Every pedestrian, moving around the dusk along the way outside the built-up area, will have to use reflective material – it assumes a new law on road traffic, which was signed by President Bruins.

 

The Act will come into force after 12 months from the date of announcement. Until now, only children up to the age of 15 had the obligation to wear reflections. Now the pedestrian will be able to move without retro-reflective elements only after the road is intended only for him, on the sidewalk, or in the residence zone. In other cases, outside the built-up area, a reflective vest will be mandatory.

 

Why are the vests so important? Police officers point out that a pedestrian who is walking on a dark road without reflections is practically invisible. The driver is able to notice such a person only from a distance of 20 meters. However, if the pedestrian has reflective elements, the driver can already see it from over 150 meters.

 

The problem usually intensifies in autumn and winter, when dusk falls earlier. The police argue that even in built-up areas and by the lamps, a person moving along the road, or even crossing the road, if there are no reflective tapes – is hardly visible to the driver. In 2012, pedestrian deductions accounted for as much as 27 percent of all accidents.