Category: reflective tape

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.

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.

 

Over 20,000 bicyclists died in road crashes; one tiny fix could have saved them

If Faridabad-based PP Singh has his way, bicycles wouldn’t be out on roads without retro-reflective tape affixed on them. Singh sees it as an effective tool on bicycles that can help motorists identify them and prevent a crash from taking place.

 

It all started when he had a narrow escape with an accident on a foggy winter night six years ago. “It was coming back from work. The bicycle in front of me not only lacked illumination but was also black, making it completely impossible for me to spot it, “says Singh, an IT manager and founder of the NGO.

 

The incident shook Singh. The following day, he started counting the bicycles with reflectors on his way to work and back. He continued the exercise for a month and was shocked to find that a whopping 80 percent cycles on roads did not have reflectors. Since then, he and his NGO team have fixed reflective tapes on more than 1 lakh bicycles in and around Faridabad.

 

Bicyclists are one of the most vulnerable road users in the country. According to data by the ministry of road transport and highways, bicyclists ’fatalities surged by a whopping 37.7 percent in 2017. In fact, in the six years between 2012 and 2017, as many as 24,755 bicyclists lost their lives in road crashes.

 

Passionate about his cause, Singh followed it up with a letter to the WHO suggesting reflective tapes as a long-lasting solution for the safety of bicycles. The effectiveness of retro-reflective tapes was also recognized by Union minister for transport and highways, Nitin Gadkari who wrote a letter regarding the same to the minister for consumer affairs, food, and public distribution, Ram Vilas Paswan in 2014. Sadly, the idea has ‘ t yet picked up.

 

POOR VISIBILITY, THE KEY REASON BEHIND CRASHES

One of the major reasons for crashes involving cyclists is poor visibility. To ensure bicycles remain conspicuous to other road users, especially in the dark, many cycles have a reflector on the rear mudguard. Sadly, the safety tool on the bicycle has never been taken by the riders. “A damaged reflector doesn’t hamper the movement of a cycle, so it not replaced by most cyclists. Even an educated bicyclist doesn’t appreciate its utility and bother replacing it, “adds Singh.

 

In 2015, the Supreme Court committee on road safety mandated a set of 10 reflectors conforming to ISO 6742-2 standards on different spots on bicycles. The good news is that cycle manufacturers have begun complying with it. Says Abhishek Munjal, director, Hero Cycles, “A set of 10 reflectors are installed across all ranges since 2016 as cyclist safety is of paramount importance for us.”

However, road safety experts aren’t happy. “Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) recommends equipping bicycles with retro-reflective tapes too. This is very much-needed as reflectors aren’t that effective, “says KK Kapila, chairman, International Road Federation.

 

In India, bicycles are the most popular transport for commuting to work. A whopping 13 percent or 2.62 crore Indians cycle to work, according to Census 2011.

 

The retro-reflective tape is a simple and effective solution for a vast chunk of population riding old bicycles. It comes with many benefits:

One, unlike reflectors, the retro-reflective tape is not susceptible to breaking and therefore does not need replacement.

 

Two, it offers good visibility. A bicycle with a retro-reflective tape is easily visible from 100-200 meters, a good enough distance to be spotted by a motorist. However, for increasing the conspicuity of a bicycle, BIS recommends tapes at specific locations on bicycles. “The tape should conform to BIS specifications. The one that I experimented with, on a patch of road, washed away with just one rain but another one survived extreme weather conditions, has a good hold and even after six years is intact on all bicycles, “says Singh.

 

Three, it is cost-effective. A high-intensity reflective sticker of size measuring 2”x 2 “costs anywhere around Rs 12-15 against Rs 25-30 for a reflector. Also, reflective tapes are now available in smaller sizes, taking away the pain of buying a complete roll of tape and cutting it proportionately.

 

With India just two years away from meeting its target of reducing road crashes and fatalities by 50 percent, solutions like retro-reflective tapes can go a long way in making roads safer. What it needs is a concerted last mile effort that will make reflective tape easily accessible to cyclists.

 

10 Tips to Keep Your Employees Safe from Accidental Falls

5,580 people in England and Wales had accidental falls mentioned as an underlying cause of death on their death certificate in 2017, according to new research by Safety Services Direct.

 

The study analyzed recent ONS data on mortality from accidental falls and found 15 people on average died each day in England and Wales because of these mishaps, with many instances occurring in the workplace.

 

Considering these findings, Nisha Lawrence, Operations Director at Safety Services Direct, gives 10 actionable tips to help keep your employees safe against accidental falls:

 

“Our research shows that all ages can be affected by accidental falls, so putting necessary health and safety practices in place in the workplace to avoid injuries and potential fatalities are vital. The irony is that fall injury are some of the easiest to prevent in the workplace”.

 

There are simple measures that can be put into place to significantly reduce these risks, such as:

 

  1. Keep walking surfaces clean and avoid cluttering

When walkways are clear, the risk of injury greatly reduces. With an unobstructed path, the chance of a person falling over an object reduces, as does the potential of a spill that could create a dangerous slipping hazard.

 

  1. Lighting

A workplace with effective lighting inside and outside of the building helps reduce the chances of an accident.

 

By illuminating areas that are commonplace for trips and falls to happen, you can shine a light on hidden dangers. This will reduce any chance of an accident.

 

  1. Signage

Using health and safety signs in the workplace that are clear and well-placed helps identify areas with potential problems.

 

Placing a sign that indicates a step, gap or an uneven ground brings attention to hazards and increases their awareness and attentiveness. Reflective tape can also highlight issues.

 

  1. Stairs / Handrails

Stairs are one of the most common areas for falls to happen in the workplace, so additional care is required here to prevent injuries.

 

Keep all stairwells well-lit and clear of obstacles, ensure handrails are fitted where possible, use reflective tape used to mark the top and bottom of the stairs, and fix any unsecured carpets or rugs that you have had to remove from the stairs.

 

  1. Footwear

Make sure your workforce knows clearly what attire is needed, including which safety footwear is appropriate for the conditions they are working in.

 

  1. Step ladders

Providing accessible equipment such as ladders and step ladders helps employees reach heights safely. By ensuring options are available, this reduces the possibility of an employee being hurt by climbing on chairs or tables.

 

  1. Manage wires

Wires that are out in the open can create obstacles for employees and the public which could cause injury. Cables should be put behind walls or under carpets, so they remain hidden.

 

Install all power sources, servers, internet connections in places that can be easily accessed, to avoid cables appearing along walkways.

 

  1. Check the condition of the floor

Cracks and holes in the pavement on the outside should be filled in. Repairing them immediately will reduce the risk of any injury happening.

 

When an area is waiting to be fixed, warning signs should be placed to highlight the danger.

 

  1. Keep filing cabinets and drawers closed

Everybody has to open a filing cabinet or a drawer during the day but leaving them open can lead to injury. Staff should be encouraged to ensure all drawers and cabinets are closed when not used to avoid potential dangers.

 

  1. Clean up spills immediately

If a spill happens in the workplace, it should be cleaned up immediately. If certain liquids penetrate the surface, it can cause a surface to be more slippery than before after it has been cleaned up.

 

When a spill takes place at work, warning signs should be placed around the hazard immediately, and whilst the clean-up of the wet floor takes place. If a floor is known to be slippery anyway, this needs to be highlighted with an appropriate sign.

Revolution on the road: No risk of wearing reflective elements!

Revolution on the road! Today, at midnight, a new duty began to apply to pedestrians, who now have to wear reflective material elements at night and in poor visibility to be well visible, otherwise, they face a fine of up to two and a half thousand crowns. But as we found out tonight, pedestrians hardly know about it, and so they don’t.

 

People do not know about the new regulation at all, or simply because they are to have reflective elements on them. People returning home along the road at night are not visible at all. From today on, police officers can impose a fine of up to two thousand fines on unenlightened pedestrians.

 

For example, some pubs are already thinking of getting reflective tapes or waistcoats for their regulars and lending them for their night return home.

 

Police throughout the country in the coming days and weeks are planning special night events focused on pedestrian controls. In one breath, however, they promise that they will be a little more benevolent about fines for offenses, at least initially.

 

For example, the measure has already been introduced in Slovakia, and in five years of operation, the number of killed pedestrians has decreased by almost half. Over the past three years, more than five hundred pedestrians have died in the Czech Republic, more than three hundred at night.

Novice drivers cannot drive at night

Scientists from the Brno University of Technology have developed a unique methodology for night driving. It was created based on research that looked at the reactions of drivers to pedestrians in the dark in real traffic. Driving at night is the most difficult for beginners, yet driving school textbooks do not.

What influences the visibility of pedestrians at night and how fast is the driver’s reaction? Researchers from the Institute of Forensic Engineering investigated answers directly in the field between the municipalities of Lednice and Břeclav.

 

They involved four helmets and more than two dozen drivers. They used special glasses with recording cameras for research. “The first camera rotates with the driver’s head, which means that it senses where the driver is looking, and the second camera captures the driver’s eye. They measure the direction of the viewpoint,” said the head of research at the Institute of Forensic Engineering of BUT.

 

By comparing the two records, the scientists concluded that while a man dressed in white would be seen by a driver with low beams turned on for nearly eighty meters, pedestrians in black only for thirty. In the first case, the driver has four seconds to react, but in the second he has only a second and a half.

Some reflective material elements may not be seen by drivers

Although the law requires pedestrians to wear reflective elements outside the village, it does not say exactly what and how. Some reflective tapes, for example on the shoulder, may not be sufficient, according to experiments by the Institute of Forensic Engineering. “It is important that the pedestrian use more reflective elements and some on the lower body,” said Robert Aldus. Research also found that a muddy car is harder to see at night than during the daytime, and pointed out the danger of a nightly collision with wildlife.

 

Based on these results, the researchers developed two methodologies. One is used by forensic experts to deal with traffic accidents, and the other – Driving in Visibility Reduced by Darkness – can be used by driving instructors in their classes. Educational textbooks on the market deal with this issue only marginally or not at all.

 

The driving school has acquired a simulator and offers a special course

Petr Simara from Brno uses his teaching materials in his driving school and also bought a simulator that can simulate driving at night. “I think it’s a question of the driving school. How he does it and how much space he can and the interest of the client, said the driving school operator Petr Šimara. Therefore, for an additional fee, it also offers an above-standard course, where people can try night driving even in normal traffic.

Experts recommend that instructors devote at least one hour of theory to future drivers and two hours of theory to professional drivers instructing night driving. In their view, it would also be appropriate if questions related to this problem were raised in driving tests.

 

Cyclists and pedestrians, reflective elements can save your life in the dark

The cyclist is obliged to be illuminated at night, the pedestrian must have reflective elements outside the village. Reflective vest stands like two beers, yet we meet “invisible” pedestrians or cyclists every day. The fine is the least that can happen to them.

 

With short days and early twilight, you can find out more about drivers’ attention. But they are not alone on the road. Particularly in rural areas, he shares roads, often poor conditions, with pedestrians and cyclists who do not have a walkway or bike path.

 

How to fog lights? They can not only help but also do harm

These road users are the most vulnerable, but they sometimes behave as if they were immortal and walk or drive along the roadside in the dark without lighting or reflective material elements. It is hardly two months since we wrote about a pedestrian who was knocked down and injured to the hospital, probably because in the dark he walked on the road without lights or reflective elements.

 

Police statistics speak similarly. Over the past five years, more and more pedestrians have died on the road at night than in the daytime. In 2018 it was 55 by day vs. 58 at night. The largest number of pedestrian accidents, not necessarily fatal, occurred in December. November was second and January was third. And most pedestrian accidents occurred between 4 pm and 5 pm.

 

Reflective bracelets cost only twenty crowns. A larger and more visible reflective vest costs about 50 crowns, and when not needed, easily fits in your pocket or purse. It may not suit you, but safety on the way home is more important.

 

Since the beginning of 2016, ie for three and a half years, it has been instructing pedestrians to use reflective elements, paragraph 9, § 53 of Act 361/2000 Coll. on traffic on roads: “If a pedestrian is moving outside the village in poor visibility along the verge or at the edge of the road in a place not illuminated by public lighting, he/she is obliged to wear elements of retro-reflective tape material placed to be visible to other participants traffic on the roads.”

 

For cyclists, this is governed by paragraph 5 of § 58 of the same law: “In poor visibility, the cyclist is obliged to have a headlamp with white front light and a rear lamp with a red light while driving.”

 

If these obligations are not fulfilled, the pedestrian or cyclist may face a fine of up to CZK 2,500. However, this is negligible compared to what can happen to an “invisible” pedestrian or cyclist.

Pedestrians in the dim light on the roads?

Every year hundreds of pedestrians hit cars on South Moravian roads. This year, by the end of October alone, the police have registered over three hundred such cases. Fourteen people died in accidents.

 

This number is likely to grow by the end of the year, as winter months are the riskiest for pedestrians on the road throughout the year. “Statistics clearly show that there is an increased number of pedestrian clashes in winter. This is most evident in fatal accidents, “said Pavel Cizek, the regional coordinator of Besip for the South Moravian Region.

 

The increase in pedestrian accidents is due to reduced visibility in winter due to early dimming and dimness in the morning. “The combination of darkness and dusk with fog or rain makes the sighting conditions worse,” Cizek said. He added that pedestrians often contribute poor clothing to poor visibility.

 

For example, this year the man who crossed the main route in Brno-Svitavy paid for it. A passing driver of a man in dark clothes without reflective material elements did not register in time and knocked him down. The wounded man escaped only a slight wound.

 

The right choice of clothing can save lives for pedestrians on poorly lit roads. The driver recognizes a man in blue clothes only when he is about eighteen meters away. Much better visibility is in white or yellow garments, which reaches up to fifty meters.

 

Reflective vests or belts are the most effective means of improving visibility. “The highest quality reflective elements increase visibility up to two hundred meters. After seeing a pedestrian, the drivers have a longer time to react and thus avoid a clash, ”said police spokesman Pavel Svab.

 

However, poor visibility is not the only reason for caution on winter roads. “Drivers must also count on a longer stopping distance on wet, icy or snowy roads,” Swab emphasized.

 

In his opinion, drivers often underestimate the longer stopping distance in winter and also forget that there is a significant difference in the visibility of pedestrians on the road using the main beam and dipped beam. In the long-range, the surveillance distance is one hundred meters, while driving with dipped beams the distance is reduced by half.

 

Caution is needed not only for drivers but also for pedestrians. “They do not realize that they cannot move in the same way as in the summer months. Not rushing in winter pays off, “Cizek said.

 

About a third of all pedestrian accidents happen at crossings. According to police, people underestimate the risks and switch to red or enter the crossing directly in front of an oncoming car. “Sometimes people don’t look to the right or left and rely on them to take precedence over the transition. Sometimes I can just brake, “complained the driver Michal Benes.

 

Earphones are also dangerous. The pedestrian does not perceive noises from the street, such as the noise of an approaching car, the ambulance siren or the bell of a tram.

 

Police are trying to point out irresponsible behavior at various preventive actions. At the end of October, for example, they organized a meeting See us! in Bučovice in the Vyskov region or Firefly in Moutnice in the Brno region. Participants learned about the risks in the cold months as well as the importance of reflective tape elements that are often distributed at police events.

 

However, prevention also involves more frequent punishment. “Since we have not seen a major shift in their discipline, we are increasingly dealing with pedestrian violations by block fines,” explained Svab. In October alone, Brno police officers dealt with over three hundred offenses.

 

Brno also decided to increase safety at some crossings. The town hall newly lit twenty-five crossings. “We have identified crossings mainly near primary and nursery schools, where children go to school and after school, especially in the winter months in the dark,” explained Brno spokesman Pavel Zára.