This weekend, we will move to winter time. The opportunity for the police wear safety vest to Strasbourg to educate all road users because there is a peak accident rate and mortality, especially in the morning between 8am and 10am and the dusk between 17h and 21h. Pedestrians, cyclists, motorists are all involved.

 

According to statistics provided by the Departmental Directorate of Public Security of the Lower Rhine (DDSP 67) in 2014, the month before the transition to winter time, in 22 accidents with 23 minor injuries and death. The months following the time change, 39 accidents were recorded including 45 minor injuries and two deaths. If the blade is a time for accidents, it should be noted that between 17h and 19h, accidents almost doubled after the schedule change past.

 

The reasons

Two main reasons are given to explain this increase in the number of accidents. A first, obvious, the dark period increases during peak hours. Road users are more and more tired, and sometimes vehicle lighting and street lights are not always enough to see well pedestrians and cyclists without reflective vest.

 

Finally, many cyclists have not checked the equipment of their bicycles. After the summer, when headlights, lights and reflectors are often damaged, absent see, wait a few days to put the standards can be fatal.

 

Advice

To prevent tragedies, DDSP 67 will strengthen controls and advises pedestrians to “choose bright clothing or better still with retro reflective tapes.” For cyclists, it is strongly recommended to wear a reflective safety vest even if it is not required (except when driving outside urban areas at night or in low visibility day).

 

They are also asked “not to ride on sidewalks and to thoroughly check their lights, white front and red rear.” Compulsory, they do not have to be attached to the bike. As for motorists, they are asked to be vigilant, to reduce speed and to “beware of” black holes “, these passages from a lighted area to a darker area where a pedestrian may arise, and finally to depart sidewalks whenever possible.”