The introduction of mandatory reflective elements for pedestrians who move on the roads outside the village at night was intended to save a considerable number of lives. Unfortunately, the reality is that 2018, which was the first year the law came into force, was the second-worst since 2012 and there were 3,532 pedestrian collisions.
What is a reflective element for?
Fortunately, the statistics of pedestrian deaths are not as dramatic as they might seem from the number of collisions between vehicles and them. Deaths occur in 3.2% of cases. This number is declining in the long run, which is mainly because manufacturers build their cars so that possible injuries to pedestrians are as small as possible and their chances of survival are as high as possible.
To be seen
For pedestrians moving on the road, it is most important that it is easy to see even at a greater distance. The figure in black clothes can be seen by the driver of the car at about 20 meters, but also calmly when he passes it. On the other hand, a pedestrian with a reflector can be seen from 200 meters, which is enough distance for the driver to safely avoid it. In this respect, a reflective vest is probably the best option, but virtually any element that reflects light to the source can be considered sufficient. There are various stickers, reflective tapes, key rings … There is simply a lot and the good news is that the reflective element that fills the letter of the law can be purchased in just a few tens of crowns.
Who can’t see will pay!
If the police “catch” you without any reflective element placed visibly on the body, they can reprimand you, but you can also pay up to 2,000 crowns on the spot, or 1,500 to 2,500 crowns in administrative proceedings. If you are accidentally hit by a car unmarked in this way, there is a high probability that the finger of the police officer investigating the accident will point to you as the culprit.
Does the law make sense?
Returning to the first paragraph, where we wrote that statistically, the new obligation for pedestrians did not manifest itself in any way, the obvious question is whether this law makes sense. In this regard, it is necessary to follow a long period, at least say about 3-5 years. Only then can it be assessed whether the obligation to wear reflective elements has contributed to something. A fairly large percentage of pedestrians wore them before the introduction of this obligation, some even in combination with a small flashing light or a lit phone in their hand. This is an ideal combination of letting other traffic participants know about themselves in time.