The dark season is approaching. Now comes a time when you should put a lot of emphasis in road traffic on being well seen to avoid accidents. One group that is endangered in traffic is children. Every year about 30,000 children are involved in a traffic accident in Germany. For this reason, the ADAC Foundation is distributing around 770,000 neon yellow safety vests nationwide to first-graders this year, who have not yet traveled the school way for too long. Because the physical and mental abilities of first graders are by nature not yet fully developed, the freshmen are disadvantaged compared to other road users. They are significantly smaller than adults, which are why they have less overview. In addition, they are perceived by motorists late or not at all. And first graders cannot yet locate sounds well and respond more slowly than adults.

Also in the surrounding communities, the consultants were on the road since the beginning of the current school year. For example, the ADAC Foundation has distributed about 150 neon yellow warning vests recently to first-graders in the elementary schools. “We make the children aware of the important topic of visibility in traffic,” said Alfred Haag of his deployment. The first graders at the appointment already knew well. Alexander was the first to put on his new vest after spontaneously getting the answer he needed to get the vest.

With the vest, the little ones are now in terms of visibility in the dark to become the largest. For this to work, safety vests, for example, are cut long. As a result, the vest protrudes when worn under the school bag and ensures the lighting effect on the back. The hood is also striking. Even when resting on the satchel, a wide reflective tape ensures high visibility. In addition, the vest has all around luminous reflective materials. With little stories now the more than 90 children, who have received the vest at the elementary school, should be made to comply with Alfred Haag’s request: “Please put this on.”

By wearing the safety vest, the first-graders from up to 140 meters are visible to other road users – an important measure to avoid accidents. Because of road traffic often meters and seconds count for braking or evading. Therefore, in critical situations, a leader is crucial – especially in the dark and poor visibility.