This Saturday, February 20, will enter into force an amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which introduces a pedestrian obligation to wear a reflective element if it moves out of the village alongside the road under reduced visibility. Initially, the police will give away the reflective tapes.
The aim is primarily to prevent serious and fatal accidents caused by the fact that the pedestrian was not sufficiently visible on the road. Between 2012 and 2015, 523 pedestrians died, including 303 at night. Only last year died 72 people who were not seen at night.
“The driver who meets the pedestrian in black at night is about 18 meters long for an adequate response. At a speed of about 70 km / h, it has only less than a second to perform the appropriate maneuver and to avert the collision, “says Tomah of the Ministry of Transport. “If the pedestrian is equipped with a reflective element, the distance to which the driver is able to recognize the pedestrian (reflective object) up to 200 meters is increased. This distance already gives him enough space to keep the pedestrians safely at 70 km / h.”
The obligation to wear a reflective vest is valid from Saturday for pedestrians in those cases when it moves out of the village in low visibility (ie not at night, but also in clouds, fogs, etc.) on the roadside or on the edge of the road in a place not illuminated public lighting. “From the point of view of our own safety, however, it is of course good to use reflective elements where there is a danger that the driver can not safely recognize the pedestrian,” Jerold adds.
“You definitely do not have to wear a reflective vest, just a good complement of retro-reflective material of a distinctive color (eg yellow, light green, orange, etc.) that is visible to other road users. Ideal for example is a reflective strap placed on the leg or hands (ideally on both limbs) toward the road,” Jerold advises. “Instead of granting sanctions, the police patrols will be more likely to talk to people and give them reflective tapes and bags to keep the law from breaking and moving safely on the road,” adds Tomas.
The MF DNES test has proven that the pedestrian with the classic torch is best visible to the driver. Unfortunately, the flashlight is not a reflective element and does not comply with the law. Theoretically, for example, a pedestrian can get a fine instead of a reflective tape – read more here.