On Monday, the autumn holidays end. The ADAC advises children to wear reflective clothing which made of reflective fabric on the way to school. In the dark, children are often difficult to see. Reflectors ensure more safety.

In 2017 alone, there were 126 road accidents in the district of Kleve, in which children were also involved. This is evident from the traffic accident statistics of the district police department. To avoid accidents, especially in the dark season, the ADAC gives some safety instructions – just in time for the school start on Monday. “Especially in the dark autumn and winter months, school children are particularly at risk in road traffic,” says traffic expert Roman Southold.

The ADAC advises: Young road users should wear clothing with reflective materials. “In the dark, the visual acuity is reduced by up to 90 percent. Especially pedestrians and cyclists are poorly recognized by motorists. The risk of accidents increases, “says expert Southold. Statistics from the Federal Statistical Office show that between 7 and 8 o’clock in the morning when most children are on their way to school, there were 2,381 six to 14-year-olds in Germany in 2017. All affected children were on foot or by bicycle.

When buying clothing, parents and children should be careful to ensure that jackets, shoes, and other items are equipped with reflective components. For even better visibility, children and adolescents can wear safety vests on their way to school. The effect: A child with a safety vest or reflectors on their clothes can perceive motorists from a distance of 140 meters. For comparison: In light clothing without reflective material, there are just 40 meters. And with a dark outfit, only 25 meters. However, a car driver traveling at 50 kilometers per hour needs about 28 meters to come to a standstill during emergency braking. “The difference between reflective and dark clothing is crucial and can save lives,” says traffic expert Roman Southold.