January 2020 - Reflective tape

What should a reflective vest look like, where to buy and how much does it cost

Already on Sunday, March 18, 2018, changes to the rules of the road will come into force. Drivers will be required to wear reflective vests when they are forced to stop outside settlements. We tell you how the vest should look and how much it costs.

When should a driver wear a vest?

According to the rules, the driver must wear a vest if the car makes a stop outside the village.

Also, a vest is necessary if an emergency stop is made as a result of an accident and the driver is forced to leave the car.

Also, a special vest must be provided if a stop on the track is made for any reason in the dark or poor visibility.

Why do I need a reflective vest?

The driver’s signal vest will be visible on the roadway for other road users. This reduces the risk of accidents.

The fact is that, for example, at night, or during heavy fog, you can hardly see a person on the roadway. And cases when a driver who made an emergency stop was hit by cars coming by, alas, not uncommon.

How many stripes should be on a signal vest?

Only three types of vests are acceptable, subject to the indentation of strips from the edges of the vest and each other:

Two horizontal reflective stripes and two vertical from the upper horizontal through the shoulders;

One horizontal stripe and two vertical from it through the shoulders;

Two horizontal stripes without any others.

4.Vest specifications

The vest for drivers is made of 100% PE orange or lemon.

The lower edge of the lower strip on the torso should be located at a distance of at least 50 mm from the bottom of the product.

Jackets, vests, and wraps can have two horizontal strips of retro-reflective material around the torso at a distance of at least 50 mm from each other. The lower edge of the lower strip on the torso should be located at a distance of at least 50 mm from the lower edge of the jacket, vest or cape vest (if necessary).

The wrap vest should be designed in such a way that in all product sizes, the lateral gap between the materials is not more than 50 mm.

How much does such a vest cost in Barnaul?

The cost of a vest will be from 150 rubles to 350. The price depends on the size and store.

Where to buy such a vest in Barnaul?

You can buy a reflective vest in the car shop or a special department for car owners in shopping centers.

You can also order a vest online. The cost of online stores starts at 100 rubles.

If there is no vest, will the driver be fined?

No, for the time being, a fine for violating this rule is not provided for now. The inclusion of a new paragraph in the SDA is made to draw the attention of car owners to their safety. But, according to experts, fines may soon be introduced.

Lifehack on the “winter” ride

The next advice to motorists was given by the commander of the Budennovsky company of traffic police.

The Stavropol Territorial Administration of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate continues to publish videos with useful tips from the heads of departments of the traffic police.

The first video from the series “Lifehack from the Head of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate” was presented by the Chief State Inspector of Road Safety of Stavropol Aleksey Safonov.

The next batch of useful tips was given by the commander of a separate company of traffic police in the Budyonnovsky district, Alexei Krets. His life hack will help drivers prepare for the trip and equip the car for driving in winter conditions.

The police major recalled that before the trip you need to believe how much the car is filled up. It is necessary to take an additional tank with an “ice-free”, a warning triangle, a brush and a scraper with you on the road. Also, a reflective vest, a can of defrosting liquid, a tool kit and a car charger for your phone will always come in handy on the road to always stay in touch. A small bag of sand and salt will not interfere with drivers in the winter, so as not to get stuck on a slippery road. Before traveling, the inspector recommends checking the brake system and steering, the heating system and the wipers. Also, it is imperative to check whether the lights of the car are working. And, of course, the traffic police categorically do not advise to drive while tired or feeling unwell. These recommendations will appear on social networks and the pages of other resources on the Internet.

The videos from the series “Lifehacks from the Head of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate” are published every 10 days, specified in the Office of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia for the Stavropol Territory.

Cyclists concerned about lack of safety for practice

After the accident that happened last weekend on the Café highway where a cyclist died after being hit by a truck, the pedal sector spoke about the need for road actors to be more cautious in their journeys.

Regarding the issue, the mayor Fabio Enrique Sierra Sierra, head of the Traffic and Transportation Section of the Quindío Police, said: “During the year 2019, we were advancing various campaigns to the different road actors. By the provisions of Law 1811 of 2016, the use of the bicycle is established as a means of transport and gives responsibilities and duties”.

He emphasized that the behavior of cyclists must assume responsibility when using the road, such as using light devices, protective elements, abiding by and respecting traffic regulations. “Likewise, we have done with the road actors, different from the cyclists, so that they respect the provisions established within the regulations in force in transit avoiding more accidents on the roads.”

He pointed out that there have been several appendixes, who have broken the rule for being very close to the berms, for advancing on the right that puts at risk the riders. “The punctual recommendation for all car drivers is respect for another important road actor that is the cyclist, where they must respect their conditions and rights granted by law to be able to have mobility with all the security both on urban roads as the national roads”.

“Finally, he assured that this year they will continue advancing the socialization, training and awareness campaigns to the actors so that everyone shares the path in a respectful and friendly way.”

It may interest you: Death of a cyclist: investigating truck driver responsibility

For his part, Edna Patricia Torres Ortiz, of the Departmental Institute of Transit of Quindío, Idtq, said: “In this specific case, the accident occurred on a national road where vehicles drive faster, so it is more careful and as advice personal, if it is for a recreation activity, these routes are not the best option and less in times of tourism”.

He recalled that on the roads, there are several agents. “For drivers, the call is to be patient and put themselves in the place of the cyclist, they must make sure of the turns, be more cautious in their driving, especially at night, slow down, go patiently, and definitely, always respect 1.5 meters away”.

For the riders, he recommended being visible. “They are the most vulnerable road actors on the roads, they must be cautious, cautious, wear a helmet both in rural and urban roads, always wear the appropriate safety elements and the more visible they are, the better, that their clothing(clothing with reflective fabric) is reflective, that all support be easily identifiable.”

Finally, he affirmed that “the most important premise is citizen coexistence so that each road actor is prudent and generates care for himself and the rest of the community.”

“It is a shared responsibility, not only of cyclists and not only of vehicle drivers because both can be impudent. The rule of 1.5 distance, they do not respect it, I have been stuck to the white line, calm and felt when they rub me and pass at an excessive speed or having enough field to pass, they whistle and scare the cyclist. It is possible that in a scare of those, one easily loses control of his bicycle and falls to the gutter. They do not take into account that there is less protection on a bicycle, I prefer to practice mountain rather than road because there is a lot of awareness on the part of drivers of other road actors, I want to point out that we as cyclists should pay special attention to lighting in the afternoons and nights, it is necessary to wear taillights, headlights, reflective clothing and be responsible in practice.”

“The death of our fellow cyclist Hernán Serna Giraldo is unfortunate, this is a situation that has been presented around the mass use of the bicycle and is a problem that occurs throughout the country; Without a doubt, it is necessary to begin to raise awareness among drivers so that they can assume a more responsible attitude towards people who ride their bicycles daily on these routes. We ask the local authorities and at the head of the territorial entity to take action on the matter since this situation is at a nerve point, since every day more people make use of this means of transport. We are a mass that moves on two wheels and we have as a sole means of protection a helmet and the generous will of those who drive a vehicle when we see ourselves as people who have a family”.

How to safely ride a bike after dark? 10 equipment tips

Bicycles must be equipped with one white or yellow front light with continuous or flashing light. It can be a lamp for batteries, accumulators or a dynamo.

Another important element of the two-wheeler is the reflective red rear light, which must be installed throughout the year regardless of the time of day or year.

Each bicycle should have at least one rear light with a continuous or flashing light. This lamp must be turned on only in the evening or at night.

At least one functional brake is the equipment required to travel on the road.

A bell or other warning signal will always be useful.

Also, the bicycle may (but does not have to) be fitted with reflectors on the pedals (yellow).

Another additional accessory may be white reflective light on the front of the bicycle.

We can also mount any number of yellow reflectors on the wheels (at least one on each wheel).

It also doesn’t hurt to mount the reflective tapeon the tire, wheels or other parts of the bicycle.

If we want to be visible after dark, we should get a reflective vestthat can save our lives in situations when we travel at night out of town.

The required elements for bike riding

The use of bicycle lighting, reflectors, and properly visible clothing is necessary for safe cycling both during the day and at night, because by determining our position on the road, we become noticeable to other road users. Cyclists “invisibility” increases the chance of being hit by, for example, a car, which is why every reasonable cyclist should be aware of the fact that being visible is the same as being safe on the road. It is also obvious that thanks to the lights when driving after dusk we will bypass dangerous obstacles. So what lighting to choose, where to put reflectors and is visible clothing only the one in bright colors?

At the beginning of the considerations regarding bicycle lighting, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the parameters that define them. Looking at the lamps of individual manufacturers, we will notice the information on the number of lumens (lm) or lux (lx) that characterize given light sources. These concepts often appear interchangeably as if they mean the same. Of course, this is not the case and due to the lack of knowledge in this aspect, you can be unpleasantly surprised. With the displacement of ordinary light bulbs and their replacement with modern LEDs, cotton wool was replaced with lumens. A lumen is a unit of measure for luminous flux, that is, it determines the light output of the lamp. Lux is, in turn, a unit of light intensity and determines what luminous flux falls on one square meter of surface.

Daytime driving

Usually, when buying bicycle lighting, customers wonder how much the lamp they are interested in shines and how long the battery that powers it is working. These criteria are the most accurate, only that they usually refer to driving at dusk. However, before we start pedaling in the dark, it is worth considering how to ensure safety during daytime driving.

According to the regulations, the bicycle does not have to have lighting with normal visibility during the day, only reflectors that determine the position are sufficient. Nevertheless, lamp manufacturers offer us a wide selection of daytime running lights. Why this overprotection related to the need to spend another PLN? The offer of companies in this area is motivated by an analogy to the daytime running lights used in cars and motorbikes, and therefore the decrease in the number of accidents. Of course, every cyclist has the right to decide for themselves in this matter whether the above-mentioned statistics appeal to him, but solutions that manufacturers use, such as headlight amplification or uneven flickering and different intensity of the rear light are very interesting and probably helpful. If you decide to use bicycle lighting for daytime riding, you should choose, first of all, the brightest rear lamp flashing unevenly and a relatively brightly lit front lamp, which will also be equipped with a flashing mode. Front lighting with power over 100 lm is sufficient for driving during the day, while at the rear it is worth to arm yourself with a minimum of 20 lm. It is worth noting that the lamps are mounted in the right places and at the right angle, so that they shine in the right direction, towards approaching cars, and that they do not dazzle other road users.

Fluorescent clothing

Every cyclist should be at heart to be visible on the road during the day, by wearing appropriate clothing. During the day, fluorescent colors work best. This is because the sun’s rays ‘react’ with fluorescent materials and give them a glow effect. It should be remembered that clothing in so-called Fluo colors without sunlight just isn’t effective. I am aware that not all cyclists are lovers of clothing brightness. For lovers of two wheels, which are closer to subdued colors, it is recommended to use fluorescent accents on moving parts of the body (legs) or outfit colors other than black. It is worth using the contrast method in this respect because any color that makes us stand out a little bit on the road will make us be noticed.

Night riding

While during the day, in conditions of normal visibility, the law does not require cyclists to install front and rear lights, after dark, as well as front and rear reflectors, are mandatory equipment of the bicycle. The lighting should be strong enough to make us visible to other road users from at least 150 meters.

The choice of a light source to pedal after dark should be adapted to the type of ride. So if you drive mainly around the city lit with lanterns, then you do not need lamps that have 500 lm of power. All you need is inexpensive LED lighting from leading manufacturers, whose power when it comes to the front lamp reaches approx. 150 lm, and at the back above 18 lm.

For people who are passionate about road riding, sunset does not necessarily mean the end of the fun. It is best to plan a journey on a route that you know very well, so as not to be surprised by a hole in the road. It is also worth buying two lights for both the front and rear of the bike. Then, not only that we ensure excellent visibility, but we will also protect ourselves in the event of a failure or battery depletion in one of the light sources. For road riding, you should choose front lights that emit focused light. Both in the city and outside it, above all, the rear light should flicker to attract drivers’ attention even more than the steady light. Also, it is good to buy lighting in shape and size other than a round, small spot. In the front, we can also afford a flashing mode, if it wasn’t a strobe mode, which just often irritates other traffic participants. Reflectors will also be a wise choice. Of course, I do not mean the obligatory ones: front and rear, but additionally on wheels, for example. Although they may not look professional, they also ensure the visibility of the cyclist from the side.

Lighting for driving after dusk in the field

Do you know by heart any protruding root on your favorite forest trail and think that it won’t surprise you anymore? Ride it after dark and you will experience amazing silence, sharpen your senses and start playing with it again. First, however, choose the right lighting. In this regard, it is worth equipping yourself with a light mounted on the steering wheel and the helmet light source will also be quite helpful. In terms of lighting on the steering wheel, it should be characterized by a minimum power of 300 lm (500 lm seems optimal), and it should also shine with diffused light. There are, of course, light sources with a much higher power, but in the case of a group night travel, this type of lamp can disturb the others who are not so equipped. It is worth noting that the strong lighting can change the mode, you can then reduce the light output to e.g. 15% of full power. When choosing the right light source for off-road driving, it’s a good idea to use a criterion for fixing it. The lighting installation should be reliable and must not loosen when driving over uneven surfaces.

The additional lamp on the helmet is designed to illuminate the road far ahead, from a different perspective than that installed on the steering wheel. It should shine in spots and not be too strong. It will also be useful in the event of a breakdown because you do not need to hold the flashlight during the fault.

Reflective clothing

Unlike fluorescent clothing, this reflective clothing works by reacting to artificial light. Therefore, the more directly the light, a reflector, acts on the reflector, the more it will reflect it. During night rides in the city or outside of it, reflective clothing is influenced by the light of lanterns or other traffic participants. In virtually all bicycle clothes you will find reflective piping, which is most often seen on the ends of sleeves or legs and a back pocket. If you are riding a bicycle in non-specialized clothing, it is worth buying reflective bands, which, for example, in addition to lighting in the dark can be used to narrow the leg so that it does not get caught in the crank. Many bicycle clothing manufacturers offer a series of reflexive items. For example, Endura produced the “Luminite” product line, which is characterized by fluo colors and large reflective tape elements. This series includes helmets, jackets, pants, backpacks, gloves and shoe covers.

Power supply

When you rarely drive after dark and darkness during a ride you suddenly do not need to get more expensive lamps that have their chargers or batteries. For city driving, lighting with batteries or a generator is enough. dynamo. However, when night driving often happens, it is more profitable to spend more money on a good set of lighting and batteries, so we will not be forced to buy batteries all the time. However, if you decide on this type of power supply, remember to check the battery level so that we have enough electricity for the next trip. In the case of modern Ni-Mh batteries, it is not necessary to fully discharge them and charge them to 100%, as was the case with the older type of Ni-Cd batteries.

Whether in the city or outside, bicycle lighting is the responsibility of every cyclist. Undoubtedly, every cyclist should also be visible on the road by wearing fluorescent elements during the day and reflective elements after dark. Until the lovers of two wheels understand that being visible means being safe, there will be tragic accidents involving bicycles and motor vehicles. Every unlit cyclist – the so-called batman, must understand the frustration of drivers, and everyone properly lit should be noticed and properly avoided.

See all reflective actions of the “Three”

In September 2019, Public Primary School No. 3 in Brzesko entered the “Reflective School” competition.

The purpose of the action announced by the Road Traffic Department of the Provincial Police Headquarters together with the Małopolska Road Traffic Safety Council and the Małopolska School Superintendent is to promote children’s knowledge of road traffic regulations, the need to wear reflective elements, and thus shape habits necessary for safe and cultural participation in road traffic, shaping social attitudes: help and responsibility for the health and life of oneself and others, shaping the ability to anticipate the consequences and disregard rules, regulations, inattentiveness and errors, implementation to respond correctly in situations of threat to life and health.

As part of the “Reflective School” project, all students of the “three” were equipped with reflective vests. Teachers and students from the first days of September implemented numerous activities aimed at raising awareness among children about the importance of maintaining road safety: they conducted talks about the principles of safe road traffic, organized various competitions promoting knowledge of traffic rules road and wearing reflectors, they created wallpapers, banners, posters, and performances. October 17 in the “Troika” was proclaimed the Day of Reflections. On that day, every student and teacher had a reflective element. The most creative students took part in the competition for the most original clothing containing reflectors.

It is worth paying attention to those activities that were directed to the community of our city. On October 9, scouts from PSP No. 3 hung posters promoting the use of reflective by older people traveling on the roads, and also distributed reflective bands to passing seniors in various parts of the city, encouraging them to wear them on foggy autumn days. A day later, as part of the “Driver, slow down” action, the youth gave out to the drivers stopping at the pedestrian crossing near the school 90 small calendars for 2020 and the same number of juicy apples. On 19 October, during a great sporting event in the region. James “organized by the sports club” Jakub “at the parish dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Jakub in Brzesko, students of the Brest “three” with the organizer’s consent promoted wearing reflections with reflective tapes in line with the slogan “Run with reflections! Be visible! ” Before the start, they distributed the reflectors made of reflective foil in the form of hearts and smiles.

In turn, on October 23, students and teachers organized a happening on the streets of Brzesko under the slogan “Let yourself be seen and live.” At the head of the procession, at the sound of a snare drum, was a zebra – a school BRD mascot, who carried the information sign “Pedestrian crossing”, thus encouraging to cross the road on the lanes. Behind her, wearing reflective vests, students marched who chanted slogans calling for the use of reflectors. The procession participants distributed leaflets prepared by them in passers-by, in which they appealed for the need to use designated pedestrian crossings and to wear reflectors.

On October 28, in cooperation with our city authorities, the Strategy and Development Department and the Poviat Police Headquarters in Brzesko, PSP No. 3 organized a meeting of the first classes from the entire municipality with the Mayor of Brzesko – Tomasz Latocha and the Head of the Road Traffic Department of the Police Headquarters in Brzesko – Commissioner Tomasz.

The main purpose of the event, attended by around 350 students, was to promote proper road behavior. During the meeting, the spectacle “Traffic” was enriched with songs encouraging the wearing of reflectors, a reflective fashion show and competition on knowledge of traffic rules that took place. The culminating point of the meeting was the mayor’s handing out of all sets of educational games to all classes. Also, each freshman received the reflections funded by the City Hall from the authorities of Brzesko and police representatives.

The next day, the students of the “troika” together with their guardians went to the daycare center to present a short educational program promoting safe behavior in road traffic. The youth familiarized the residents of the center with the history of flares and emphasized their importance in safe driving on the road after dark and cloudy and rainy days. An open letter to seniors was also read, in which the eighth-grade student from PSP No. 3 convinces older people to take care of road safety. In the end, the youth gave reflections to seniors, reflective bands and hearts made of reflective foil.

Many of the above-mentioned actions were carried out with the support of the Police Headquarters in Brzesko, for which the organizers would like to thank. They hope that all activities that were carried out at school will increase safety on the way to and from our students’ school, but will also make others aware that wearing reflectors should become a habit. By completing the ‘Reflective school’ project, they will not stop promoting safe road behavior because they have been, are and will be important activities for the safety of our students.

Such a small thing, and it can save lives!

The autumn weather means that it gets dark faster, which, combined with adverse weather conditions, makes pedestrians less visible to drivers. Everyone who moves along the road at dawn or dusk should have reflective material elements on them. Visible on the road, properly lit should also be cyclists and mopeds.

It is not without reason that pedestrians are called unprotected road users. Their chances of colliding with a vehicle are small. Sometimes it’s enough to take care of your safety – walking on the sidewalks or the right side of the road, going to designated areas, or not getting on the road from behind parked vehicles. Especially now in the autumn, when darkness falls faster and faster, and road conditions are often difficult, reflectors play a very important role for our safety.

Pedestrians who travel along the road without glare, both after dusk and in the morning, are hardly visible to the driver. The driver can notice the pedestrian-only from a distance of about 40 meters, but during rainfall or fog, this distance is even smaller. If a person has reflective tape elements with them, the driver can see them from a distance of up to 150 meters. It is also important that pedestrians avoid dark clothes because they are virtually invisible to drivers. Even the smallest reflective element, such as a key lanyard or pendant, will make us more visible.

Police officers remind that from August 31, 2014 pedestrians who move along the road at dusk outside the built-up area are required to wear reflective elements in a way visible to other road users. Persons who do not comply with this provision must face legal consequences.

Not only pedestrians must remember to be visible on the road – the same applies to cyclists and mopeds. Each bike should be equipped with lighting – one white position light at the front, one red at the back and a red non-triangle reflective light. Additional protection, though traffic regulations do not impose an obligation on cyclists to use protective helmets or reflective vests, it is worth using them. By putting on a helmet, we protect our head against serious injuries, and the reflective vest makes us visible to other drivers from a greater distance.

Policemen also call on drivers to remember to limit speed and slow down in the areas of pedestrian crossings and schools and be careful in unlit places where there are no sidewalks. Let’s remember that together we are responsible for our security.

Reflective elements save lives. It is also worth wearing them in built-up areas

In winter conditions we are almost invisible to drivers. A small New Year’s gift, which can be a reflective vest or a band can save someone’s life.

Speaking of reflective elements, it is worth recalling that after dark a pedestrian dressed in a dark outfit is seen by the driver of the vehicle from a distance of about 40 meters. However, a pedestrian wearing reflective elements becomes visible even from a distance of 150 meters. These additional meters allow the driver to brake and safely avoid pedestrians. According to the amended regulations, outside the built-up area, we have to wear reflective tapes, for non-compliance, there is a fine of up to PLN 500. However, it is not the penalties that should encourage us to wear glare, but care for our safety.

Policemen urge pedestrians to wear reflective elements, even when moving in built-up areas, such as reflective vests, bands or flashlights.

Let’s wear reflective vests, let us set a good example and instill such safe habits from an early age, to our children. Thanks to this, our children will be safe, and yet there is nothing more valuable than the safety of our child. Let’s remember that flares save lives. Without a reflective element, let’s use a flashlight for this purpose, which is built into most currently used mobile phones.

Road safety: Inflatable vest for motorcyclists

A vest that inflates to help protect motorcycle riders in high impact crashes could become a standing piece of equipment for those riding on Northland roads.

The vests fit over the normal riding gear and a simple elastic-nylon tether connects the bike to a gas cartridge mounted in the front of the vest.

When the rider falls off the bike, a steel ball is pulled away from the housing that holds the gas cartridge, inflating the vest and protecting the rider’s neck, back, and chest.

The reflective vest will inflate in 0.1 of a second.

Keen rider Heidi Millard, IT project manager with Whangārei District Council, commutes to work every day from Maunu. She won a Helite vest at the Get Ready To Ride event in Whangārei, in September as part of Motorcycle Awareness Month.

While it is yet to be given the ultimate test she wishes she had it when she was involved in a rush-hour crash on the Auckland motorway when a driver decided to do a u-turn in front of her.

Millard slammed into the rear tire of a car when the driver of a car did a u-turn on the four-lane motorway.

She had no time to react; fortunately, her bike suffered more damage than she did.

“He did a turn across all four lanes. I hit my brakes but ended up hitting his rear wheel and coming off. The first thing I thought was someone was going to run me over”.

Wearing the new vest she said gave her a feeling of having a bit more protection if things did go wrong.

A Sergeant with Northland police Highway Patrol, Lance Goulsbro, is also a motorcycle trainer and was presented with a vest by Gillian Archer of RoadSafe Northland.

Goulsbro said the vest should become a part of any rider’s kit and while it was an extra cost, it could save a rider’s life.

“This blows up like airbags in a car and protects all your internal organs. It gives you a better chance of surviving a crash.”

Archer also encouraged riders to invest in the new piece of safety equipment.

“You can’t put a price on getting home after a ride,” Archer said.

Back to School: Safety tips as students return from winter break

Several students across Oklahoma are returning to class after winter break which means an increased risk for drivers according to AAA Oklahoma.

They’re warning drivers to be vigilant for pedestrians before and after school hours.

AAA Oklahoma said around 13% of students walk or bike to school and from 2000 to 2010 nearly 1/3 of child pedestrian fatalities occurred between 3 and 7 pm.

“It’s up to adult drivers to watch out for children walking and biking to and from school,” said Leslie Gamble, spokesman for AAA Oklahoma. “That includes those getting out of cars in school parking lots which can be particularly dangerous when many are entering and leaving.”

With shorter winter days, students are more likely to be walking before or after daylight hours. “It’s so important to consciously think about the chance that a person may be walking on the road you are driving,” Gamble said. “Be sure your windshield is cleared of ice or moisture. Then, watch for movement as you drive because often clothing is dark and it’s difficult to distinguish pedestrians from the darkness.”

AAA has six tips for drivers to keep students safe as they return to school:

Slow down. Speed limits in school zones are reduced for a reason. A pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling at 25 mph is nearly two-thirds less likely to be killed compared to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle traveling just 10 mph faster.

Eliminate distractions. Children often cross the road unexpectedly and may emerge suddenly between two parked cars. Research shows that taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your chances of crashing. Put down the phone.

Reverse responsibly. Every vehicle has blind spots. Check for children on the sidewalk, driveway and around your vehicle before slowly backing up. Teach your children to never play in, under or around vehicles—even those that are parked.

Talk to your teen. Car crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States, and more than one in four fatal crashes involving teen drivers occur during the after-school hours of 3 to 7 pm Get evidence-based guidance and tips at TeenDriving.AAA.com. New drivers with less road experience are less likely to react quickly to sudden movements of pedestrians. Eyes should be on the road, sweeping back and forth to spot movement in peripheral areas.

Come to a complete stop. Research shows that more than one-third of drivers roll through stop signs in school zones or neighborhoods. Always come to a complete stop, checking carefully for children on sidewalks and in crosswalks before proceeding.

Dress and walk for safety. Anyone out before or after daylight should wear light-colored or reflective clothingwith reflective fabric. At the least, put on white or light-color gloves, hat or shoes. It makes a tremendous difference in visibility to drivers. Stay off the road. Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks. Go to intersections versus crossing in the middle of streets or parking lots. Look carefully for cars if you must enter a roadway.