June 2020 - Reflective tape

The focus of the new vehicle control campaign until next Sunday

The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) starts this week by launching until next Sunday, January 26, a new surveillance campaign on the conditions of the vehicles that circulate on our roads, paying special attention to the proper maintenance and tuning of all the safety elements of the vehicle, such as tires, brakes, lights, signaling, windshields, ITV … The DGT advises drivers that “investing in vehicle maintenance is investing in safety”.

DGT campaign.

The DGT itself explains in its statement that “during this week, the agents of the Traffic Group of the Civil Guard and the rest of the local and autonomous policemen who join the campaign will pay special attention to the proper maintenance and tuning of all the vehicle’s safety elements: tires, brakes, lights, signaling, undamaged windshields…. To the vigilance carried out by the agents, the DGT will use the control and monitoring systems it has installed on the road (license plate readers) to check whether the vehicles that circulate go with the ITV in force. In case of detecting that a vehicle does not have it in force, the corresponding complaint will be made”.

With this new campaign to control vehicle conditions, the DGT acknowledges that it is “very concerned” about the age of the Spanish vehicle fleet, arguing that “the risk of dying or being seriously injured is multiplied by two when comparing accidents that have occurred with vehicles from 10 to 15 years old, about vehicles less than 5 years old”, hence I advise drivers that “the proper maintenance of all the vehicle’s safety elements becomes an essential activity to combat the accident rate. Investing in vehicle maintenance is investing in safety”.

Tires.- DGT: “More than a million vehicles drive with serious wheel defects”

At the wheel of this, the DGT stresses that “tires are the only and decisive contact with the road. They are responsible for ensuring adherence in pushing, braking, and lateral sliding. They also ensure that the direction of travel of the vehicle is as desired by the user and the cushioning of pavement imperfections. It is recommended that the depth of the grooves be at least 3 millimeters. The legal limit is 1.6 millimeters.”

The DGT warns that “approximately more than a million of the vehicles, 5%, circulate with serious defects in the wheels, mainly due to having a tread depth below the legal minimum of 1.6 mm; have uneven wear due to poor suspension or misalignment and ride with wrong pressure. “Also, vehicles related to more professional use, such as vans, have higher rates of tire defects.”

Likewise, the DGT advises that “it is also necessary to regularly check the pressure of the cold tire and the spare wheel, as well as check for possible air leaks through the valves. The cap of the same constitutes a sealing element, the reason why its use is essential”.

Lighting and signaling

The DGT also recalls in its statement that “the purpose of vehicle lights is not only to see but also to be seen, since each vehicle in circulation is, in practice, an obstacle to others, for what the delimitation of its presence is also significant.

For driving to be carried out safely, it is advisable to pay special attention to the use, maintenance and regulation of the headlights, so that, on the one hand, they have sufficient light and, on the other, they do not dazzle whoever is driving the same public roads.

There are some basic tips to keep in mind:

The lamps reduce their intensity with use, so they must be changed every 40,000 km. or 2 years.

The lamps must be changed two by two because their use is symmetrical in most cases.

It is necessary to always keep the optics clean: headlights and lights

The compulsory use of lighting is included in article 43 of the Traffic and Road Safety Law:

Vehicles that circulate between sunset and sunrise, or at any time of the day in tunnels, underpasses, and sections of track affected by the “tunnel” signal, must have the corresponding lighting on.

They must also have the lighting on for the rest of the day

a) The motorcycles that circulate in any way object to this law.

b) All vehicles circulating in a reversible lane or the opposite direction to that normally used on the road where it is located, either a lane that is exclusively reserved for it or exceptionally open in this direction.

It is also mandatory to use the lighting that is established by the regulation when there are meteorological or environmental conditions that significantly reduce visibility, such as in the case of fog, heavy rain, snowfall, clouds of smoke or dust, or any other similar circumstance.

Bicycles, also, will be equipped with reflective tapes that, duly homologated, are determined in the General Vehicle Regulations. When the use of lighting is compulsory, bicycle riders will also wear a reflective garment if they are traveling on the interurban highway.

DGT: other aspects to control

In addition to the lights and tires, the DGT also warns that during this campaign it will also be controlled:

The registration plate: The driver must verify that the vehicle’s registration plates do not present obstacles that prevent or hinder their reading and identification, are not damaged or tampered with. Carrying the registration illegible is a serious offense with a sanction of 200 euros and no deduction of points, but manipulating the license plate to fraudulently try to avoid the rule can lead to a fine of 6,000 euros and the loss of 6 points.

Windshield: The driver must verify that the windshield does not show any damage, since it is a fundamental part of the structural resistance of the vehicle, in the effectiveness of the airbag and in being the support for cameras and sensors for driving aid devices.

The documentation of the vehicle that must be carried compulsorily, in addition to the required driving license is:

Vehicle circulation permit containing its technical data and its owner’s details (or authorization from the Traffic Headquarters in his absence)

If you go on a motorcycle, it is mandatory that you wear a reflective vest

This Wednesday came into force the regulations of the municipality of San Miguel de Tucum án that requires motorcyclists to use this garment as a badge.

The measure created a stir among drivers and divided opinions on different paths.

“The regulatory use of vests is already a fact. Despite the criticism on the streets, drivers have already been seen using them since yesterday and it shows that people are interested in supporting the initiative,” commented the undersecretary of Transit and Transportation of the capital’s Municipality Enrique Romero.

Also, the official stressed again the intention to care for the lives of the driver and pedestrians above all else.

“We don’t put numbers on reflective vests or anything like that. What we seek is to improve road safety,” argued Romero. In this way, it differed from what is done in the province of Buenos Aires, where the motorcycle patent must appear on the vest by law.

In several businesses in the field, as it was found on Monday, the reflective vests had been sold out, and merchants were analyzing the possibility of ordering, also, garments such as jumpsuits and jackets with reflective strips.

Parallel to this debut, today at 8:00 p.m. several groups of Tucumán motorcyclists will carry out a new mobilization in Plaza Independencia in opposition to the use of vests.

“As a biker, I am also concerned about safety due to the number of motorcycles that change lanes, come against me, and do not wear a helmet or a patent. We are also affected by accidents, but to combat them what we need are more controls”, stated Andrea Maidan, member of the motorcycle group”Unión Rutera MG”.

The use of the vest

The garment will be regulatory for drivers and their respective companions. In the future, the use of the vest will also be borne by the cadets and the dealers. As an additional measure, the latter will have to add reflective stripes on the boxes of their motorcycles. Over time, Romero will expand the mandatory nature of the reflective vest to the employees of the gomerías.

In addition to the vest, the use of the shoulder straps is also valid (a kind of light girdle that intersects the back and comes in orange or yellow). Another option is to resort to various clothing models made with high-visibility materials, such as jumpsuits and jackets that already come with built-in reflective stripes. Similarly, we can buy the light strips separately and sew them, on our own, to the clothing in question.

The Right Vest

The colors allowed in municipal regulations are pure yellow, and yellow, orange-yellow, and green. The important thing is that the vests contain more than one reflective band (at least five centimeters thick) and that the fabric is sensitive to light. Regarding measurements, these garments should be 60 centimeters long and 35 centimeters wide, with a reflectivity of 330 lux candles per square meter.

The acquisition of clothing

The vests and shoulder bags are sold in automotive businesses, such as distributors and motorcycle parts stores. Another option is to visit a local specialized in work clothes and construction. Also, there is a street sale of reflective vests (not that of shoulder bags), and, in online commerce pages such as “Mercado Libre” and “OLX”, both garments can be obtained in different fabric and size thicknesses (up to XXL).

The municipal resolution that establishes the mandatory use of reflective vests (or shoulder straps) for those who drive motorcycles, will be carried out in stages and gradually. Starting today, with its implementation on the streets, it will proceed to a test phase where the main objective is to inform drivers about the measure, make a call to attention to offenders and allow motorcyclists to purchase the vests.

Regardless of the town or municipality of residence of the motorcyclist, the use of the reflective vest or shoulder strap is mandatory for drivers and companions who enter the capital of Tucumán.

The sanctions

For now, roadblocks will only focus on driver awareness and prevention. Only in a second stage of the regulations will the fines be determined and the amount of the penalties will be set. The Undersecretariat of Traffic and Transport clarified that the hijacking of the motorcycles is not foreseen and that the inspections will be comprehensive, checking the use of helmet and lights besides.

Tips: what clothes to wear to run in the rain

A cloudy sky, a couple of drops, an intermittent drizzle, and even a little more too. Some look at the sky and find they’re a perfect excuse not to go training or avoid any competition: the rain. The truth is that, except for those circumstances in which integrity is put at risk, a little water does not rust anyone.

And many times, rainy weather can be an ally, always taking the necessary precautions to avoid problems. It is also true that not even running on a rainy day is heroic and not going out is cowardly, sometimes it is better to keep yourself. But when there are many days without activity due to the water, it is advisable to take precautions and leave excuses aside.

Some advice:

Raining does not mean wearing more clothes: on the contrary, adding more coats will imply more weight on the body once it gets wet. Use the usual amount.

Garments should be technical, it is ideal to avoid cotton or materials that accumulate liquid. Some sneakers have the same purpose, with materials that do not absorb and keep the foot dry.

A repellent jacket would be ideal. When buying one, you must observe how much water it repels: there are some uses for a drizzle and others that are useful for a storm. A windbreaker jacket is not necessarily water repellent.

Wearing the hood can be useful, but be careful because in general, it removes vision from the sides (important if you run on the street).

Rainy days are generally less bright, so it is important to wear reflective clothing with reflective fabric and bright colors so that everyone can see you.

You should also choose shoes with a good grip. On the street, some slippers slip. And for running on land, without a good mud-prepared sole, you can end up in a fall.

To avoid water on the face, the best is a visor or cap. Lenses prevent the eye from coming into contact with water, but they splash and remove vision.

Wet clothes and body rub are not good alidades. That is why technical clothing is important. Be careful with blisters and chafing. Petroleum jelly is a good friend.

Be careful with electronic equipment because in many cases water can ruin them. If you use a cell phone holder, you can cover the phone with plastic wrap to prevent it from getting wet.

The use of music for running should also be taken into account since with rain the risks increase and it is better to be vigilant.

Don’t trust puddles: being covered by water you can’t see how deep a well can be and when stepping on it can cause falls or twists. Always try to step on insurance.

If it is cold and you have a place to leave a change of clothes, keep it in mind: bring something to change as soon as the activity is finished will prevent you from getting cold.

Don’t forget about hydration. Just because your body is wet doesn’t mean you shouldn’t drink water or isotonic drink.

For racing, many use lightweight pilots or large bags with holes for arms and head. In this case, it must be borne in mind that it does not have a ventilation system, so it can generate a lot of perspiration, which will still moisten the clothes.

In the case of hail, storm, or thunderstorm, it is better to think about postponing or postponing the departure. The same in the case of high wind.

Tips for driving in fog: correct use of lighting and a lot of patience

There is nothing worse than going down the road and finding yourself a dense fog bank. It is normal to suffer nerves since visibility drops to extreme limits and the chances of having an accident increase. It is best not to lose your cool and remember some key points for driving in these weather conditions.

The first thing is to make g ood use of the fog lights, both the rear and the front. In a quick summary, it should be remembered that fog lights do not serve to improve your visibility, if not so that other vehicles are easier to see, although the front ones can help you see something better.

Depending on the country where the car is rented, the permits needed may vary.

According to article 106 of the regulations, the use of front fog lamps will be mandatory with dust and smoke in the environment, with fog and snow, and only in heavy rain. The rear ones will be obligatory as long as these previous assumptions can be qualified as “intense”.

If you do not use these lights correctly, you can dazzle and make uncomfortable the rest of the drivers who are on the road and cause an accident. Plus, they can fine you, so watch out when you plug them in.

Other useful tips

It is best not to lose patience, slow down, and increase the safety distance. Also, avoid overtaking if you are driving on the motorway or highway and always stay in the right lane. Follow the road lines to continue the layout of the road and do not imitate the movements of the car that precedes you, since if you get confused or make a mistake you could have an accident.

Almost 7% of accidents occur in foggy situations.

Fog lights: when should I turn them on?

On the other hand, and regarding the use of lights, avoid connecting long ones. Fog usually reflects light and this will dazzle you and will not increase your visibility. It is more recommended to drive with a low beam or low beam. Also, be sure to keep all the windows clean and if they get foggy you can direct the ventilation towards them or open the windows a little. Connects the wipers intermittently to eliminate moisture that can accumulate.

Finally, if you see that the conditions to continue your journey are very dangerous, park the car as close as possible to the shoulder and connect the emergency lights (if you cannot stop in a more protected place). Always get out of the car wearing reflective clothing with reflective fabric and never turn off your emergency lights.

4 steps that will help you know if you run safely

With the change of season that robs us of sunlight, the season of running starts when the streetlights have already been lit. Although training at night can be relaxing, it also requires a little more caution, not only in wearing reflective clothing with reflective tape to be more visible but also in avoiding being attacked by sexual assailants, as was the case with the athlete Julia Takacs last August.

So much so that in Spain a platform has been created that helps to put in contact girls who have in common their hobby of running, but do not want to do it alone. It is known as Synchronized and there are already more than 11,000 registered in this running club. Also, they usually make massive gatherings where thousands of girls from all over the country congregate to run together.

But if it is the case that you cannot do it accompanied, the runner and self-defense instructor Julie Barron Morrill has given us four guidelines so as not to become potential victims of an attack while we run and successfully exit the situation.

Think of a plan for an awkward situation or attack. “Try to anticipate how you would respond to an assault before it occurs.” Morrill advises going head high and shoulders back: “An attacker will not choose someone self-assured and alert.”

If something happens, the first thing to do is run away, Morrill says. “We are out running, so run.” Running away from an awkward situation may seem rude, but Morrill advises leaving manners aside if the situation requires it.

If you’ve been cornered and you can’t run away, yell with all your might. Morrill recommends using clear phrases like: “Take off!”. Another option is to say something that doesn’t make sense: your attacker will be puzzled and you’ll save time. Have a phrase ready before you leave.

Attacking is the last option, Morrill says. First, avoid being knocked out: bend your knees, put your torso forward, tuck your chin, and protect your face with your arms. If he catches you from behind, hit his face with his elbow. And if you’re in front, a kick to the crotch can be very effective.

Six tips for cycling to work

The most important thing is SAFETY: make yourself visible and always equip yourself with front and rear daytime running lights, a helmet, and fluoride clothing. Ideally, wear a reflective vestand light clothing. It is also important that you check your bike before leaving, do not forget that it is a vehicle that must take you safely to your destination in open traffic. Check the pressure of the wheels, the lights, and make sure that the brakes and gears are well adjusted. If there is a bike path, use it. Signpost your movements; turn left, right, and brake, in advance, use the bell and do not listen to music.

EQUIP YOUR BIKE: Depending on what you need to take with you, think about putting on racks to free your back from the extra weight and heat that backpacks entail. In it, you can place one or two saddlebags to carry your clothes, laptop, towel, shoes. If you have little with you, try a basket on the handlebar. There are also other cool accessories like rearview mirrors that let you keep an eye on the traffic behind you without having to turn your neck or lose focus on what’s going on ahead. Finally, equip your bike with a basic tool kit (camera, puncture kit, multi-tool, etc.)

The study which is the BEST JOURNEY: try to take safe alternatives such as bike lanes or areas with less traffic. Remember that there are times when the shortest route is not the most recommended. As a general rule, the streets parallel to the main traffic routes offer you the safest way to reach your destination.

Take the trip with PEACE OF MIND: if you don’t have showers in your company, the best way to do it is calm, without rushing and without pedaling. You also have the option of getting an electric bicycle that will help you get less fatigued and in less time. You go to work, not a career. Get out early enough and pedal smoothly, don’t overstrain that will make you sweat more than you should. Leave extra clothes, toiletries, a towel, etc. in the office. This way you will have to carry less weight on the bike every day, which will ensure that you are lighter and more stable when riding. You can choose to keep in your office a toilet kit in which you carry: a change of clothes, deodorant, perfume, and any other product.

How to PROTECT YOUR BIKE from the friends of others: The ideal situation would be for you to get your company to enable a locked room so that you and your colleagues could leave your bikes. If this is not possible, there are three things you can do to avoid thieves. Park your bike in a place that is visible to you and well lit. Use at least one, and preferably two, padlocks. Although the best ones are not especially cheap, they will better protect your precious bike. Remove vulnerable items from your bike like lights, accessory bags, bell.

Finally, what is the BEST CLOTHING to make the commute to work by bike: While cycling clothes are usually very close to the body to prevent the wind from slowing down our progress, in this case, it is the opposite. Both the upright posture and looser clothes play in our favor. You can wear a breathable shirt that fits the body and prevents sweat from entering your clean clothes. It is also recommended to wear reflective elements or fluorine colors.

Tips for running in the dark of night

After the summer, the hours of daylight get shorter and shorter, it disappears in the middle of the afternoon and it gets dark very early, but most of us have no choice but to go out to train at those hours, whether, for work, studies or simply because we want more than getting up early, and what we find are dark streets. So in this post we are going to see a few tips to run at night and be safer in the dark.

It has a light. This is essential if what we want is to illuminate the streets where we run. A frontal would be the most appropriate if we are going to run through areas with no light and highly recommended if it is in the mountains (the Run Light is perfect). But we must not forget that lighting is not only for us to see, but also for other vehicles to see us, so it is highly recommended to carry some safety light, both in front and behind. Currently they sell many devices of this type, even in the form of an armband or anklets with LED lights that do not disturb anything on the go.

Reflective clothing. Another tip for night running is to make sure you wear clothes that have reflective fabric, it is not a matter of going out to run at 10 at night in mourning. Most sports clothing, sneakers, and running accessories have a reflective strip, but if you think that it is not enough you can choose to buy some attractive armband or even adapt pieces of, for example, a typical reflective car vest, to your equipment.

Always run facing traffic. This is very important and should not be forgotten. If we run through areas without sidewalks and with traffic, we must always go along the shoulder where we see the vehicles coming from the front, so we can have a minimum reaction margin if we see that something can happen and we will not be startled if large motorcycles or vehicles pass.

Bring a phone. No one knows the unforeseen things you can have in the middle of the night, so carrying a phone can get us out of an emergency. Luckily, thanks to the rise of sports applications for smartphones, many people wear the phone with bracelets and could use it if they needed to.

Tips for night running, safety first

Bring identification. Nobody thinks of having an accident while running, but better be prepared, so it costs nothing to carry identification with our data or even buy us a bracelet like the ones from Safesport ID, which can be personalized with contact phones, illnesses, allergies, etc. You can find them on their website from € 16.95. In our case, we have analyzed in depth the Codylife Sport, very to take into account.

He wears a cap. Although it may seem silly, if you are used to training in areas where there is traffic, you may want to try wearing a cap for those moments when the lights of the cars coming from the front blind us and it would only be enough to lower the visor to avoid it.

Leave the music at home. Carrying music helps us distract ourselves during training, motivates us, and gives us the feeling that time passes faster. This is great, but at night we need to be more attentive to everything that happens around us and since our eyesight is impaired by the lack of light, it is advisable to at least have a good ear and leave our brand new headphones to run at home.

As you can see, they are simple tips, many of common sense, but they can make our night outings more comfortable and, above all, safer. What are your tricks when you go out without the Sun to burn shoes?