On October 22, the Road Traffic Safety Directorate (CSDD) launches a campaign called “Be Light”! Its purpose is to encourage citizens to take care of themselves and their fellow human beings by wearing reflective jackets or reflective clothing during the dark hours of the day.
“We have been thinking how to reach the farthest corners of Latvia this year and give the vest to the people who need it most and who cannot buy it. Not all of us will be able to give vests for free. As a result, there will be nearly 800 shopping centers this year, where people will be able to purchase reflective vests for themselves and loved ones at special campaign prices. We also invite entrepreneurs, municipalities, educational institutions, parents – to take care of their loved ones and their peers by dressing them in light and safe clothing,” says Andris Lukstiņš, Chairman of the Board of CSDD.
The vests will also be shared this year in cooperation with the CSDD’s long-standing partner, the Samaritan Association of Latvia, which will assist in the distribution of reflective vests throughout Latvia, 24 vests distribution areas, and unlit roads outside populated areas. Andris Berzins, Director of the Latvian Samaritan Association, emphasizes that road safety is an essential core value of the LSA – the Samaritan Association has been providing first aid courses for drivers for many years and wants to help ensure pedestrian safety on Latvian roads.
According to data compiled by the CSDD, as many people die in October, November, and December as during the first nine “light” months of the year. There are already seven pedestrian fatalities this October, which means every three days a Latvian pedestrian is killed and a few pedestrians and/or cyclists are injured every day.
“Often pedestrians also seem to be easy to see on the road at night, especially if they are in populated areas. However, this is a misconception. Pedestrians need to be concerned about their visibility also in cities – most accidents with injured pedestrians occur in Riga and Pieriga district, where the volume of traffic and pedestrian traffic is higher. The statistics so far show that ‘dark’ pedestrians are the most frequently involved in road traffic accidents, mostly during the dark hours of the day. It is important to understand that it is difficult for a driver to see ‘dark’ pedestrians, so it is important to be careful and noticeable when choosing reflective jackets, both in populated and uninhabited areas,” explains Artis Velšs, chief of the State Police.