stellaqi, Author at Reflective tape

Can you drive in the dark? Test yourself. 10 questions and answers

Night driving is forgotten by Czech driving schools. The new textbook, which highlights important rules, has a change. Do you control them?

A quarter of traffic accidents happen in the dark, often with more fatal consequences than daytime accidents. Night accidents require about a third of the total number of victims each year.

Driving in the dark has its specifics, but instructors in driving schools have not paid much attention to them yet. Now Czech driving schools were the first in the world to get a new textbook, which is focused on driving in the dark. “It is based on years of experience of authors who are experts in the field of traffic accident analysis and their practice have met with the explanation of the causes of many accidents, many of which happened at night,” describes Robert Kledus from the Institute of Forensic Engineering, Brno University of Technology. has contributed significantly to the development of the new methodology.

The textbook is intended to prepare mainly beginners but reminds the rules of experienced drivers during training. “They will allow them to compare their practical experience with night driving principles,” adds Kledus.

Futility? See if you follow the rules for driving in the dark and make the right decisions at the wheel.

What speed do you drive in the dark?

Theoretically, this is simple: the speed of the vehicle can only be so high that the distance needed to stop is always less than or equal to the distance that the driver can see. The driver should have a clear idea of how far a pedestrian by the road can be seen.

But that’s the theory. In real operation, the worst variant is to be expected. Add to this the road condition, the load on the car and the condition of the brakes. Also, a pedestrian may suddenly appear on the road, especially if it is needed during the night under the influence.

Also important is a sufficient distance from the car in front of you. At least according to the “twenty-one, twenty-two” rule, ie count down at least two seconds. However, at least another second should be added at night.

Do you slow down enough after switching from high beams?

The recommendation is: If the driver is not sufficiently informed about the situation in front of the vehicle when switching from high beam to low beam, he must reduce the speed to at least 50 km / h even outside the village (not talking about highways). And this also applies only to good conditions, under worsened should go even slower.

Maybe it will surprise someone. But experts point to a slower eye reaction after switching to a low beam. Pedestrians in multicolored clothing respond to distances in the range of 50 to 70 m. The speed limit outside the village is 90 km / h, 25 m / s. If the car is traveling at this speed, the distance of 50 to 70 m will travel in 2 to 2.8 seconds. This is not enough to recognize a pedestrian, the driver’s decision on how to react and to adapt the ride, let alone stop.

Are you using the high beam correctly?

Wherever the rules and conditions allow, the driver should use the main beam in the dark. He should only switch them when he is dazzled by a car in front of him, an oncoming car or another traffic participant. As soon as the situation allows, you need to switch back to the high beam.

As a matter of principle, they often compromise on driving by long-distance drivers so that they do not have to switch the lights frequently, but they endanger themselves and others.

An exception maybe when the car is illuminated sufficiently by the car in front, without unduly obstructing the driver’s view. This is true, for example, when driving behind another vehicle that uses high beams, and it is also possible to increase speed.

Even on expressways, high beams should be used whenever rules and circumstances allow. The problem arises at high traffic, allowing only low beam driving. Then, however, the maximum permitted speed of 130 km / h does not correspond to a sufficient view of unlit obstacles (see point 1).

By reducing the speed to 50 km / h, the driver would of course immediately impede the flow of traffic. Therefore, on highways, the use of dipped beams makes it possible to drive at normal operating speed, but all the more carefully to perceive how other vehicles illuminate the road and, of course, maintain sufficient distance.

What lights do you illuminate in a lit village?

The driver must not use the main beam if the road is sufficiently and continuously illuminated. So, once the streetlamp lamps illuminate the road enough, you need to switch to the low beam.

But not everywhere, public lighting is a sufficient source. Lamps placed in the middle of the lanes often do not illuminate either side of the road. Lamps placed only on one side of the road rarely reach the far side.

At that moment, it is advisable to use the high beam, even in the village. On poorly artificially illuminated roads, you can easily overlook weak light sources such as bicycle lamps.

Do you lower the lights according to the load?

Cars with manual headlight adjustment should always be set according to the current load. The basic position of the control (position 0) corresponds to the load of the driver, maximum driver, and passenger. Every additional cargo or crew member lifts the front of the car. The driver should react and lower the lights, especially to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. And of course, put them back in the correct position as soon as they get rid of the load, otherwise, they shine lower and limit their view.

The advantage is, of course, the automatic headlamp leveling according to load, which some modern cars can do. And it can handle the size of the illuminated area according to speed, steering wheel or turn indicators.

Do you clean the lights?

The driver must keep the vehicle’s headlamps, lamps and other vehicle elements in a clean and impeccable state that improve the visibility of the vehicle, especially when the lights are switched off. This may sound like a banality, few people clean the lights before every ride.

But it is not so irrelevant. It is mainly the principle of “seeing and being seen”. There is a big difference, as can be seen, a clean car and dirty. Maybe when he has to stop at the shoulder. You will realize this when you commute a grim slow-moving car in front of you in the dark.

Is the crew on their mobile?

Error. There should be no significant light source in the car in the dark. Not even a lit mobile phone with navigation or tablet on which your child is watching a movie. All sources interfere with the adaptation of the driver’s eyesight to the dark. Also, illuminated displays can create reflections on the car’s windows. Eyes are less likely to recognize the low contrast obstacles on the road.

Also, if the driver starts driving immediately after leaving well-lit areas, he must take into account the time his vision will need to adapt perfectly.

Can you cope with glare?

When passing oncoming vehicles, the driver should look toward the right edge of the road, the area with the greatest potential danger. Adjust the interior rear-view mirror settings when dazzling a vehicle in the rear. And when driving behind another vehicle is not good to directly watch its rear lamps.

Weak glare is not dangerous because the human eye can adapt to the darkness due to the rapid pupil reaction. However, severe glare can also cause temporary blindness, and the time required for back adaptation is very long.

Are you lit properly in an emergency stop?

The ‘be seen’ principle also applies to emergency parking. The picture shows an example of an unmarked vehicle that has remained standing in the middle of the lanes after a previous car accident.

As the recent mass accident on the D1 has shown, the emergency crew should leave the car and wait for help off the road. At that moment, enough reflective vests are also needed. Impacts on an unlit vehicle and collisions with the crew when leaving the vehicle often have fatal consequences. And it is often enough that a driver left a poorly lit car on the verge for a few minutes when he wanted to go to the bathroom or the child was ill.

An emergency stop car must have the turn signals (and clean) turned on, but another independent light source is also good, of course, there should be a warning triangle.

Do you rely on ABS?

Another error. Some drivers think ABS, ESP systems can shorten the stopping distance. This is only half the truth. These systems help stabilize the vehicle during extreme maneuvers. ABS allows direct braking with maximum braking performance without loss of stability. ESP stabilizes the vehicle when cornering and, together with ABS, when cornering.

Without these systems, we would not be able to brake with full braking so that the vehicle does not lose stability and the stopping distance is longer than calculated. But no system can overcome the laws of physics, and under normal conditions, it cannot shorten the stopping distance.

Does not use reflex

Snowy winter makes the darkness even darker. At two of the secondary schools in our local area, reflex use is frighteningly bad. “Attitudes need to change,” says Trygg Trafikk.

Last Friday morning, Oppegård Avis launched a survey of two of the secondary schools in our area. The result is a little scientific but still sensational. From 0745 and about half an hour we observed the students who went to the secondary schools at Fløysbonn and Ingieråsen.

On the way to Fløysbonn, 49 students passed our car. Seven of them used reflexes. At the same time, another of us parked in Edvard Grieg’s road and observed 110 pupils coming to Ingieråsen school. Of these passers-by, we noted 83 persons without reflex. Of the 27 students with reflexes, one of them wore reflective vests. Some used reflexes around the arm, while others had it attached to the bag.

FIND FORWARD: Hans Martin Sørensen in Trygg Trafikk Viken says youth and adults are significantly worse at reflex use than children.

“This was a low number who used reflective material, but we know from our studies that the numbers of youth and adults who use reflex are generally low throughout the country,” says Sørensen.

He points out that it is extra important to use reflex now when the snow is not and it gets extra dark in the morning and evening.

The more reflex you use, the easier you are seen. If you use reflex, the motorist has more time to react than if you go without.

Conscious parents

Principal Erling Berrum at Ingieråsen School says that they have regular urges to use reflex.

“There is guaranteed room for improvement. All students should reflex when it is as dark as these days. It is important to change the attitude of the youth to reflex, and then it is important that the parents also get involved,” says Berrum.

On Tuesday this week, Trygg Trafikk presented a new survey showing a decline in reflex use among the Norwegian population. The reflections for 2019 show that the proportion of Norwegians using reflexes fell to 41 percent from 44 percent in 2018.

lifeguard

Hans Martin Sørensen in Trygg Trafikk has clear answers on how attitudes can be changed:

“A small reflex can be a lifesaver now as it is dark both in the morning and in the evening. Much of the job is probably about “bothering” to put the reflex on because we know that many have plenty of reflexes lying in both drawers and cabinets. Finding the reflexes and putting them on is the best tip,” says Hans Martin Sørensen.

Sten Tore Svennes, municipal director of upbringing in Nordre Follo, encourages both young people and adults to use reflective tape.

“This is an important topic that can often be addressed in the youth’s bodies such as class councils, student councils and youth councils and by the parents of the FAU. I would also encourage parents and others who meet the youth through sports associations, culture, and other leisure areas to help focus on reflex use and to use reflex themselves.”

How to choose the right school backpack and not harm the child

Children’s orthopedic surgeon told what to look for when choosing a bag.

There are only a few days left before the start of the school year, which means that if you have not yet collected your child for school, then you need to hurry. Pens, pencils, pencil cases, and notebooks – this is important, but you can hardly make a mistake with their choice. One of the most important attributes of any student (especially in the elementary grades) is a backpack. We talked with a pediatric orthopedist Olga Khamidulina, and she talked about what you need to pay attention to when choosing a portfolio and what errors can lead to.

If the child is a first-grader, he does not need to choose a very large backpack. Dimensions are one of the most important details. The second important rule is the weight. A full backpack should be 10-12% of the weight of the child. If the child weighs 30 kilograms, the backpack should be no more than three and a half kilograms, otherwise, it will already outweigh, you will have to constantly correct it, it will be inconvenient and harmful.

An equally important detail is the back. The backpack should be framed to keep fit and not outweigh. Accordingly, the back should be stiff. If it is not framed, it will be uncomfortable for the child, cause discomfort, things can dig into the body. Very important: backpacks must have a reflective material element – especially in the elementary grades. This is a traffic police requirement for all schools.

“Many parents believe that they have chosen some kind of magic backpack and it will save the child’s posture – this is not so. If you have health problems, first of all, you need to go to the gym, and not look for backpacks. Although, of course, an improperly selected portfolio can exacerbate posture problems. But if a child is not accustomed to keeping his back straight, if he does not pay attention to it, and his parents do not pull him, then no backpack will help,” says Olga.

To prevent the straps from rubbing, the backpack must be properly assembled: all heavy things fold down and closer to the back so as not to outweigh the center of gravity.

But the most important thing for parents is to understand that backpacks are an individual thing, they must be picked up together with the child himself. Even the right portfolio may not suit him by height, weight, back. So to come to the store and buy it without the presence of a child, in the hope that he is “right”, is a mistake. The child should put on a backpack, walk with him at least a little and say whether it is convenient for him, whether the straps are rubbed, whether he is too heavy.

We also asked the opinion of Oksana Musatova, a mother of two children. She shared her thoughts on what prices might be acceptable for baby bags:

What you should pay attention to the backpack should have a blown orthopedic back, reflective strips – in winter it is especially important, it gets dark early, the child may not be noticed on the street. Lightning should work well, they quickly fail. A first-grader backpack doesn’t have to be expensive, as young children still do not know how to keep track of portfolios, most often they drop them anywhere. This year we bought a younger one for 1200 rubles. But when the child becomes older, class in the third, you can already buy a good backpack. The eldest son goes to the sixth grade, he bought a backpack for 5000 rubles, the quality is excellent, backpacks are worth the price, but you don’t need to choose such a first-grader.

Handed out free lights and reflexes

Mehari Negash already had a light on the bike and got his thumbs up in the Visible Cyclist campaign on Tuesday morning. Those who rode without were given free lanterns and reflective tapes.

It is early Tuesday morning at Høvik school. Reflective clothing from FAU, the municipality and the newly formed local team for the Cyclists’ National Association are ready, equipped with boxes of lanterns and reflectors to get new owners.

“We want as many children as possible to go and ride to school. Throughout the fall when it gets darker, it is very important to be seen well in the dark. Therefore, we would like to help more people are equipped with reflex and light,” says Ingebjørg Tofte, adviser for environment and society in Lier municipality.

However, one of the first to come cycling is a little past school age. Mehari Negash is on his way to work at the Plantation, and Ingebjørg Tofte only has to give him praise for both wearing a reflective vest and having a light on the bike.

“Yes, of course, I have,” says Negash, who rides every single day. This year, he is also considering putting on deck tires and cycling through the winter.

Many of the schoolchildren who come walking are already well visible with luminescent backpacks, reflective vests, and reflectors. Some cyclists wear reflective vests and many have reflections on the bike, but not many have light.

-Light on the bike is an easy way to become visible, smart to use on all bike rides and – not least – mandated in the dark and at dusk. We hope that more people take the opportunity and cycle all autumn and winter, with lights from the Buskerudbyen. If you did not get light today, the bike shops locally have a good selection, says Trond Solem, project manager for bicycles in Buskerudbyen.

If you are stopped by the police without a light on the bicycle at dusk or darkness, you can get a simplified charge of NOK 1200.

The visible cyclist is the Cyclists’ annual national autumn campaign, where the importance of light and reflex on the bike is central. Locally it is implemented in collaboration with the municipalities of Buskerudbyen. In total, nearly 500 bicycle lights were distributed in Drammen, Lier and Kongsberg in the morning hours on Tuesday.

In which cases the driver can avoid the penalty for stopping in a prohibited place

For violation of the stopping and parking rules, the Administrative Code provides for various fines ranging from 500 to 5,000 rubles. However, in exceptional cases, traffic rules allow the possibility of parking cars in places where this is prohibited. The AutoVzglyad portal has figured out when a driver can do this with impunity.

The general provisions of the SDA (paragraph 1.2) contain the term “forced stop” when the vehicle stops moving in the following cases: a) a technical malfunction, b) the danger created by the cargo being transported, c) the danger in connection with the state of the driver or passenger, d ) the appearance of an obstacle on the way.

For example, if a wheel struck a car, you or a passenger felt unwell, or a pole fell on your way, then stopping the car in a prohibited place, according to the law, will be forced and you will not have any right to impose any sanctions.

In this case, the main thing is not to forget to perform the actions stipulated by the SDA: turn on the alarm and set the emergency stop sign. Recall that within the boundaries of the settlement, the “triangle” is installed at a distance of fifteen meters from the car, and outside the city – at least thirty meters from the car.

There is a third mandatory point – the driver must use all possible measures to remove the car from the forbidden zone: if there are forces, you have to push, there are no forces, you need to urgently call a tow truck. After all, we are talking about a forced stop, not a parking lot.

If the matter happened at the railway crossing, which is why no one is insured, you should immediately and immediately drop off all passengers so that they retire to a safe distance from the place of a possible accident. Then it is necessary to take measures to free the railway crossing from transport. While the train is far away, it is best to immediately send two people on both sides of the train to meet the trains, so that they signal the drivers about the obstacle in their way on time. In extreme cases, this should be done by the driver. To be noticed, you can swing the motley cloth to the sides or give light signals by a lantern. In all these cases, the car owner must use a reflective vest.

As practice shows, if a CCTV camera detects a car parked in a prohibited place, the car owner will, in any case, receive a “letter of happiness” – even if it is shot, how a person changes the wheel. In such cases, drivers have to appeal the protocols and prove in court that the stop was forced.

How to protect a pedestrian on the road in the dark

Klops publishes instructions for Kaliningraders on actions in extreme and everyday situations that require attention. Experts explain where to turn and how to act.

White or yellow clothes will make the pedestrian more noticeable for drivers, and the use of reflective material elements will significantly reduce the risk of getting under the car in the dark. Klops, with the help of the propaganda group of the regional traffic police, prepared recommendations for its readers on how to protect a pedestrian on the road.

Out of town – with reflectors

According to the rules of the road, in the dark, a pedestrian must use reflective fabric elements on clothing. In the city, this is just a recommendation, and outside the settlement, the requirement becomes mandatory. For violation, a fine of 500 rubles is imposed.

How to choose a light element

You can purchase a keychain with a reflective element and hang it on a bracelet. There are also badges and reflective stickers that can be attached to clothes, a backpack or a bag. Such trifles can be bought for 60 rubles at Russian Post offices, supermarkets, bookstores, and children’s stores, as well as at gas stations.

To choose a high-quality product, the traffic police advised us to photograph it with a flash.

“If the image is ‘illuminated’, then the material is of high quality,” the department explained, adding that the area of the retro-reflector should be at least 25 square centimeters.

The greatest safety at dusk and night for pedestrians will provide a special reflective vest. The larger the retro-reflector, the more likely it is that the driver will notice it.

Follow the rules of the road

On the edge of the roadway, pedestrians are required to move towards transport, the traffic police recalled. It’s easier to control everything that happens on the road. When approaching the car, it is recommended to slightly step aside, especially at this moment two cars are moving apart.

You can only walk along the sidelines of country roads. Walking on motorways is prohibited by law.

Invisible Pedestrian

A man in black clothes is invisible in the dark, while yellow and white clothes are visible even at night at a distance of 24-37 meters. The presence of a retro-reflective element will make the pedestrian visible to the driver for 200 meters, and in the high beam headlights – for 350 meters.

The traffic police reminded that in a critical situation, the car will not stop instantly. The braking distance on a dry road is 20 meters, on wet asphalt – 35, on packed snow – 70 meters.

In May, in the Ozyorsk district, a 15-year-old teenager was hit by a car to death. A schoolboy was walking along the side of the road towards Mayakovskoye village.

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.