“I am a good friend, take care of me, I have children, take care of me and improving the world, take care of me” some of the messages that are seen in the more than 1,000 reflective vests that the Mobility Secretariat gave to the cyclists in 7 points of the city considered high Impact on accidents.
In this way, the activation Reflective Lives pretends that the cycling civic heroes protect themselves, take care of their lives, be visible and at the same time that all the road actors respect the users of the bike.
Other safety equipment for cyclists:
Use front (white) and rear (red) light both day and night.
Use reflective feet, wheels, helmet and body parts that move when riding a bike. According to research, human beings act instinctively when they see objects or elements in motion and more if they have light. Cyclists who use the reflective materials effectively can reduce the chances of an accident by 83%.
Experts recommend using fluorescent products to be seen during the day and reflective to be seen during the night. The difference is that fluorescent colors do not work at night. They require the presence of sunlight to be visible.
Lighting elements reduce losses by 55%
A study conducted in Denmark with 6,793 volunteer cyclists gave 3,402 cyclists a yellow jacket (test group) and 3,391 cyclists (control group), who did not wear this garment. The safety effect of the jacket was analyzed by comparing the number of accidents in the two groups. The accident rate in the test group was 47% lower than that of the control group. For accidents with cyclists and motorized vehicles, it was 55% lower.
This study showed that fluorescent materials improved the detection of drivers during the day. While lamps, flashing light and reflective materials improved detection during the night.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for a reduction in the occurrence of accidents, by increasing the visibility of cyclists, using a yellow jacket. The hypothesis of this study was that the use of high visibility clothing in the upper body would improve the detection of cyclists and, consequently, would lead to a reduction in the number of accidents.
Rules and behaviors for cyclists
Law 769 of 2002 by the National Traffic Code establishes, in article 95, that cyclists when driving at night, must have devices in the front that project white light, and in the rear that reflects red light.
Failure to comply will be punishable by a type A subpoena, which is a fine equivalent to four (4) minimum legal daily wages in force (SMLDV). Exactly, the sanction is the A6, corresponding: transit without the required luminous devices.
From January to July 2018, 863 tickets have been imposed on cyclists who do not use their lighting devices. The penalty is $ 104,200 pesos.
On the other hand, in the Good Cyclist’s Manual, available on the website www.planbici.gov.Co in the behavior section, it is recommended to carry safety elements such as the helmet and reflective vest at all times and when it is dark.
“Protect your life by increasing your visibility capacity so that you do not go unnoticed by other drivers. Be enlightened. “