Only one in ten reflective tapes meets the requirements – according to Trade Inspection of control. Businesses and consumers do not distinguish them from gadgets that do not increase road safety. OCCP, in cooperation with the Police, the Central Institute for Occupational Safety and Motor Transport Institute, has prepared a special manual on safe reflective tape.
According to the statistics from the Office of Prevention and Traffic Police Headquarters in 2014 in accidents involving pedestrians lives of 1 116 people and injured 398. 8 The most tragic were the effects of events in the area undeveloped, on unlit roads – every third man died. According to regulations, all pedestrians traveling on the road after dusk outside built-up areas are required to use reflective elements.
Be conducted in the first quarter. Trade Inspection control related to safety reflectors available for purchase throughout the Polish. Reflectors were tested for markings, reflective properties, resistance to falls and the impact of the rain.
The audit revealed that entrepreneurs lacked basic knowledge about the requirements to be met by flares (such as conducting appropriate for this group of products conformity assessment procedures). Offered reflective accessories were also labeled without due diligence.
OCCP pointed out that the market is dominated by gadgets that resemble flares, but should not be used by consumers as reflective accessories because they do not meet the key requirements for size (min. 15 cm2), reflective surface properties and resistance guaranteeing the retention of these properties even in difficult weather conditions. Many of them are sold with information suggesting that they are full-fledged reflective accessories and wearing their user raises the visibility on the road.
IH inspectors inspected 113 companies (manufacturers, importers, retailers and supermarkets.) Questioned nearly 90 percent of the 226 tested a lot of products. Tests in the laboratory ITS, which was 41 samples showed that 41.5 percent of them did not meet the photometric requirements – light reflected or insufficiently reflective surface was too small (under the law, it should be at least 15 cm2) In 81 percent cases objections concerned the manual that was missing or was invalid. Other comments relate to improper documentation and marking: the missing or improperly prepared the EC type examination certificate – 58 per cent., EC declaration of conformity – 71 percent And CE – more than 40 percent.
In the case of 156 products Provincial inspectors of Trade Inspection made it possible for businesses to take voluntary corrective action. They issued a 17 decision temporarily prohibiting further access to glare satisfying the requirements and directed 13 notifications on suspicion of committing the crime to law enforcement. Outkick initiated 14 administrative proceedings to date to withdraw from the sale of the disputed products. In most cases, entrepreneurs have already taken voluntary corrective action.
Reflectors: how to buy and use them properly?
When buying reflective tape should be noted that it has been placed on the CE mark, name of manufacturer and type of product and whether it is accompanied by instructions for use. None of these elements means that the product should not be used on the road a gadget, which only reminds reflective tape.
The following reflection is placed, the better the car’s headlights illuminate him and the driver may notice a pedestrian earlier.
Pay attention to worn reflective accessories are not covered, for example Scarf, bag or backpack.
Moving the left side of the road (in the direction opposite to the movement of vehicles) glare is best to wear on his right hand or leg (from the traffic). When we move in a column, we should go right side, then we should wear them on the left arm or leg (from the traffic).
For items permanently attached to clothing (especially reflective tape sewn on), periodically check whether reflective surface is not wiped out, e.g. as a result of repeated washing or friction. If you notice that the reflective material sewn on our clothes or backpack is worn, replace it.
If the reflection is leaky and get him water (this applies to glare made of plastic and foil prismatic), replace it with a new one. The water inside the reflective surface causes a loss of reflective properties.
As the scale of the irregularities is high, the OCCP in cooperation with the Office of Prevention of Road Traffic Police Headquarters, Central Institute for Occupational Safety and Motor Transport Institute has prepared guides for consumers and entrepreneurs Safety glare. The guidance for consumers can find information, how to buy and reflective accessories to properly use and what to do if bought reflection is defective. A Guide for Entrepreneurs is a compendium of knowledge about the rules that apply to accessories, reflectors and proper for them to conformity assessment procedures.