The German Police Union wants to introduce in Berlin reflective vests for cyclists. This triggers a new discussion about more road safety.
Many cyclists are dark without light on the road, endangering themselves and other road users. Especially in the winter months when it is already dark early, many cyclists are easily overlooked. The German Police Union Berlin (Dog) now demands that cyclists must wear by nightfall on a reflective vest.
“With safety vest are cyclists more visible in the dark,” said Bode Count Palatine, state chairman of the Dog, the Berliner Morgenpost. “Therefore, it should at dusk and at night give a duty to carry safety vests.” The demand came at a symposium of the radio car driver together in discussions with the officials of the traffic monitoring. Berlin cyclists would rush especially in the evenings without lights through the city, they say. “The excuses are mostly the same. The light is only just broke down” Palatine reported from the experience of officials. “Particularly brazen is the excuse it passing anyway nothing.”
The advocacy of the cyclists, the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC), the trade union demand looks critical. “Who wants to make cycling safer, must take care of safe cycle lanes and, through public relations work for a good traffic environment. The show international comparisons such as Copenhagen or with the Netherlands,” said Stephanie Kroner, spokeswoman for the ADFC. “Anyone who feels as cyclists on the streets welcome and respected adheres better to the rules. The lighting requirements for bicycles are sufficient to ensure the visibility and perception of cyclists.”
Please also refer to Pro & Contra: The Police Union wants to initiate with their demand a political discussion. “We are intensely for our idea to get lives, advertise,” Palatine said. Support learns the union demand of the CDU parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies. “Yes, without restrictions Yes. I am very clear for a mandatory safety vests for cyclists from nightfall,” said the traffic expert of the CDU, Oliver Frederica. “That’s a lot of security for little money.” Cyclists who are not seen in the dark, would scare often pedestrians and motorists and put at risk. “I am an ardent supporter of this idea.”
The Green Group in the House believes that the proposal in everyday life will be difficult to implement. “The proposal of the police union is certainly well-intentioned, but impractical,” said the transport spokesman for the Greens, Stefan Gelbhaar, and referred to Leihfahrradsysteme. “Then every cyclist should at all time carry around a reflective vest with them.” Always new demands would bring in his view, nothing. “Better is a functioning lighting on the bicycle and adequate controls.”
In the traffic safety not only the cyclists should be aware of their responsibilities, he said, and calls for better infrastructure for cyclists. Especially at intersections would happen a lot of accidents? “There is still plenty to do.” “One should think and educate about wearing the vests on a voluntary basis,” he said. “To make the wearing of duty, I see skepticism in Berlin.”
The ADAC relies on higher education, attractive clothing, reflective tapes and voluntary instead of a “bureaucratic safety vest obligation”. “Vests care with cyclists for much better visibility in the dark. Especially in Berlin already many cyclists wear reflective vests voluntarily and are therefore safer on the road,” said Volker cranes, ADAC board member for transport in Berlin-Brandenburg. “Lighting and visibility are equally important for all road users.”