Pay attention to fluorescent and reflective materials

Autumn makes special demands on the road: the days are getting shorter, the weather is getting worse and the overall visibility is getting worse. Adverse weather conditions, slippery roads and short periods of daylight give pedestrians and cyclists a higher risk of being overlooked by motorists. It is therefore highly recommended to wear light clothing in rain, fog, and darkness. “Reflectors, which are already perceived at distances of up to 150 meters by motorists, ensure sufficient reaction time and thus stopping distance,” says Ralf Diekmann, TÜV Rheinland expert for product safety. In comparison: A bright cap or jacket is only seen up to 90 meters, dark jackets can hardly perceive motorists or at a distance of about 30 meters.

“When buying reflective products, consumers should pay attention to corresponding standards, license plates, and test seals,” Diekmann says. Reflectors should comply with DIN standard EN 13356 and bear the CE mark. “If the GS mark is appropriate for tested safety, the product and the manufacturer are also monitored regularly.” For safety vests the standard EN 20471 applies – this check number should be present on the label of the safety vest. Reflective belts for joggers with incorporated prisms also ensure good re-radiation behavior. By the way: warning clothing is divided into three classes depending on the proportion of fluorescent and retro-reflective materials, with class 3 offering the best visibility. “Fluorescent materials or colors are particularly noticeable during foggy and rainy weather during the day, and retro-reflective material ensures very good visibility at night, for example, when it is illuminated by car headlights,” says Diekmann. If uncertainties arise about the retro-reflective behavior when purchasing, the TÜV Rheinland expert recommends taking a mobile phone photo with a flashlight from the reflection surface a few meters away. Good retro-reflective behavior is then directly visible on the display.