ophthalmological checks.

“Anyone who finds that their eyesight is noticeably deteriorating between these check-ups should consult an ophthalmologist quickly.”

Professor Bernhard Lachenmayr, a specialist in ophthalmology and member of the ADAC medical college

Twilight vision and sensitivity to glare

Especially with older road users, twilight vision can deteriorate drastically due to clouding of the vitreous humor, lens, or cornea. Also, these opacities lead to an increased sensitivity to glare. Anyone who notices these impairments should see an ophthalmologist.

Important: clean the lens and glasses

Drivers should ensure that the windshield is cleaned both inside and out because streaks or soiling cause increased and irritating light scattering. People who wear glasses should wear glasses that have reduced reflections as much as possible at night and always clean them before driving at dusk or in the dark, says Professor Lachenmayr. He strongly advises against glasses with yellow filters or even light protection glasses or sunglasses.

Risks for participation in road traffic

Reduced eyesight increases the risk of accidents – regardless of whether distances and speeds are incorrectly estimated due to reduced visual acuity or whether the more sensitive eyes are quickly overstrained when driving at dusk or in the dark. When driving in tunnels: take off your sunglasses or push them on your forehead.

This is important for drivers

The most important thing for all drivers is functioning and correctly adjusted lighting system. But not only defective bulbs and lamps are problematic, lights, headlights, and windows that are dirty or iced up in winter also impair the visibility of your vehicle and your view of the traffic.

Cyclists should pay attention to this

The following applies to cyclists: perfectly working lighting and the prescribed reflectors can save lives. Wearing safety vests and light-colored clothing with reflectors is not only recommended in the dark and in bad weather.

Pedestrians are safe on the move

Anyone who walks in traffic wearing light-colored or noticeable clothing is perceived much better by other road users. Joggers should use head or belt lamps in addition to reflective safety vests at dusk and the dark. Reflective tags on jackets or bags also increase security.

43 pedestrians were seriously injured and two were killed on the streets of the Grand Duchy in 2019. Most of them – and the press reports from the police and rescue services leave no doubt about this – when crossing marked pedestrian crossings.

In principle, it is obvious that in such collisions on the zebra crossing, it is not the pedestrian but the driver who is to blame and responsibility. Nevertheless, the authorities always focus on the victim, the pedestrian, in their prevention campaign at the beginning of the dark season. So this year too.

In the case of the German-language flyer, no such accusations were made. The motto here is as follows: “Every year, many vulnerable road users are injured or killed during the bad season.” Although the role of the actual cause of the accident in the campaign appears to be of secondary importance, the advice, which year after year, is directed at the weaker road users but consistently makes sense – as part of common sense, which should also prevail in traffic.

Advice to pedestrians, athletes, cyclists, and scooter drivers

Pedestrians are asked to wear light-colored clothing with reflective elements that are visible all around. Bags, briefcases, and umbrellas with reflective and luminous applications should also be used.

On country roads outside the built-up areas, pedestrians should always walk in the opposite direction and wear the mandatory safety vest, the flyer says. Pedestrians should also correctly assess the speed and distance of the approaching vehicles and ensure that drivers have seen them. Dogs should also be put on a reflective collar.

Athletes are also encouraged to wear clothing with built-in reflective elements and reflective armbands and to wear a safety vest outside of built-up areas. Cyclists or scooters should switch on the lights on their vehicles, check the condition of their brakes and install reflectors. They should also wear a helmet and clothing with reflective elements.

Drivers should watch out for mistakes made by pedestrians

In addition to all of this advice, the Ministry of Mobility, the Police, and Sécurité routière also give five recommendations to motorists. You will be asked to switch on the low beam if necessary. They should display their driving maneuvers in good time, adapt their speed to the visibility conditions, and ensure that the windows of their vehicle are clean.

Also, it is emphasized that they should expect possible misconduct by pedestrians in traffic.

For thousands of children in Hanover, their school days will begin this weekend. On the daily way to school, there are bus stops, zebra crossings, traffic lights – and other tricky situations. In eight videos, the HAZ gives clear tips on how first graders can cope with their way to school independently and safely.

Hanover’s first-graders celebrate their school enrollment at the weekend, and the new school day starts on Monday. To get to class and then back home safely, the students should also know the most important rules in traffic. The HAZ invites every year at the start of school to the big festival of the HAZ campaign Safe Way to School. Because of Corona, the tips are digital this year: as videos to watch together with the children.

Ulrich Drewitz from the traffic watch in Hanover and Greta Prochworuk participated in the videos. The seven-year-old is already looking forward to her first day of school. Here are their tips:

How do I cross a zebra crossing?

Attention is required at a zebra crossing. Because the cars don’t always stop as they should. Seven-year-old Greta Prochworuk also stretches her arm forward to get attention.

How do I behave at a traffic light?

In this video, Greta shows together with Ulrich Drewitz from the traffic watch in Hanover how to behave properly at a traffic light. Should you still look to the left and right, even if the traffic light is green? Greta explains.

How do I behave on the curb?

The first walk slowly, then really look and finally quickly cross the street: In this video, Greta behaves in an exemplary manner. There is also a tip to draw drivers’ attention to yourself.

How do I get out of a car correctly?

This video is about trips in the parents’ car. What do you have to consider? Ulrich Drewitz from the traffic watch in Hanover emphasizes, however, that it is best not to bring children to school by car. “The best thing to do is to walk.”

How do I behave at a bus stop?

It is important to keep your distance at the bus stop – both to the curb and when waiting with other children. “No crowds,” recommends Drewitz.

Why is a safety vest so important?

The last tip of the small HAZ video series for the start of school comes from seven-year-old Vitus Meyer from Barsinghausen. “A safety vest and light-colored clothing help drivers to be seen better,” says Vitus. Especially in the dark season, children with reflective clothing are easier for drivers to recognize.

According to the police, up to 50 serious accidents with pedestrians, each year in Salzburg could be avoided if people had dressed in lighter colors or even wore a safety vest. Even a small reflector on clothing can be seen from 150 meters away.

 

Seen or not seen – this question can make the difference between life and death on the road during the cold season when the days are short and the nights long. It was not until mid-November that a dark-clad pensioner was overlooked by a moped driver and fatally injured.

 

According to the Salzburg traffic police, between 30 and 50 accidents per year could be avoided with appropriate clothing and behavior that is adapted to the dark. “Serious accidents don’t always happen, but there are many near-accidents and evasive maneuvers, which in turn lead to accidents. The decisive factor for me is that these accidents could be avoided very easily if one behaved accordingly,” says Friedrich Schmidhuber of the Salzburg traffic police.

 

Dressed in dark: visible up to 25 meters away

According to traffic experts, pedestrians dressed in dark clothing can be seen up to a maximum of 25 meters in time at night. Light-colored clothing or neon colors barely double this distance, but only with reflective material are passers-by up to 140 meters visible.

 

Police: Older people have some catching up to do

While this has worked for young people for years, adults have some catching up to do here. “Older people in particular massively underestimate this risk. Also, dark clothing is often worn, which makes the situation even worse,” says Schmidhuber. Often pedestrians would not be aware of the fact that outside a local area it is mandatory to use the left side of the street or, if available, the banquet.

 

Tip: light-colored clothing, safety vests, warning tapes

According to the police, it would be easy to be seen by drivers even in the dark. The police recommend consciously wearing light-colored clothing in the dark months and putting reflective vests or reflective tapes on the upper arms.

At the start of school, more than 2,500 safety vests were distributed by Verkehrswacht Rosenheim and AOK in Rosenheim to the first graders of the 54 primary schools in the city and district of Rosenheim. When the reflective safety throws were handed over to headmistress Siglinde Böhnel from the Pang elementary school, Rosenheim’s 2nd mayor Daniel Artmann thanked AOK Rosenheim and Verkehrswacht Rosenheim for their support: “In the dark and at dusk, the risk of accidents increases. With a safety vest, it can be reduced considerably for our smallest road users.”

For AOK director Gerhard Schöndorfer, it is about road safety: “We are very happy when our contribution helps to make the way to school safer for the smallest and most vulnerable participants in road traffic and to further reduce the number of accidents on the way to school.” The AOK cooperates at the action with the Bavarian State Traffic Watch. “Promoting traffic safety and avoiding traffic accidents – that is our aim and the so-called warning triangles make a significant contribution to this,” says Franz Polland from the traffic police in Rosenheim. Headmistress Siglinde Böhnel is also pleased that the AOK and the Bavarian State Transport Authority are providing first graders with reflective warning triangles this school year.

“The youth traffic school makes another important contribution to road safety, especially with the fourth year cycle training”, emphasizes Police Director Volker Klarner, head of the Rosenheim police station.

Contribution and photo: City of Rosenheim – from left: Thomas Unterlinner, responsible youth traffic education, 2nd Mayor Daniel Artmann, Franz Polland, 1st chairman of the traffic watch in Rosenheim, Siglinde Böhnel, headmistress of primary school Pang, AOK director Gerhard Schöndorfer, Volker Klarner, head of the police inspection Rosenheim.

We’ll tell you everything you need to know about safety vests when riding a bike: whether it is compulsory, whether it reduces the risk of accidents, and what you should consider when buying.

 

In Germany, a safety vest is not mandatory

In 2018, 445 cyclists died in road accidents in Germany, compared with 382 in the previous year. To reduce the death rate for cyclists, the German government repeatedly debated whether it should be made mandatory for cyclists to wear helmets or safety vests. But neither is an obligation in Germany to this day.

 

It looks different in other neighboring European countries. There, for example, it is mandatory to wear a safety vest at night when visibility is poor. These countries include France, Italy, Spain, Lithuania, and Hungary.

 

That brings a safety vest when cycling

 

By wearing a safety vest as a cyclist, you are more visible in traffic. This is especially true in the dark or bad weather conditions.

 

However, this does not confirm that your accident risk will decrease. An investigation was carried out in Great Britain. The results were terrifying: while drivers overlook around 4 percent of pedestrians, drivers do not notice  22 percent of cyclists. Accidents often occur because the driver of the car is looking in the wrong direction, is distracted, or concentrating on a phone call. If this causes an accident, a reflective vest can ultimately do nothing.

 

Also, many drivers overtake cyclists too close and do not keep the safety distance of 1.5 meters from the bike. A reflective vest only contributes a few centimeters in favor of the safety distance.

 

You should pay attention to this when buying a safety vest

 

Since you put on your safety vest as the last “piece of clothing”, make sure that it is big and wide enough. You should be able to wear a winter jacket or sweater underneath.

There is also a safety vest with Velcro. So you can easily open and close the safety vest.

The safety vest only shines through the light in the dark. It is important that the safety vest also has stripes so that it shines a little in a very dark environment. When buying a safety vest, orient yourself on the German (DIN EN 471: 2003 + A1: 2007) or the European standard (EN ISO 20471: 2013).

Over time and after several washes, the safety vest can wear out and lose its reflective effect. Therefore, replace them regularly.

A  safety vest is also ideal for children on the way to school so that they can be noticed by other road users.

Practical: Buy a saddlebag in which you can stow the safety vest. Then you always have them to hand on your bike.

Note that a safety vest is only an addition to a roadworthy bicycle with bicycle lights.

 

More tips to reduce the risk of accidents

 

1. Try to get noticed with your bike in traffic. Pay attention to bright clothing, good lighting, and reflectors. Wear a safety vest in the twilight, at night, or in winter to be visible in traffic.
2. Wear a helmet when riding a bike. This can save your life if you fall.
3. Ride your bike defensively and with foresight. Expect that a driver may not recognize you or make a mistake.

Since 2016 and the law on the obligation to have safety vests in all vehicles, many businesses have offered poor quality safety vests. Inexpensive and inefficient materials, not necessarily aesthetic or very flattering and unsuitable for cycling.

 

European safety standards

To choose the right safety vest, several criteria must be taken into account. First of all, its compliance with European standards. The vest must meet the standard EN 1150, which governs high visibility clothing for non-professional use – or EN 471 which relates to professional clothing. This information can generally be found on a label affixed to the vest. If a user manual accompanies the BC, which contains the CE mark as well as the names and addresses of the manufacturer and the inspection body, there is a good chance that the BC is compliant. Note that this standard includes fluorescent yellow vests but also other fluorescent colors: green, yellow-green, yellow-orange, orange, or pink.

 

Product quality

Second criterion not to be neglected, the material. Some safety vests designed especially for 2-wheelers – bike and motorcycle are made with a stretch material that allows air to circulate through a breathable fabric. They adjust to the body and can and do close effectively with a conventional zipper. Machine washable, these safety vests are suitable for most sports and activities. Available from size XS to size XXXXL, you will find the waistcoat in your size, for children as well as for very large!

 

Usually suitable for adults, safety vests for children 0-6 and 6-12 are also available. These vests can be accompanied by other reflective accessories, such as self-attaching reflective armbands, light-up wristbands, or reflective pants. Thus equipped, the cyclist will be able to circulate serenely: he will be seen, and safer.