reflective material Archives

The Application of Reflective Ribbon: Illuminating Safety and Style

In a world that thrives around the clock, where the boundaries between urban landscapes and the countryside are increasingly blurred, ensuring safety without compromising on style has become an essential pursuit. The solution? Enter the reflective ribbon – a dynamic accessory that seamlessly merges functionality with fashion.

A Luminous Shield:

Imagine a late evening jogger, a cyclist navigating through the bustling city streets, or a pedestrian crossing a dimly lit intersection. The reflective ribbon, with its unparalleled high-visibility properties, transforms ordinary clothing into a shield of safety. The ribbon’s capacity to reflect light, whether it’s the gleam of vehicle headlights or the glow of streetlights, positions it as a crucial tool for mitigating accidents and potential hazards. Whether integrated into clothing, accessories, or outdoor gear, the reflective ribbon ensures that you remain conspicuous, even amidst the darkest backdrop.

Style Meets Function:

Gone are the days when safety gear merely served utilitarian purposes. Today’s fashion-conscious individuals can seamlessly integrate safety precautions with their personal style. The high visibility ribbon, available in a plethora of colors, widths, and designs, can be effortlessly woven into clothing and accessories. From sleek handbags embellished with reflective accents to sneakers that radiate with each step, the opportunities are boundless. Designers and brands have adeptly harnessed the potential of reflective ribbons, transforming them into statements of both individuality and responsibility.

A New Frontier for Outdoor Enthusiasts:

For adventurers, explorers, and nature aficionados, safety is paramount. The reflective webbing becomes an indispensable companion, heightening visibility during nocturnal treks, camping escapades, or mountain expeditions. Whether affixed to backpacks, tents, or outdoor gear, its reflective properties guarantee that your presence remains unmistakable, even in the remotest settings. With the reflective ribbon, the wilderness evolves into a safer playground, where your existence is boldly proclaimed to all.

In a world that harmonizes safety and style, the reflective ribbon emerges as a unifying element. Its transformative prowess, surpassing the confines of conventional safety gear, offers individuals the opportunity to take charge of their visibility and well-being. From the urban sprawl to the vast wilderness, this unassuming ribbon lights the path toward a more secure and stylish future. Why settle for the ordinary, when you can radiate brilliance with the reflective ribbon?

Embrace safety. Embrace style. Embrace the reflective ribbon.

Tips on Walking and Cycling Safely

Police Chief Andrew Caggiano wanted to remind residents of some safety tips for riding bicycles and walking along township roads as they get out of their homes to enjoy some fresh air and get a break from self-isolation during the COVID-19 crisis.

Bicycling:

Any person riding a bicycle on the street must use the right side of the road.

Follow the rules of the road, as if you are driving a car.

Always wear a helmet.

Wear bright, reflective clothing with reflective fabric.

Avoid wearing headphones, at least not in both ears.

Slow down at intersections.

Look drivers in the eye when a potentially dangerous situation might ensue; be sure they see you.

Be predictable, and signal your turns.

Always look behind you or in a mirror before veering/swerving left into the lane of traffic.

Do not ride on the sidewalk.

Wave your arms if you are unsure of your visibility, especially at intersections or with cars turning right, into your lane.

Ride defensively, as if every driver is on a cell phone, not paying attention, or on drugs, and never give a driver the benefit of doubt.

Pedestrians, including runners, should follow these safety tips:

Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles. By facing on-coming traffic, you may be able to react quicker than if it is behind you. Utilize sidewalks when available.

Look both ways before crossing. Be sure the driver of a car acknowledges your right-of-way before crossing in front of a vehicle. Obey traffic signals.

Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Include any medical information.

Always stay alert and aware of what’s going on around you. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.

Carry a cell phone.

Wear reflective material if you must run before dawn or after dark. Avoid running on the street when it is dark.

DON’T WEAR HEADPHONES. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Your ears may help you avoid dangers your eyes may miss during the evening or early morning runs.

Have fun and be safe!

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HIGH-VISIBILITY CLOTHING

Please welcome Mike Moloney as Canada Moto Guide’s safety columnist. Mike is an advanced motorcycle instructor with RoSPA, Britain’s Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. In 1983, Mike founded The Sportbike Rally, which took place in Parry Sound. Mike is a veteran of dozens of self-organized international tours and cites his favorite destination as, “next”.

Do you consciously choose to wear high-visibility (hi-vis) motorcycle gear such as a jacket, vest or helmet? Why? Does it simply seem like a sensible idea, or is it because of a traffic incident where you weren’t seen?

And what exactly do we mean by hi-vis clothing? Wikipedia describes it as “any clothing is worn that is highly luminescent in its natural matte property or a color that is easily discernible from any background.” That’s pretty much the opposite of camouflage, which is “the use of any combination of materials, coloration, or illumination for concealment.”

Brightly colored clothing is not only easier to see, but it registers with more priority to the human eye.

Perhaps, on your motorcycle, you’ve experienced the distinct displeasure of being on the receiving end of the time-worn phrase, “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

An accompanying police accident report might contain the line, “The driver looked, but failed to see”, which is useful only to a statistician. While car drivers are not deliberately trying to cause us harm there remains the unfortunate fact that, all too often, we are not being seen.

Why is this? Like it or not, we are part of the problem. There is an assumption among riders, a common belief, that we are being seen, not just merely ignored, but there are many factors that can determine our visibility to others. Let’s start with Global Precedence.

Global Precedence is the visual big picture. Generally speaking, a motorcycle is only a small portion of the big “global” picture, particularly when head-on to an approaching vehicle. A person’s eyes, and recognition, go to the largest objects first. Our brains process that information almost twice as fast as the local aspects. If something, anything, is larger and visually more compelling, that is where another road user is most likely to first focus their attention. It takes precedence.

Roger Foster, seen (easily) while out for a ride near Las Vegas on his Suzuki, jumps out visually on a grey day.

Making it work

Working from empirical data, safety regulators in many countries now stipulate a certain amount of retro-reflective material for motorcycle jackets. This usually involves a minimum amount of striping or piping on areas such as shoulder and arms. In some places, such as France, it even includes helmets (18 square cm for French heads, if you must know). A better strategy is for the entire area of the jacket, vest or helmet to be one luminescent color, making you appear as both a brighter and larger object.

“But”, we hear some riders say, “I’ll look like a dweeb”. Well, we know that fashion is fickle and subjective but if Harley-Davidson can see the benefits of including plenty of hi-vis safety clothing in its catalog – although it does tend to orange for some reason – then surely it has passed a key chic-to-wear test.

Let’s face it: no one goes to a hospital for the fine dining. Since we’re among the most vulnerable of road users, those things that may be able to give us a distinct safety advantage should be worth our consideration. When you’re the one waiting for the ambulance to arrive, do you want to hear someone say, “Sorry, I didn’t see you”?

Bright clothing is just one aspect of providing useful information to other road users. There are also some options for making our machine more visible. Beyond that, we must look within ourselves. Factors such as our position on the road, bearing, and speed is key components of being seen by others. We can look at these in future articles.

Alright then, I’m outfitted like a motorized macaw. Can you see me now?

THE SCIENCE BEHIND HIGH-VISIBILITY CLOTHING

Brightly colored clothing is not only easier to see, but it registers with more priority to the human eye.

Perhaps, on your motorcycle, you’ve experienced the distinct displeasure of being on the receiving end of the time-worn phrase, “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”

Roger Foster, seen (easily) while out for a ride near Las Vegas on his Suzuki, jumps out visually on a grey day.

Making it work

Alright then, I’m outfitted like a motorized macaw. Can you see me now?

The pedestrians were not visible and went red

An invisible pedestrian who turns red. Last week, the police focused on pedestrian safety and, as part of the inspection action, issued fines in addition to reflective elements. They eventually earned a total of 34 people.

“For example, these pedestrians entered the pedestrian crossing in front of police officers at a time when the red traffic light was on at the traffic light. Some of them tried to avoid the traffic light with red light and tried to change the road in its immediate vicinity,” said regional police spokeswoman Dagmar Sochorová, who also pointed to the dangerous phenomenon of pedestrians without elements of retro-reflective material moving in the dark or twilight. on the road between the villages.

“During the whole event, the patrols of the traffic and riot police tried to prevent pedestrians. They were alerted to the fact that they were among the most vulnerable participants in the operation,” said Sochorová. Police also reminded pedestrians of the existence of a law requiring pedestrians outside the village to have the above-mentioned reflective elements in poor visibility.

During the whole last week, police officers also checked the drivers of motor vehicles. “They checked a total of 430 and found 75 traffic offenses. The positive fact, however, is that they have not found any breath in the breath of any driver,” Sochorová pointed out. The most penalties were for not using the belt and the technical condition of the car.

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.

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.

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.