Today is exactly the year when she began to wear the reflection vest. So many pedestrians perished in the Czech Republic last year. It is about twenty more victims than in 2015. Whether the decline in tragic accidents is linked to the reduced visibility requirement to wear reflective elements is uncertain, but the Transport Ministry believes that the reflection saved lives.
Employees of a sheltered workshop light up the graphic on the high-pressure press on safety vests. Hand sewing yellow Velcro reflexes. “Every accident is specific and we can hardly generalize that victims would live if they had reflective elements but would certainly have a better chance of surviving,” says Bezique chief Martin.
Further, suggesting that the yearly duty may have a positive impact on the number of fatalities, is where the deaths have dropped. The decrease of tragic pedestrian accidents is outside the village, where the year is obligatory to wear reflective clothing in the dark or bad weather. “While in the villages the number of their victims was the same as in 2015,” says the Farrar.
In addition, this year’s figures suggest that the situation is improving. Five pedestrians died during the accident in January, which is four less than in 2015 and 2016.