Do not leave children in the dark: Use reflective material to Stay Bright

Driving in the dark without reflective clothing is inherently dangerous. If we cannot see clearly where we are going, we will have risk going to crash, an event whose consequences are often fatal. But there are those who still run more dangers and infinitely more serious people who are in a vehicle: the pedestrians. Even more are the children. A campaign promoted by the FIA, the International Automobile Federation, seeks to remind young users the correct way to move around in the street when the light is poor.

The dark is difficult to see not only the limits of the road but also what lies in between. The street lighting is often insufficient, even in residential areas; because public authorities are fast to save money on useful things, almost as much as they are rapid into wasting money in questionable loans. In the face of the duty, imposed by the Highway Code, provide for the safety of the streets of their property. So when we find ourselves suddenly on a collision course a dark figure, small size and moving, tragedy is always lurking. Sometimes only the case ensures that nothing happens.

In addition there is added at times unsafe behavior of children themselves, and here are the parents having to make an examination of conscience. Apart from the fact that it is foolish to send out children alone in the dark; in addition, to make matters worse, they often do not even let them wear the reflective vest. Moreover, they do not even many adults. Similarly when they are not wearing a seat belt or traveling holding babies in their arms. There is still much to be done to put into people’s minds the culture of safety in the street.

E ‘it was even coined a hash tag for social media, of course #Stay Bright.

The campaign is geared specifically to children, who have a tendency to figure out things on the fly, when adults deign to explain them properly and clearly. A fundamental fact: the dark a child by bicycle or on foot is only seen at the distance of 10 meters. But at 50 Km / h, by urban speed limit, they walk almost 14 meters per second. Then the driver would have less than a second time to prevent the baby in the dark. Let alone at a higher speed. Instead with a reflective vest approved the visibility rises to 50 meters, a distance more than sufficient to avoid risks.

It is not enough. The campaign Stay Bright summarizes these tips for children. If you travel by bike : wear a reflective vest and a white helmet or other clear and bright color; always have a light-functioning white or yellow and red front lagging behind; Also the pedals and the inside of the circles should have reflective parts.

If you walk on foot: still wearing the safety vest; walking on the sidewalk on far away as possible from the road and proceed in the opposite direction to the vehicle operating conditions (to see them arrive); when they must cross, always do it on strips in locations where the visibility is good, both for the traffic that comes that for the child.

Polices handed out reflective vests at the roadside

You have a reflective vest in your car and positioned so that you can in case of emergency use even before the car off? So that’s focused police during a security event, which took place in recent days on the outskirts. Officers checked the driver only, but they also handed out vests.
“The aim of this event is to provide a reflective vest and passenger drivers,” explained the spokesman police Marcel. One of the first controlled brakes should vest placed in the trunk of his personal car, moreover, under heavy baggage, which could not be raised. And that’s wrong.

Now these situations want police warn the driver. “Safety vest should be placed inside the vehicle, such as a mailbox. If it is the driver in the trunk, it may happen that the incident will be struck down even before it wears, “warned Marcela.

Other drivers should keep on hand. He was among them Richard. “Vest got in the car more,” said the driver, who is convinced that similar police actions increase the safety of drivers.

Reflective vests police now distributed throughout, in the context of other services. The event focused directly on the high visibility vests will take place several times, and in December and early next year.

True-False against the compulsory high visibility vest

Since 1 January this year the yellow vest is mandatory for motorcyclists and motorists, but the mode of application of this new rule are still a little confused. Let us try to see a little clearer with the answers to questions that you ask about this. Some are obvious to some, but it’s better in the saying…

  1. The yellow color is not imposed: True

Published in the Official Journal of 10 May 2015, speaks exactly a “high visibility vest,” which means that it may be from other equipment reflective as a yellow vest. Your jacket may be of another color (orange for example), but in practice, most equipment sold in the shops are bright yellow.

  1. Wearing a yellow vest must be permanent: False

It is very clear in the texts: it is not a matter for bikers to wear retro-reflective equipment permanently, but to own one “on them or in their vehicle storage (net, safe …) “and they will” wear down when their vehicle after an emergency stop, to improve their visibility.”

  1. The fine can go up to 135 €: True

If you do not have a retro reflective vest during inspection equipment, you can scoop a ticket for € 11 (1st class fine). However, the addition may be more salt if you stop and get off the bike without wearing the compulsory yellow vest: it is then a fine of € 135 (4th class) that hangs in your face!

  1. A simple retro reflective armband may suffice: False

According to a decree dating from 29 September 2008 on which is based, is considered vest” any clothing worn on the upper body such as jacket, parka, vest, shirt or tunic.” It should be limited to those described equipment, in which are not a simple cuff, even if it was a time been considered as mandatory equipment of visibility … However, CE marking is mandatory to certify retro-reflective qualities of your equipment for it to be certified “high visibility”.

  1. It is mandatory to take a second vest for passenger: False

What is not forbidden is allowed, as they say … In the texts, there is no requirement to carry a second high visibility vest, even if common sense recommends: “The Order is to extend the obligation to hold a high visibility vest with reflective tape, already applicable to motorists, drivers of a motor vehicle with two or three wheels” as it is written. Motorists also can be content with a single vest … There is the law and the spirit of the law. Finally, we will add that the triangle is not intended as mandatory equipment for two or three wheels, for obvious practical issues of transportation…

Cyclists’ bad visibility due to lack of reflective jackets

Wednesday morning, Sylvia, cyclist for three years in Paris, was arrested while traveling in the street on his bike by Francis, member of the Association Road Safety. “We will check all your lighting and visibility equipment such as reflective tape, safety vest and helmet etc.,” he offers to the young woman. An awareness campaign for cyclists’ risks night organized simultaneously in 10 cities (Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Rennes, La Rochelle, Besancon, and Gap) by the association and the Road Safety insurer MMA.

Because according to a joint investigation by the insurer and the combination of 2, 000 cyclists between March and June 2013 revealed this Wednesday, three quarters of cyclists riding into town on their own bike poorly lit at night. “Many bikes were originally equipped with inefficient dynamo broke. Others have been degraded and cyclists have not retrofitted provided. In contrast, self-service bikes have less default lighting because they are regularly checked, “says Jean-Yves, general delegate of the association Prevention road.

As for reflective jackets and armbands, they are almost never used by cyclists less than 5% of rental bike users use it and 16% of owners of personal bike. “But the utilization rate increased to Paris, Lille and Rennes (25%), probably because cyclists feel more vulnerable s because the bike paths are less developed than in other cities,” says Jean-Yves. Yet these devices are useful “because they can be visible up to 150 meters against 30 meters without these accessories, he insists. A powerful argument is that 20% of 155 cyclists were killed in an accident road in 2012 at night.

Still, the majorities of cyclists is still poorly informed on the subject and are unaware of the risks they face. “Do you know what the mandatory equipment for riding is?” Francis Gael asked. “The front and rear lights,” replied the young woman. “Not only wearing a retro reflective vest is mandatory open road. A retro reflective device on the pedals is also indispensable, “explains François-Gael. To help Sylvia no longer seem unnoticed, he offers a kit containing a vest, armbands and protection for fluorescent bag back. “I put the now when I will cross the Place de la Bastille at night,” Sylvia advance. Olivier, another seasoned cyclist, also gets his kit: “The safety vest does not look like the Karl Lagerfeld, but I’ll make an effort and put it on as often as possible,” he promises, before straddling his bike.

Five advices to ride bike in the city and stay safe

Road safety associations and insurers Prevention launched Friday a communication campaign on cyclist safety in the city. The associations have identified five dangerous situations in which bicycles are frequently found and give advice detailed as below.

  1. Dangerous situation # 1: pass a truck or bus

This happens frequently at red lights. Problem: the blind spots of trucks are wider than the cars and the “time to move beyond” the longest vehicle. Therefore is more dangerous. Another trap: to turn right, heavyweights such as buses are forced to veer more to the left to get their rear axle. So cyclists think they have space. But the vehicle pass may pinch or crush very quickly.

The Board of Prevention: stay behind the truck when he was arrested.

  1. Dangerous situation # 2: cross an intersection when one takes priority without looking

When it is a priority at an intersection, the cyclist is overconfident and do not pay attention to other vehicles. “Yet it is very visible,” do you remember the Road Safety.

The Board of Prevention: slow down and try to meet the eyes of the driver who arrives from a side street

  1. Dangerous situation number 3: ride at night without being visible

Many bike rides at night without the reflective tape and safety vest, mandatory, are fixed on the bike. It must however oranges on wheels and pedals, white in front of the bike, red at the rear. It also requires that the bike has a white or yellow light in front, red at the rear.

The Board of Prevention: although it may seem like a detail, to ensure that the bike has these protective elements. Wear yellow reflective vest is also recommended.

  1. Dangerous situation number 4: ignore red lights

A number of cyclists often turn red, especially when they want to turn right. This is possible since 2010, but only when the triangular panel reports. Otherwise refrain.

The Board of Prevention: Follow the rules!

  1. Dangerous situation Number 5: drive along parked cars

The risk for the cyclist is obviously to knock on a door opens suddenly. Or, best of all, a car that, without warning, enter the roadway.

The Board of Prevention: Finding the balance between rides too close to parked cars and driving on left. Do as well attention to clues: Does there’s people in the vehicle? Are the wheels turned? Does the motor run?

Should the helmet and reflective vest be mandatory?

The helmet does not make a lot of followers among the cyclists; they would be only 29% to bring in during the day against 41% nationally, according to the study by Opinion way for the insurer MMA.

“I see myself badly disheveled get to work”

“I bike every day and I do not want to burden myself with a helmet. I do not feel at all threatened. How awful if it became a requirement,” Said Michel, 65 years old. He wears a reflective tape on each ankle but is above all not to mess down her pants.

Reza, 41 and Perrine, 37, make a lot of two-wheelers. Her motorcycle and bicycle road, two activities for which they consider the essential helmet, but the city is not the same. “We ride quietly on the sidewalks or on the waterfront. And I see myself badly disheveled get to work. No, the helmet is for our children, “says Perrine.”It is useless and it is really ridiculous aesthetic side, I’m anti-bicycle helmet and I’ll stay,” adds Reza strongly.

“I do not understand that the helmet is not compulsory”

Fanny, 26, is part of the minority of Bordeaux who have become accustomed to bring a helmet. “I had a bike fall that earned me a fracture, my wheels were stuck on the tram tracks,” she says. It will take about one year to the student nurse to get back on track after this traumatic experience. “And now, if I do the headset without bike, it’s like I had no flying belt,” she explains.

Her friend Gwen, 23, prefers to ride with the wind. “The helmet and safety vest, it keeps you warm, it’s not nice and not very aesthetic,” she says. “It is true that it is not glamorous but I do not care!” retorted Fanny. That teams also lights and a reflective vest at night. “I do not understand that wearing a helmet is not mandatory,” says the young woman.

“One obvious constraint”

“The helmet and reflective vest should not be mandatory, can be worn if desired but this is an obvious constraint! Behind this obligation there is the automobile lobby that sees that the bike takes to drive market share. In cities that have mandatory helmet and safety vest, practice has declined significantly, “says Alain, president of the association Bike City in Bordeaux.

For the association, it seems more interesting to focus on the bicycle lights and wearing reflective clothing to improve the safety of cyclists.

Reflective tape shall be required on school backpack

Nowadays schoolchild choosing a briefcase is not just its color or shape. The other criterion is safety. If Germany has legislated for a long time in this field which requires reflective tape on the briefcase, France is dragging its feet.

Every day in France, a dozen children is a victim of a road accident, injured or killed. In a third of cases, this takes place on foot, on the way to school.

Germany, to avoid such accidents, at least 10% of the back and sides of the binder should be covered with reflective bands and 20% of fluorescent materials.

In France, there is none of that. The Road Safety Association has launched an awareness campaign in the form of a manifesto, “zero children killed on our roads,” including asking using reflective material like reflective heat transfer film on the backpack and satchels younger.

Reflective surfaces allow it to be seen at night, 150 meters. The neon allows to be seen when it rains, it is foggy or it is a bit dark. It increases the ambient light and return to motorists.

Christophe Ramond, director of studies and research of the Association Road safety, also adds that “initiatives” were launched “there thirty years with satchels manufacturers are rigged” but there is no “this safety culture in France as there may be in Germany. It may create a European standard that will promote the commercialization of visible and safe school bags for the children “.

A new model of satchel more secure this year was launched. To try to remedy this lack, the Tennessee brand launches a new model of binder, as described in its manager Frederick: “The trick lies in the fact of having placed security cover in the back very discreet, the child does not have to put the time and when it’s on the way to school, he unfolds it and it comes to cover the entire surface of the binder as a safety vest.”

It is also possible to equip oneself his satchel, all the necessary equipment is cycling radius.

Tragic accident happens on high way.

Bus crashed into the scooter. He’s been dead 66-year-old motor owners sat, police officers in safety vest with the prosecutor working on the site of a road accident on the route Synod Masco. 66-year-old head of scooter was hit by INVESCO and died on the spot.

Today (Friday, October 30) about 5.30 hours duty officer, police officers from Synod received telephone notification of a traffic accident on the route Sino Masco, national road 53.

The preliminary findings of the officers that sober 23-year-old driver was driving with INVESCO Osaka in the direction of Sino. At one point he hits in front of him riding a scooter, led by 66-year-old resident of the municipality Sino. Single-track Directed died on the spot.

Now investigators under the supervision of the Prosecutor perform inspection of the scene, interviewing witnesses.

Reflectors. Particularly important in autumn and winter

From August 31 last year, every pedestrian who is moving after dark on the road, outside the built-up area must be placed in a reflection visible to managers. For the lack of reflective element threatens fined up to 100 zlotys.

Traffic regulations since dictate carry reflective elements. Unfortunately, not all apply to them.

About how little we are visible on the road without all reflective elements shown a video of police videoed stator. Young man walking on the road K-17 without the glare does not realize the danger they are causing. The police traffic outside the mandate handed him the vest.

Pedestrians and cyclists account for more than 30 percent of the total number of people without reflective tape who died in road accidents. Reflective elements are extremely important element on the road. The driver can see the person using glare from a distance of up to 140 meters. This time allows for the correct response.

Remember that the reflectors may be Trailed items to clothing, armbands or vests. It is important to place them in the right places – at the knees, hands, near the center of the chest and back – then we will have confidence that we are well visible to other road users.