Approaching winter, time-shifting, and earlier dimming increase the risk for pedestrians on the road. Especially in villages where there are no pavements, care should be taken to see children. Given the number of road pirates and inattentive drivers, reflective elements on children are never enough.

 

On Wednesday, a serious accident occurred when a 15-year-old girl on the road behind Vrútky towards Žilina caught a driver of an Iveco truck. A girl who was not wearing reflective elements is badly injured. Last year, 49 pedestrians died on our roads. Of these, 31 percent, or 63 percent, crashed in low visibility, in the dark.

 

The danger is great inside and outside the village. In towns and villages, the streets are more illuminated, but more people lost their lives there last year, 31. Outside the village, 18 people died, but this is also a high number, given that people move more rarely there.

 

In any case, it is important to be vigilant and above all seen. Reflective vests with reflective materials and belts are the simplest and cheapest tool. Police warn people to put them on their bodies, not on handbags or shoulder straps. They are more visible on the arm above the elbow or forearm. “When the tape is on the hand, its reflective surface is considerably larger and the pedestrian is more visible,” the police recalls.

 

In the Nordic countries, where only six hours of light during the day are light during the day, they have a lot of experience in highlighting pedestrian visibility. Children have reflective tapes on jackets, shoes, bags. Particularly widespread are hanging reflectors on backpacks, which burn as a person moves, attracting more attention to passers-by.

 

Reflective strips, or reflective vests, are best to have with you at all times. They are essential not only in the evening but also at any time of the day in poor visibility. Pedestrians should have them on the side of the body that is closer to the road. In addition to the shoulders and elbows, it is recommended to place them close to the knees and the waist level. They can be glued wherever you can – on shoe soles, bikes, skates, helmets, scooters, school bags. Even clothing manufacturers are already thinking about visibility – several windbreakers or jackets already have sewn fluorescent elements.

 

Police officers may impose a block fine of up to € 30 for not wearing reflective items or clothing during reduced visibility.