Tag: reflective vest

Small guide to motorbike trips abroad, with the 5 things to know: necessary documents, mandatory equipment, traffic regulations, useful numbers, and travel policy

From 3 June Italy will reopen the borders with the EU + Switzerland and the United Kingdom countries (waiting to be able to do so with other States) and therefore motorbike trips abroad will also be possible in the complicated summer 2020, unless changes dictated by the evolution of the pandemic which unfortunately we cannot rule out. However many bikers are already planning the itinerary and others will do it in the coming weeks: for their benefit, we publish the 5 most important things to know when traveling abroad by motorbike.

1. MOTORCYCLE TRIPS ABROAD: WHICH DOCUMENTS

For motorbike trips abroad in the countries of the European Union and the Schengen area, therefore including Switzerland, all you need is an identity card + driving license, registration document and certificate of insurance, obviously all valid. The Italian driving license is sufficient, in Europe the international driving license is required only in very few States (Russia, Armenia, and Georgia). Instead, the so-called green card, the insurance document that certifies the effectiveness of the RC motorcycle also abroad it is not necessary for EU countries and other states. In Europe, they could still request it in Albania, Belarus, Bosnia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Turkey, and Ukraine (inquire before leaving). Finally, if you go abroad driving a motorbike that you do not own, it is advisable to have a delegation to lead by the owner: in plain paper for the EU and with a signature authenticated by a notary for non-EU travel.

2. MOTORCYCLE TRIPS ABROAD: MANDATORY EQUIPMENT

Oh well, needless to say, that the helmet is mandatory everywhere, then depending on the destination other equipment is needed. For example, limiting ourselves to neighboring or neighboring countries:

Austria: Din 13167 approved first aid kit.

Croatia: Din 13167 approved first aid kit; retro-reflective vest; replacement bulbs.

France: reflective vest, protective gloves approved by EU for driver and passenger; approved breathalyzer kit.

Slovenia: Din 13167 approved first aid kit; reflective vest; replacement bulbs.

Switzerland: reflective jacket.

3. MOTORCYCLE TRIPS ABROAD: THE RULES ON CIRCULATION

Also for the rules on the movement of foreign countries, the complete guide of the ACI and the Viaggiare Sicuri website can be consulted, here we report only the countries bordering Italy (+ Croatia), focusing especially on the rules that differ from our country:

Austria: motorway toll via ‘vignette’ ( here the rules on motorway tolls in Europe ); blood alcohol limit 0.049%.

Croatia: forbidden to carry a child under 12 on a motorcycle; dipped headlights mandatory even during the day; blood sugar limit 0.05%.

France: 80 km / h limit on departmental and state two-way and single track roads ( here all the speed limits in Europe when traveling by motorbike ); dipped headlights mandatory also during the day for motorcycles and mopeds registered after 1 July 2004; blood sugar limit 0.05%.

Slovenia: highway toll via ‘sticker’; it is forbidden to carry a child under 12 on a motorcycle; use of mandatory dipped headlights also during the day; blood sugar limit 0.05%.

Switzerland: motorway toll via ‘sticker’; dipped headlights mandatory even during the day; blood sugar limit 0.05%.

4. MOTORCYCLE TRIPS ABROAD: USEFUL NUMBERS TO KNOW

Abroad it is always recommended to write down some phone numbers to contact in case of need.

Austria : single European emergency number: 112; roadside assistance: 120; Italian Embassy in Vienna: 0043 (1) 7125121.

Croatia : single European emergency number: 112; roadside assistance: 1987; Italian Embassy in Zagreb: 00385 -1- 48 46 386 – 00385 – 98.417660.

France : single European emergency number: 112; roadside assistance: 0800 089222; Italian Embassy in Paris: 0033 1 49 54 03 00.

Slovenia : single European emergency number: 112; roadside assistance: 1987 or 00386 1 5305353; Italian Embassy in Ljubljana: 00386 1 4262194 0038614262320 – 0038614258659 – 00386 41 736773.

Switzerland: single European emergency number: 112; roadside assistance: 140; Italian Embassy in Bern: 0041 31 350 07 77 – 0041 79 3219202.

5. MOTORCYCLE TRIPS ABROAD: TRAVEL INSURANCE

In addition to the compulsory motorcycle insurance, to which any additional guarantees may be added (for example, Accidents to the driver), before leaving, it is necessary to consider whether to take out a travel policy to cover at least the health costs. To tell the truth, until recently, these policies were required above all for travel overseas or in exotic places. But the vicissitudes of recent months, with the pandemic that has shocked the world and from which we will not free ourselves quickly, advise greater caution even when traveling in Europe. On the web, many online companies offer travel insurance rather low prices and they are all quite reliable. Important: those who decide to take out one and wish not to have any surprises make sure that the policy signed also covers the infection by Covid-19.

A study confirms that accidents between cyclists and vehicles are caused by a combination of inadequate infrastructure and risky behavior by drivers and cyclists.

According to the Colombian Traffic Police, by September 2017, 42% of the accidents with cyclists that had been registered that year had occurred in the night hours and involved cyclists without a reflective vest.

In recent years, more and more people around the world have chosen to use the bicycle as a means of urban transport. However, many abstain from talking about it due to the danger that often involves moving with this means of transport. the scenario is not exclusive to Colombia: in the European Union, for example, in the last 30 years accidents between cyclists and vehicles have suffered a systematic increase.

According to the Institute of Legal Medicine, in Colombia in 2016 there were 4,447 accidents involving bicycles; in 589 of them the cyclists died, and 3,858 were injured.

“Given the characteristics of the vehicle and the little use of passive safety measures, cyclists are, along with pedestrians, the most vulnerable road users to suffer serious injuries in the event of an accident,” Sergio Alejandro Useche, a researcher at the Research Institute of Traffic and Road Safety (INTRAS) of the University of Valencia.

In urban centers, it is where 70.7% of accidents and 67.4% of victims’ injuries or deaths occur, compared to rural roads, where 29.3% of claims and 32.6% of the victims. 47.2% of serious cyclist injuries occur on conventional urban roads.

To understand the increase in incidents with cyclists and to be able to develop preventive policies, a study led by Useche has analyzed the relationship between roads and human factors with traffic accidents. The results, published in the magazine Sustainability, show that, in collisions between motorized vehicles and bicycles, both factors are present. These data could serve to explain and prevent road accidents.

Lack of driver education

The researchers interviewed 1,064 cyclists (38.8% female and 61.2% male), on average 33 years old and from twenty countries in Europe, South America, and North America, in an online survey. According to the expert, the increase in accidents with cyclists is due to “the widespread use of the bicycle, which is still disorganized, poorly controlled and unregulated today, and rarely linked to the education and road training of its users,” emphasizes the investigator.

Scientists highlight the need to intervene in infrastructure to reduce problematic interactions with other users, which occur when cyclists must share roadways with the motor vehicle or pedestrian users; simplify circulation on friendlier roads; and strengthen the culture of bicycle use and respect for it in all users.

On the other hand, the researchers have observed that in the traffic codes “there is a worrying lack of regulations to regulate the use of the bicycle in shared mobility with other types of vehicles.”

Regarding individual or human factors, the study highlights risk behaviors, divided into two main types. The first is the so-called unintended errors or failures by drivers. “These can be reduced by carrying out adequate road training, as is done, for example, with motor vehicle drivers,” says Useche.

Another behavior observed in accidents is traffic offenses. In the opinion of the experts, it is essential to strengthening road training by cyclists and drivers to avoid them. “This requires the support of the media, institutions and the educational system,” conclude the authors, for whom this would improve public health and social coexistence between the different mobility systems.

New health work safety protocols are forcing companies around the world to activate their imaginations. The redistribution of spaces and the installation of partitions help to ensure the safety of workers who occupy a fixed position, but those who move constantly during their activity are often still unprotected. So this anti-virus vest is succeeding in Germany. It is a reflective vest that lights up, beeps and vibrates if two workers approach within less than a meter and a half of safety distance established by the German authorities. Warned by the vest, the worker himself is in charge of moving away from his partner.

One of the first companies to test them has been Austrian freight vehicle manufacturer Schwarzmüller, whose CEO, Roland Hartwig, explains that “as the de-escalation progressed, the government has been very clear in insisting that the safety distance is now the main tool to keep infections at bay and we were exposing ourselves that, if there are positives among our workers, we would be forced to stop the activity. That is why we have focused our strategy on these vests”, which the workers have accepted with satisfaction.

Schwarzmüller is based in Freinberg bei Schärding, but the vests are made a long way from this idyllic region of Austria. The German company Linde Material Handling, also affiliates in Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Italy, is the one that has had the idea of supplying its customers with this product designed specifically for the Covid-19 crisis. The vests weigh about 300 grams and their battery holds up to a full work shift of about eight hours. Peter Markschläger, the spokesman for Linde Austria, explains that this technology comes from a system applied in transport vehicles in logistics centers or in large construction sites, which serves to avoid collisions, by warning both the driver and the pedestrian that they are approaching. each other. “Through a 4 gigahertz ultra-broadband signal we ensure that the vests always stay connected without interference with other systems”, he says, convinced that this system is much more practical and efficient than connections via wireless internet or bluethooth since they are less stable and exact in an industrial environment.

Markschläger does not dare to predict if we will soon wear private pedestrian vests like these, to avoid unwanted approaches in supermarket aisles or zebra crossings, but there is no doubt that it is a truly anonymous device, which preserves our privacy and our freedom to a much greater extent than the mobile applications that Google and Apple are already starting to take advantage of in terms of big data.

In our cars, it is necessary to carry various mandatory safety elements. One of them is the emergency triangles, which we have talked about in-depth, explaining how and when to use them. Another essential element for our safety, and mandatory equipment in all vehicles, is a high-visibility reflective vest. When should this high visibility vest be used? How many high visibility vests should you take in the car? Can I be fined if I don’t wear a high visibility vest? In this article, we solve all your doubts about this security element.

Is it mandatory to wear a high visibility vest in the car? How should the vest be?

The answer is a resounding yes. The high visibility vest is a mandatory security element in every vehicle. It is mandatory to carry it in the car since 2004, and its obligation is included in the Traffic Regulations of January 23, 2004, along with that of the emergency triangles. The vest must be red, yellow, or orange, and must equip at least two horizontal reflective bands, at least 5 centimeters. It must be certified according to the European standard EN-471 for use in tourism vehicles and industrial vehicles.

When should the high visibility vest be used?

If we are forced to stop our vehicle on an extra-urban road, either on the road itself or on the shoulder, we must get out of the car with the high-visibility vest on. Yes or yes. The most common situations in which we will be forced to use it will be in the event of a breakdown or accident, but we must always wear it if we leave the vehicle on any type of road, motorway or freeway. We must wear it when we go to put the emergency triangles and if we are standing or behind the guardrail – waiting for roadside assistance.

If it is winter and we must put the chains on the car, we must do it with a high visibility vest on. Think that thanks to this vest, we are visible to other drivers at distances of up to 150 meters. The high visibility vest can be carried stored anywhere in the vehicle, but we must leave the car with it on. Therefore, the trunk or spare wheel well would not be the best place to store it. The back of the seat, the door storage compartment, or the glove compartment are the most ideal places for storage.

The objective of the vest is for us to be visible to other drivers, both day and night, avoiding endangering our physical integrity.

How many reflective vests should we take in the car?

An important detail that we must take into account is that all people who leave the vehicle must necessarily wear a high visibility vest. In other words, we must wear a vest for each occupant of the vehicle – it doesn’t matter if we drive a seven-seater minivan. This is an important rule and requires those who do not have a high-visibility vest on. This provision should only be violated if occupants without vests are in physical danger – for example, if the car is smoking or on fire, or they are exposed to extreme weather.

Can I be fined for not wearing the high visibility vest?

If you leave the vehicle on an extra-urban road without a reflective vest on, you are exposed to a financial penalty of up to 200 euros – without removing points from your driving license. If you do not have a reflective vest in your car, you can purchase a vest approved for use in cars at just over eight euros.

It is extremely important to stay safe on both roads and streets as it gets darker and brighter every day. A recent photo released by the Lithuanian police perfectly illustrated that even during daylight hours, a pedestrian without a reflector or other light-reflecting device can be difficult for drivers to notice. We encourage all road users to be visible, wear reflectors and share some tips.

How to choose the right reflector and light-reflecting vest?

The reflector must be made of a suitable light-reflecting fabric. There are a variety of alternatives on the market, such as bright ribbons, pendants or similar accessories, as well as low-quality reflectors that hardly reflect light, so make sure your chosen item is a reflector and reflects light properly: in the dark, aim the flashlight at the light and watch as it reflects light. The reflector must also not be less than 15 cm² and the inscriptions on it must not exceed 20%. the total area of the reflector. It is much safer and more reliable if the advertisement is under reflective film. Also, it is known that bright yellow reflectors are better visible in the presence of fog. Another quality indicator is the special code LST EN13356 on the reflector or label, which means compliance with LST EN 13356: 2002 “Accessories for non-workwear to improve visibility. Test Methods and Requirements”.

A reflective vest is an even more effective way to prevent possible accidents, especially during the dark hours of the day. Before purchasing a vest, make sure that it meets the applicable requirements: the vest must not only be bright (yellow, orange, etc.) but must also have at least two or more horizontal light-reflecting elements at the waist.

Where to mount a reflector?

Since the reflector itself does not illuminate but only reflects light, it should be mounted at the height of the vehicle headlamps, approximately at the level of the adult road. The strip reflector should be mounted on the sleeve of the garment, just above the wrist of the hand or on the right side of the calf. The road traffic regulations stipulate that the roadside must go in the direction of travel of the car, so the reflector attached to the handles of the backpack or handbag does not even reach the light of the car headlights. In this case, it is recommended to strap the reflector and allow it to swing at approximately the height of the human knees.

What do cyclists need to know?

The bicycle must be fitted with reflectors: there must be a red light reflector or lamp at the rear of the bicycle and orange light reflectors attached to the wheel spokes on both sides. When riding on the carriageway, the cyclist must wear a brightly colored vest with reflective elements or have a lit white light at the front of the bicycle and a red light at the rear. When driving on the road in the dark or poor visibility, both a brightly colored vest and lights at the front and rear of the bike are mandatory.

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.