During the evening walk, most dogs wear a light collar to be visible to others. However, the holders are rarely protected by reflective materials on clothing.
They are available in green, red, blue, pink, orange or even multi-colored. We’re talking about glowing dog collars or harnesses designed to protect the animals from being overlooked in the dark seasons of the evening walk. A sensible thing, because especially on poorly lit streets, in parks or on dirt roads around Darmstadt are the four-legged otherwise almost invisible.
Meanwhile, the vast majority of dogs are given such an accessory by the owners to make the animals visible to motorists and other walkers. As a result, in the early evening hours brightly colored dots bounce through the landscape – and all alone. In any case, one might think so, because the holders are invisible in most cases because unlike their dogs, they are out in the field without reflectors and light. The same is often true for walkers without a dog and joggers.
At the German Traffic Watch, this phenomenon is known. This is similar to wearing a bicycle helmet, says press spokesman Heine Othman. Frequently, parents would require their children to put on a helmet while cycling, while not wearing one. However, why humans tend to protect their children and animals better than themselves, cannot explain Othman. That is not plausible.
Traffic psychologist Prof. dr. Mark Vallarta of the TU assumes that most pedestrians consider themselves more recognizable than they really are. “They do not think they have to be seen by others and think it’s enough they can see everything.” But that can be a dangerous fallacy.
Basically, there is no obligation for pedestrians, in contrast to cyclists, to be on the road with lights and reflectors on the way. The police can only appeal to the own safety awareness of dog owners, joggers, and other pedestrians. “This is all in our own interest, but we can only welcome good visibility,” says Bernd Hochstetler, spokesman for the police and responsible for the Directorate Road Safety in southern Hess.
Heine Othman from the Verkehrswacht emphasizes: “Reflectors increase visibility enormously.” Anyone who wears reflective fabrics on clothing is clearly visible at a distance of 130 meters, according to Othman. For motorists, especially on dirt roads, where driving is usually not that fast, there is enough time to brake and pass pedestrians at a reasonable speed. Policeman Bernd Hochstetler also emphasizes the effectiveness of reflectors. “A good recognition is an alpha and omega, that can bring decisive meters to avoid accidents.”
The police spokesman is almost paradoxical that dog owners protect their animals with light cords, but neglect their own safety in most cases. Traffic psychologist Vallarta explains that dog owners protect their animals better than themselves because animals cannot recognize a dangerous situation and react to it. On the other hand, many pedestrians are of the opinion that relying on one’s own ability to respond in difficult situations makes self-protection unnecessary.
For those who do not want to go for a walk with the bright yellow safety vest, Heine Othman recommends reflectors on shoes and trousers. “That brings a lot,” said the spokesman for the Traffic Watch, finally, the legs would be illuminated very early by the light of the car headlights. “The main thing is to be seen,” says the speaker, who also recommends bright clothes for a walk or while jogging.