Tag: reflective armbands

Pedestrian safety advocate speaks out after police give reflective armbands to seniors

Pedestrian and cycling safety advocates are speaking out after Toronto police officers handed out reflective armbands to seniors at an event aimed at raising awareness about pedestrian safety.

 

Officers who attended the event, which was held at Woodside Square mall in Scarborough on Saturday, offered up safety tips to pedestrians and handed out reflective armbands to elderly residents.

 

The move sparked an outcry from pedestrian safety advocates, including Friends and Families for Safe Streets spokesperson Jessica Spieker.

 

“The reason that no road safety advocate likes this approach is that all of the evidence tells us it simply won’t work,” Spieker told CP24 on Monday.

 

“It is a waste of money, time, energy, and other resources to be essentially trampling the Charter rights of seniors because we all have a Charter right to freedom of personal expression and that includes our clothing choices.”

 

Coun. Mike Layton also weighed in on the controversy at the city hall on Monday, noting that he does not think it is reasonable to expect people to wear reflective armbands to protect themselves.

 

“I don’t know what they do in other parts of the world and whether or not this is something that works. All I do know is I don’t think we can expect everyone to wear an armband just to try to feel safe,” he said.

 

But not all city councilors share Layton’s views.

 

Ward 6 Coun. James Pasternak took to Twitter on Monday to voice his support for reflective clothing with reflective fabric .

 

“Wearing high visibility clothing or reflective gear is a key part of keeping everyone safe, including pedestrians, construction workers, cyclists, police officers, and crossing guards,” he wrote in a tweet.

 

Spieker said that there have been no studies to suggest that wearing reflective gear is a good way to prevent pedestrian deaths.

 

“There is no evidence that it works. Any study that has looked at high (visibility clothing) on vulnerable road users doesn’t find much of an impact. One study found it made things worse. So we know this isn’t going to have an impact and yet were focusing on it anyway,” she said.

 

She said improving the design of infrastructure is the main way to reduce collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.

 

“Our current road design induces drivers to speed. We have these wide, straight lines. It looks a lot like Highway 401 so people tend to drive that way… predictably blowing red lines, making inattentive turns, they strike pedestrians who have the right of way,” she said.

 

“We lose one vulnerable road user per week roughly… This is not a trivial issue and this is not something that we should be delaying and playing games around.”

 

Spieker noted that the city could improve road safety by adding things like protective barriers.

 

“These are not expensive. They are not difficult to do,” she said. “There is no reason to not just aggressively pursue what we know will work.”

Road safety warning issued ahead of strong winds, snow and ice

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a warning to road users ahead of difficult driving conditions over the next few days.

 

The advice comes on foot of three weather warnings issued by Met Éireann earlier today, Wednesday, March 11.

 

The warnings will effect 11 counties altogether: a Status Orange wind warning for Co. Donegal; a Status Yellow snow/ice warning for Co. Donegal; and a Status Yellow wind warning for counties Cavan, Monaghan, Dublin, Louth, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, and Clare.

 

The latter of these warnings will also apply to Co. Donegal when the Status Orange warning is not in effect.

 

Motorists traveling in these counties at the affected times are being advised to check the local traffic and weather conditions in the area before setting out on a journey.

 

For motorists driving in wet or windy conditions, the RSA gives the following advice:

 

Control of a vehicle may be affected by crosswinds, particularly high-sided vehicles and motorcycles;

Beware of objects blown onto the road, and expect road conditions to change quickly;

Watch out for fallen or falling debris, and vehicles veering across the road;

Drivers should allow extra space between themselves and vulnerable road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, as they may be blown off-course;

Drivers need to slow-down in wet weather conditions, especially on high-speed roads such as dual carriageways and motorways, where there is an increased danger of aquaplaning;

Choose another route if the road ahead is flooded – do not drive through a flood. Floods could be deeper than they appear, and trees and branches in the water may not be visible;

Drivers should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic;

After going through water, drive slowly with your foot on the brake pedal for a short distance, which helps to dry the brakes;

Drive with dipped headlights at all times.

The RSA has also outlined advice for cyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

 

This includes: wearing bright clothing with reflective armbands or a belt, as visibility for drivers will be reduced; taking special care when crossing the road or cycling in high winds; walking on footpaths where possible; and keeping an eye out for falling debris, especially in urban areas.

 

In terms of dealing with snow and ice, drivers are advised to:

 

Clear windows and mirrors with a screen scraper and de-icer – not hot water as this can crack the glass;

Remove snow from your vehicle, as it can slide onto the windows during braking and restrict your view;

Slow down; use all controls delicately, and leave extra distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. Avoid oversteering, harsh braking and harsh acceleration. Use the highest gear possible. Select a low gear when traveling downhill;

Do not use the tail lights of the car in front as a guide. In heavy snow, use your fog lights, turn down the radio and let down the window slightly, so traffic can be heard;

Use dipped headlights at all times, and fog lights in heavy snow;

Watch out for vulnerable road users and allow extra space to pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.

Pedestrians are advised to: wear bright clothing, or ideally a high-visibility jacket or reflective armbands and belt; wear appropriate footwear; and not underestimate the danger of ice, using extreme caution when walking in icy areas.

 

Finally, the advice to motorcyclists for taking to the road in snowy and icy conditions is to not compromise their safety by going on a journey when they could cancel it or use alternative transport.

 

Motorcyclists should also: wear a high-visibility vest; ensure lights are working properly, and avoid wearing a dark visor in bad light conditions.

 

Also, other road users may not expect motorcyclists, which could compromise safety.

Carrefour stores: red card for reflective armband

Like a chewing gum under the shoe, the retro-reflective cuff is sticky. This is the bitter discovery made by the FFMC antenna of Seine-et-Marne in two Carrefour supermarkets. Retro-reflective armbands are on sale, with, until the intervention of bikers angry, the mention: “Retro-reflective equipment mandatory at January 1, 2013”, written on the packaging…

 

Pre-empted by consumers, the FFMC 77 responded by calling on 27 May the store managers by registered letter. Here is an excerpt: “The Minister of the Interior, Manuel, published in the official journal an order on 18 December repealing the order of 3 January 2012 The information disseminated to sell your retro-reflective material devices is therefore wrong. These actions are not only disrespectful to your customers, but also illegal. They could, indeed, be qualified as a deceptive commercial practice, defined and repressed by articles L121-1 and following of the Code of the consumption…

 

Result

The stores responded on May 28, pledging to conceal the reference to the obsolete bond. The director of the supermarket of Collegian also indicated that he had reassembled the information with their central purchasing to intervene with the supplier.

 

Eve

This is not the first action carried out by the FFMC 77, since it had already obtained satisfaction in the Crossroads and Villiers about the same problem. It remains to be seen if the 228 Carrefour stores located in France will be in tune… It is up to you to send us the information! Let us hope, too, that the manufacturer of reflective armbands stops trying to distribute a product that has become irrelevant. Otherwise, store managers will use black markers!

Road Safety: Update on retro-reflective elements

What color will it be necessary to wear? Should we change his equipment? Why only big cubes seem concerned? Here is an inventory of the obligation to ride with retro-reflective equipment from 2013. Good news in the lot: fluorescent allergic are spared.

 

The IRB’s implementing decree, issued yesterday, surprised motorcyclists, scooters … and equipment manufacturers. Indeed, it was suspected that the wearing of elements improving the visibility of motorized two-wheelers (2WD) would be made mandatory, but the announced surface is much talked about. While some agitate the spectrum of the yellow vest and that, the visibility of day leaves many doubts, it seems important to us to make a point on this measure and what it will imply.

 

Visibility on a motorcycle: It will be necessary to reflect

The Order of 3 January 2012 relating to retro-reflective equipment worn by all drivers or passengers of a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity greater than 125 cc or a vehicle of category L5e with a power greater than 15 kW [NOR: IOCS1134710A is clear enough:

 

Not later than 1 January 2013, all drivers or passengers of a motorcycle with a cylinder capacity exceeding 125 cc or a vehicle of category L5e with a power of more than 15 kW must wear a garment equipped with a retro reflective equipment, corresponding to either French standards or other standards guaranteeing an equivalent level of safety. This equipment, in one or more parts, must have a total surface area of at least 150 cm². If this equipment is not integrated into the garment from the beginning, it is superimposed on it by any means. The equipment should be worn on the upper body, with the exception of the helmet, from the belt to the shoulder line to be visible to other road users.

 

Motorcycle jacket with enough retro-reflective part for 2013It will not necessarily wear a yellow reflective vest. The equipment must be retro reflective (for night visibility), not fluorescent. We contacted Road Safety about this. According to what we announced in August 2011, the retro-reflective material will not necessarily be fluorescent yellow or white. If the standards EN 471 and EN 1150 (corresponding to the yellow vests required at night by bicycle) constitute a minimum, the standard EN 13356 is admissible.

 

However, this standard is much more interesting for those who do not wish to alter the aesthetics of their outfit. Indeed, it does not mention basic colors. A prismatic film, transparent, affixed to a color of your choice, provides the retro-reflective function. We can therefore consider finding jackets with more than 150 cm² of retro-reflective surface at night, which will remain black (or blue, red, etc.) the day. It will be the same for armbands that will use those whose jacket or jacket will not have enough surfaces.

 

When buying, the question will quickly arise: how do you know if the jacket meets the correct specifications? Manufacturers have a few months to upgrade their current range. If the jacket has enough retro-reflective surfaces, the manufacturer will be able to send to the dealers a certificate, to present in case of control. If not, we will probably find additional retro-reflective armbands. It remains to be seen how the manufacturers will react for future ranges, which will have to be sold all over the world, and not only in France. The choice of retractable elements, like what Axon offers, seems relevant, but it is not applicable on all types of jackets, especially leather jackets.

 

Nevertheless, the validity of this measure annoys many bikers, who quite rightly specify that the daytime wearing of this equipment is useless and that it is only a means to draw up easy tickets. If we cannot certify the second part, we must recognize that verbalization (€ 68 and 2 points less) should dissuade those who ride without a jacket, and who will be the first controlled. Regarding the limitation of displacement, since the 125 cm³ are not concerned, this is, according to our information, only a question of time. Some will remember that in 1973, when the wearing of the helmet was made mandatory.

 

Road Safety: cuff Bond, not neon

A few weeks after the IRB, things become clearer for motorcyclists and scooter riders. No reflective vest to wear, no not fluorescent, but … a cuff on each arm.

 

Updated November 27, 2012: The NSRF suspend the obligation of the compulsory wearing of the Standing Reflective motorcycle and scooter.

Updated January 5, 2012: A point on the legislation of retro reflective elements in motorcycle and scooter.

 

Updated January 4, 2012: The text appeared and brings many details.

Of the 18 measures of the last IRB, one caused a stir: “motorcycle and tricycle drivers should wear retro reflective equipment.” Many have wanted to see the requirement to wear a fluorescent yellow vest. It is true that, as we indicated then, the wording was vague. A few days later, it was more a question of wearing a device equipped with retro-reflective elements on a few square centimeters, without specifying the exact size. Today, the discourse has changed, and everything will go through a “simple” cuff.

 

Visibility: Armbands for all and all the time

The information came from RTL and was relayed by our colleagues from Moto-Info: then conjured an armband. Here are some details about it.

The device in question must be retro reflective and visible from the front, back, and from both sides. It will therefore wear an armband with reflective material on the left, but also right! However, this strap need not necessarily be fluorescent, but only Reflective; phobic of “yellow construction” will be relieved. And as some black textiles can be retro-reflective, if a manufacturer decides to release a cuff meets the standards coming in remaining sober daylight, his fortune is assured. We expect of course the publication of the decrees, but according to our information, armlets worn must measure 3 centimeters in width, be retro reflective over their entire surface and surround the arms. To our knowledge, as the jackets are not equipped, it leaves the choice between elastic armbands and RIBs. In all cases, care should be taken not to lose them when removing his jacket.

 

Some will be skeptical about the usefulness of the device, including its mandatory day when a retro reflective element proves effective at night only. Anyway, when the text will come into force, do not wear the armbands should be punished with 2 points less (68 €). But before you rush to fit you, expect the standard to be clearly established, because there is a safe bet that some unscrupulous will ride the “fear of the fine” to propose in advance armbands sold to vile prices and that may well not protect you from Law Enforcement.

 

We contacted the manufacturers, which have indicated that they will soon offer these reflective armbands in their catalogs, the time for them to adapt their ranges. And if some had taken the lead with removable armband jackets, this innovation involved only the left arm, which will in any way insufficient in the eyes of the law.

Will there be the same outcry (and helmets) against these armbands as against the first decisions of the IRB? To be continued…