January 2020 - Page 2 of 2 - Reflective tape

Is it illegal to wear “Polite” jackets and high-vis vests?

For bikers and horse riders, being seen is vital for obvious reasons. Many choose to wear reflective clothing and high-visibility outerwear to make sure they stand out on busy roads and rural lanes.

But one particular type of high-vis clothing has caused a bit of a debate.

Jackets and reflective vests bearing the word “POLITE” have been adopted by several bikers and horse riders.

But critics say that such clothing could cause them to be mistaken for mounted or motorcycle police officers-with police also issuing guidance on the matter.

Devon and Cornwall Police released figures on this matter recently via a Freedom of Information request, the results of which are logged on their website.

Between 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015 there were four arrests made for people impersonating police officers.

During the same time frame, no one was arrested for wearing a reflective fluorescent jacket bearing the “POLITE” logo.

But, is it illegal to wear a jacket bearing the word “POLITE”?

Well, in short, the law seems to be a bit ambiguous on the matter.

Last year the MailOnline reported how Jocelle Lovelle, 45, from Penarth, and her fellow animal lovers dress in the “POLITE” high-vis outfits after Jocelle’s teenage daughter Seren was knocked from her horse.

The article claimed that police encourage horse riders to wear high-vis clothing but not to deliberately mislead motorists.

Inspector Lisa Gore of South Wales Police said: “Some riders have reported drivers sounding their horns and revving their engines to frighten horses because they feel misled.”

“We want to ensure the public make an informed decision about wearing such clothing.”

Back in 2013 when these jackets first started appearing on our roads, the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) wrote to the British Horse Society pointing out that wearing such kit could cause riders to be mistaken for mounted officers.

In a letter published on the British Horse Society website, Assistant Chief Constable Ron Hanson wrote: “These articles have caused concern to the police because individuals wearing them are likely to be mistaken for being a police officer due to the design closely resembling police uniform.

“Any item of clothing that has been manufactured to match these characteristics of police uniform is at risk of contravening legislation, namely Section 90 Police Act 1996.”

While it is illegal to impersonate a police officer in the UK and offenders can be jailed for up to six months, it appears no one is on the record as saying that these particular jackets are illegal and should not be worn.

Indeed, a quick Google search shows dozens of such items freely on sale at shops across the UK.

Our advice? Probably best to give them a miss and don’t take the risk-but always wear high-vis clothing if you are worried about not being seen.

State Police offer tips for safe bicycle riding

Monday is World Bicycle Day and the Michigan State Police are reminding bicyclists to take precautions when riding this Spring and Summer.

Cyclists face a higher risk of injury and death compared to occupants of motor vehicles and each year around 2,000 cyclists are injured or killed in automobile-related crashes in Michigan.

The most common cause of death in bicycle crashes is head injuries, so police recommend wearing properly fitted bike helmets for every ride, as they are the most effective way in preventing a head injury in a crash.

Visibility plays a major role in cyclist vulnerability to accidents during the evening hours due to decreasing light, so riders are encouraged to wear light-colored or reflective clothing with reflective tape and to have at least a front light and rear reflector on their bikes.

“Bicycling is a summertime tradition in Michigan, but when riding, bicyclists need to remember they are required to obey the same rules of the road as vehicle operators,” said Community Service Trooper Ashley Simpson. “Drivers of motor vehicles need to share the road with bicyclists – allow at least three feet clearance when passing a bicyclist on the road per Michigan law.”

A shortlist of safety precautions to consider when riding includes:

Wear a properly fitted bike helmet;

Always obey traffic signals and lights;

Always ride with traffic on the right side of the road;

Look both ways when crossing intersections and walk the bike across the street;

Watch for doors opening suddenly when riding along with parked cars;

When riding at night, wear light-colored or reflective clothing and use a light on the front and a reflector on the back of the bike.

Police also remind drivers to share the road with cyclists and to remember that Michigan law requires drivers to allow at least three feet of clearance when passing a cyclist on the road.

Pedestrian Safety: It’s Up to Us

We’ve all seen the headlines over the last few months. A student at Wooster High School killed in a hit and run incident while crossing the street. People getting mowed down in the crosswalk (both at night and during the day) in downtown Reno, just steps from City Hall. A cyclist walking his bike across the street on Lakeside Drive and getting hit and killed by a drunk driver in the middle of the day.

Pedestrian fatalities are nothing new for the Biggest Little City, but it does feel like it’s something that’s increasing, especially as our population continues to grow. We have more people out on the street walking, biking and driving than ever before.

When the Wooster incident happened, my heart sank as my sister-in-law, who is a teenager, goes to that school. My instinct was to do something and leap into action to guarantee hers and others’ safety. But, I soon realized that no matter how much I rallied my tribe or talked to city officials, it wasn’t enough. No amount of ads or PSAs are going to stop people from being careless.

These incidents aren’t something that is cut and dry in terms of who is at fault, or how to reduce them. I’ve had multiple conversations with friends online and in person. “Drivers should slow down, stop texting, and keep an eye out!” or “Pedestrians shouldn’t just step out into the street! Wear brighter clothing with reflective fabric! Don’t jaywalk!”

Both sides have merit, but at the end of the day, it is going to take ALL of us being more cautious and having care for one another to create change. We’re in this together after all, right?

There are a lot of basic things we all can do, no matter our role, to reduce these incidents.

Drivers:

Follow the speed limit, and if you’re in an area like a school zone or Midtown / Downtown you might want to go under the speed limit

Keep an eye out for people using crosswalks, and emerging from obstructed views. Even if someone is jaywalking, you have to stop.

Make sure you have your lights on at night, and that they work. Use your bright when driving in dark, unlit areas.

If someone is crossing in a crosswalk, don’t edge up to them to make a turn as they’re crossing. That’s aggressive. Wait for your turn.

If you do hit someone, have the decency to stop and call 911.

As my dad would say, “If you’re going to drive, don’t drink. If you’re going to drink, don’t drive.”

When encountering a cyclist, by law you have to give them 3 feet of space when going around them. If you don’t have the room to go around, wait until you do. Share the road.

Pedestrians:

Like they taught you in grade school, look both ways before crossing the street.

Use the crosswalk when possible. Losing your life isn’t worth jaywalking over.

Before you cross, make eye contact with drivers, and wave, to make sure they see you and stop before you step into the crosswalk.

If walking at night, wear reflective gear or carry a flashlight so drivers can see you.

When crossing the street, stay off your phone. You must remain alert.

Cyclists:

Observe basic traffic laws when riding.

Follow the flow of traffic, and don’t go in the opposite direction when riding on the street.

Make sure you’re wearing reflective clothing at night, and that you have safety lights on your bike.

I’m sure there are many more things we all can be doing, but these are the most straightforward ways for all parties involved to watch out for one another. While we live in a busy world, none of us are too busy to take safety seriously. It’s up to all of us to change things in our community.

Police Department gives tips to stay safe on Halloween

Our clocks will roll back an hour on Sunday, marking the end of daylight savings. But it’s not only a time to check your smoke alarms and fix the clock in your car. ODOT says it marks the deadliest time of the year for pedestrian crashes in the Buckeye state.

It says 34-percent of deadly pedestrian crashes happen in October, November, and December. “We see an increase, a large increase actually in pedestrian deaths due in part to the time change. It’s going to be getting dark earlier, people are walking home from work, kids walking home from school and it’s going to be a little darker when they do those things than when it is the rest of the year, “said Matt Bruning, Press Secretary for the Ohio Department of Transportation.

It recommends you take extra precautions this time of year to, “see and be seen.”

If you’re outside as it gets dark, wear reflective clothing with reflective tape, pay attention to crosswalks and signals, and walk against traffic- not with it.

For drivers, ODOT recommends you check your headlights, clean your windshields and slow down during times of poor weather, reduced visibility and in high-traffic areas like school zones.

It also recommends both drivers and pedestrians limit their distractions, like using a cell phone.

“When you look back to 2009, we’ve had more than 11-hundred pedestrians killed in the state of Ohio. About 70-percent of those pedestrian deaths happen at dawn, dusk or in the overnight hours when it’s darker outside,” said Bruning.

With the clocks changing in just days, we asked Central Ohioans how they’re preparing to stay safe on their commutes home from work.

“I will wear lighter clothes and make sure I have a flashlight on me at all times,” said Columbus resident, Georgette Haltom.

A message her friend, Kelly Matheny reiterated. “Wearing a coat that has reflective material.”

Gahanna resident Eric Hopkins says he’s not too worried about it being dark on his walk to the bus stop after work. “Just gotta be vigilant, obey the signals.”

So far this year, ODOT says at least 94 pedestrians and 23 bicyclists have been killed.

Time change influences uptick in pedestrian crashes