June 2017 - Vivianq's blog

Drivers do not have to throw away old safety vest

The Ministry of Transport demented the report that drivers would have to change their safety vests in their mandatory equipment. According to earlier reports, it would be necessary to have reflective vests meeting the new standards in the car. This concerns only newly manufactured products, so it is not necessary to discard old ones.

The Central Automobile Club of the Czech Republic on its website informed on Tuesday that the drivers will have to reach their mandatory equipment and replace the reflex vests with the new ones in order to meet the updated standards. New vests are better visible on the road.

The old reflective vest is labeled EN471, the new CSN EN ISO 20471: 2013. The “notification person” and its four-digit identification number should be mentioned on the vest, the ÚAMK said.

Turning right and red – This very clever rule is applied mainly in the US. Helps reduce traffic density. If the driver turns to the right and has red, he is at the junction with the traffic lights as if there were a stopwatch. He goes to the junction and stops to have a good view. If nothing goes left, it can continue. In the Czech Republic we can find traffic lights with green arrows, but the nationwide rule would have a bigger effect. Drivers for Beginners – This solution has been going on for a long time in the Czech Republic as well. In many European countries, beginners get a special driver for a year or two. At that time, they are subject to more restrictive rules, such as less promiscuity of alcohol at the wheel or higher penalties for an offense. In some countries, a young driver must be accompanied by a more experienced person for some time.

The Ministry of Transport but the ÚAMK report demented on Tuesday afternoon: “The protective properties of vests, which corresponded to the former European Standard EN 471, are sufficient in terms of safety and correspond to technical requirements, so I would like to reassure the drivers that they do not have to throw away vests they bought earlier New, “said Transport Minister Dan.

“It is true that the vest that is part of the mandatory equipment must conform to a European standard (EN 471 or EN ISO 20471), but it does not show that older vests complying with this standard are inadequate and people cannot use them”.

The requirements of the revised European Standard apply to new products marketed by manufacturers. Manufacturers also continue to be required to affix the CE marking to the product, which reflects compliance with the essential requirements of the Government Order and the Directive.

However, the high visibility vest in the mandatory equipment of the vehicle is not one of those protective clothing, for which the number of the notified body carrying out the check must also be indicated. This concerns other, specialized, protective equipment, the ministry writes in its statement.

Confusion around reflective vests for cars

Not so long ago, the motoring public outraged obligation to change the content of these chests, even if it has not been used in any part of them. While experts said that some medical materials have a much longer life than what is declared on the roster. Most drivers take at least this provision as waste.

This week, some news sites Nozzle-beating range of drivers with information about the need to replace the mandatory reflective vests for new ones, according to new EU regulations. Then it but responded Transport Minister Dan stream with a simple statement: Drivers may not change reflective vests equipped vehicles.

“Protective vests properties that corresponded to the earlier European standard EN 471 are sufficient safety and meet the technical requirements. So I would like to reassure motorists clearly that they do not throw away the vest that you made earlier and not have to buy new ones,” say Dan.

Requirement meet the new standard EN ISO 20471 according to the authority applies only to manufacturers, who market the new vests. “We’re the new ones or do not have, but we do not sell anything that does not pay,” said a saleswoman at a gas station Devin under the new bridge, where the editors newspaper tried to buy a new safety vest.

People in buying a new reflective vest in any case must now check the label, and whether it conforms to the European standard. Old standard EN 471 is no longer valid.

Waistcoat intended mandatory equipment for motor vehicles according to applicable regulations, it is the one that is marked by EN ISO 20471: 2013 and is described on the four-digit identification number of the Notified Body that it tested.

According to available information, the “old” vests according to EN 471 were to be resold for cyclists and pedestrians, but the product must be removed the name “Waistcoat” and indicate that this is high visibility clothing. While vest according to the old standard cost around thirty crowns vest according to the new decree will come to around sixty crowns.

The new decree brings many surprises and controversies such as the recent controversy surrounding the right of way at roundabouts. Warning vests may not be far from the last.

Reflective elements have been a responsibility

Pedestrians who set out on the road in the dark or diminished visibility must also wear reflective elements for the year. Police sometimes even check and distribute fines. But the effort was paid off. According to statistics, the number of pedestrians killed outside the village has fallen. Still, there are those who walk on the roads without reflective elements. And some will pay for it for life.

Last Friday, 2 September, the Czech police officers received reports from the driver. He drew attention to the unlit pedestrian who was driving the bicycle on the side. He could not see it well, but fortunately he was able to avoid it at the last minute. It was too late before the cops reached the place. A sixty-year-old man on the road between Bola pod and Doisy hit the car. He died on the spot.

Tragic events would most likely prevent a man from reflect himself on the road. It is the year that you already have a year on Czech pedestrian roads. And statistics show that due to their use, the tragic events that happened in the region were lost.

In the year 2016, 111 pedestrians died in traffic accidents. This is about 20 victims less than in 2015. It also started better this year when seven pedestrians died during the January accident, compared to 11 in 2015 and 2016.

“The decrease in tragic accident of pedestrians is only outside the village, while in the villages the number of their victims was the same as in 2015, except 20 people died less last year,” says Martin Farrar, head of BESIP.

Although the reflective vest for pedestrians outside the community are obligatory, accidents occur when people are not wearing them. “Every accident is specific and we can hardly generalize that these people would live if they had reflective elements but would certainly have a better chance of surviving,” explains Martin Farrar. According to BESIP, it is shown that reflective elements can reduce the risk of a pedestrian accident by up to ten times in poor visibility.

Moreover, the statistics show that the number of pedestrians who died after an accident in the village has increased by four, while outside the village, where people should wear reflective elements, the number of pedestrians killed has dropped by 10. The duty is still valid for a reduced day Visibility. Under such conditions no one died in 2016, but three people a year earlier.

BESIP supports wearing reflective elements of the campaign called “Do We See?” It informs them about the danger that pedestrians are losing sight of. In addition to the cops, he has already given out a million reflective tapes.

Nocturnal pedestrian need to equipped reflective elements

When walking on the road outside the village at night or in poor visibility, people must wear reflective vests or tapes. The amendment to the Road Act, which imposes this obligation, has become effective on February 19th, but the police have begun fining for this offense only when the fall came.

Therefore, if a pedestrian without a reflective element is found to be less visible on the roadside at a place where there is no public lighting, he can get a block fine of up to 2000 crowns. Until recently, the police only consulted these pedestrians and gave them free-of-charge reflective tapes for roadside checks.

However, the education was not very effective. As the head of the Department of Transportation, Martin Farer, told the press conference on Tuesday, most pedestrians ignore this new duty or have poorly fitted reflective elements. “From October 1 to 24, 56 people died on the roads, three more than in the same period last year. Of that there were 13 killed pedestrians, “informed traffic police director Tomah Larch.

If the pedestrian is equipped with a reflective element in a reduced visibility, the distance to which the driver is able to distinguish, up to 200 meters, is increased. And it already gives enough time for the driver to respond in time, and the pedestrians safely avoided. The reason why the obligation to wear reflective elements was enacted is the fact that between 2012 and 2015, 523 pedestrians died on the domestic roads – 303 of them at night.

She purchases them without any problems

“People mistakenly think that reflective elements must only be in the dark. But it is not accurate, because it must be visible in the dark even at dawn or after sunset. In the mist, it is also appropriate to have a light source, such as an electric flashlight, “he said. Reflective elements can be purchased for example in stationery, sports stores, often in a supermarket, in a shop, at a post office or at a petrol station.

The price of reflective tapes is usually between thirty to forty crowns. They are even cheaper in internet e-shops, which offer them from 15 crowns and reflective vests for adults from 100 CZK. However, it is necessary to add a delivery amount that is often higher than the price of the reflective element itself. Pedestrians who fail to comply with the law are threatened not only by a fine.

“They should also remember that without reflexive elements they are at risk of having to pay for some of the medical or other costs incurred in connection with a traffic accident,” said Roman Bosky of the Road Safety Team.

Reflective vest as a protest

Support for the so-called Jawbone challenge today is the expression of bus drivers across the country. Politicians say: We have enough competitions at a low price; we do not like the public transport conditions. Public procurement conditions lead to low wages for drivers. In Prague, trade unionists are heading for the Ministry of Transport.

We mapped what the Czech army is doing. Take a look at the Tetra of all types, Pandora, tanks and hovercraft. We mapped what the Czech army is doing. Take a look at Tetra of all types, Pandora, tanks and hovercraft

Dozens of drivers in the Liberec region met today in their reflective jacket for their buses. Politicians say: We have a lot of competitions at a low price; we do not like the public transport conditions.

In the orange and yellow vests, Bus line bus drivers in Jawbone were driving on the road today. The trade unionists at the end of September announced a stand-by strike and called for the fight against dumped public transport prices and low wages for drivers. If the problem does not begin within a month, they are ready to strike.

At the same time, the trade unionists brought materials to the Ministry of Transport for a bus transport tender in the Hradec Karloff Region, calling for tenders to take more account of other parameters, not just the lowest price. “There is nothing about drivers in all these fascicles,” said President of Bus Line, basic trade union organization, Jixi. According to him, today’s protest with the dressing of an orange reflective vest helped 4000 drivers from all over the country.

The trade unions, according, strive to establish a working group in co-operation with the regions and the government, which would develop a unified methodology according to which the regions would issue public bus transport competitions. Tenders should be one of the essential conditions for keeping a minimum wage for drivers.

Dealers require that the lowest wage of drivers in the form of 1.75 times the minimum wage be enforced directly in the award of contracts. It corresponds to 100 crowns per hour. For example, bus drivers in Jawbones take 72 crowns per hour according to the Kolchak, while they earn about 22,000 to 23,000 crowns a month, but only at the price of dozens of overtime hours.

According to the CTK survey, drivers’ wages in most Czech transport companies are below average wages. Professionals are also asking for job revisions where the lowest price was the only criterion, and call for dialogue at the level of the union, regional authorities and management.

Even now, regions can be selected according to criteria other than the price, said Tomah Enfold, spokesman for the Ministry of Transport. The Ministry and the trade union representatives will continue to act on the adjustment of the selection methodology. At the same time, he said that it was not the Ministry of Transport, who set up specific tenders for the operation of individual bus lines, but the region.

In addition to the Ministry of Transport, the trade unionists in safety vest also want to address the Ministry for Regional Development, which is in charge of public tenders. The thunder in the eye is especially for the drivers of the public bus tender, which was announced by the Hradec Region in September.

The customized documentation for CZK 5.5 billion is an extensive work where precise specifications are available. “But there is no talk of how much the driver has to pay a minimum wage, and it has been that we have paid a wage of 120 crowns to us, which is scandalous to me, forcing someone to earn only so much, but do not think that I do not have to go home for the beggars, I find it very arrogant from the Councilors from the Hradec Region, “he added.

Reflective vest as a protest

Police handed out reflective vests to drivers

The Kutenai policemen joined the action police headquarters, which is aimed at raising the visibility of motorists. As part of preventive controls traffic on the road between the village and the town Tributaries Kutenai on Tuesday to talk with the driver about the visibility and handed them reflective vests.

Reflective vests are designed for emergencies on the road. If the driver in solving technical defect or a traffic accident rises outside of the village on the road, they must always wear a reflective safety vest, which is required to be in the vehicle. A joint preventive action of the Czech Police and the Czech Office of Insurers not only aims to remind drivers that obligation, but also to draw attention to the safety of the entire crew vehicles and vehicles equipped with reflective vests passenger.

Reduced visibility when a road user clearly does not recognize vehicles, people, animals or objects on the road from dusk to dawn, fog, snowfall or heavy rain, the moment when there are accidents with often tragic consequences for health and life.

Drivers and cyclists have a legal duty to shine. Pedestrians then its visibility can greatly increase the use of reflective or fluorescent clothing parts and accessories. While pedestrian dressed in dark clothing is visible to the driver at only 18 meters road user reflective clothing is visible up to 200 meters. Maneuvering space for the driver in this case is considerably higher and the probability of collision with a pedestrian decreases significantly.

Reflective material used in difficult conditions

With its second generation of winter reflective gloves, BMW Motor aims to prove all his skills to fight against the cold. Thought out in every detail, the Pro Winter 2 also wants to practice and a quality / price.

As for the design of its motorcycles, BMW has conducted extensive research on his gloves Pro Winter 2, to promote comfort, ease of use and security. These gloves resolutely “winter” however show an original look, far enough from the aspect of “good big slippers” to own many winter equipment.

The cut is elegant and cared details appear as mixing colors on the top of the glove and leverets inside the palm. Reinforced foams are applied to the fingers and back of the hand and a reflective tape 3M two centimeters short of the glove profile for improved visibility when traveling in difficult conditions (night, rain, fog, etc.).

But it is above the level of ease of use that the Bavarian brand claims to have made the most progress: internal seams at the fingertips have been removed and the stretch of mixing and goatskin should provide significant flexibility. The feel of hands on the controls is intended also improved with a lower thinner padding (100 grams), a performing of the fingers and a silicone tape application inside the palm and on the ends.

Protection against the cold is in turn provided by a padding microfiber (250 grams in thickness on the upper part), lined with a thin aluminum layer and a membrane Gore Tex. Of course, BMW says that the membrane is “waterproof, windproof and breathable.”

Finally, Pro Winter 2 have not forgotten the ergonomic and practical sides, since in addition to the traditional Velcro adjustment on the wrist, a convenient cord by pulling system is present on the top of the glove. And like the previous model, this nifty clamp – with a stopper – can operate with one hand!

Available from size 6 to 12 in black only, these winter gloves are marketed in 109 € price. A price “Consequent” but is justified by the quality of reflective materials used and its many thoughtful details.

High-visibility safety apparel

The high-visibility safety clothing must comply with the European Standard for visibility clothing EN471: 2003, Class I, Class II and Class III.

Garments are classified according to the visibility they provide. Each class specifies the minimum quantity of base material and retro-reflective material to use.

Countries requiring the presence of high-visibility warning vests in vehicles are:

Austria, Belgium, Croatia, France, Italy and Spain (Spain requires every occupant of the vehicle has potential access to its vest, which must be kept on board the vehicle).

Countries recommending the wearing of warning jackets are: Norway and Portugal.

Standards of safety clothing Class I

Wearing these clothes is enough on private road. High-visibility trousers fall into this category if they are mismatched with a jacket or a safety vest. The minimum surface base material is 0.14 m², the minimum area of retro reflective material is 0.10 m².

Standards of safety clothing class II

Wearing these clothes is suitable for roads open to public traffic. The minimum surface base material is 0.5m²; the minimum area of retro reflective material is 0.2 m².

Standards of safety clothing class III

Wearing these clothes is required on motorways, dual-channel or airport areas. The minimum area of base material is 0.8 m², the minimum area of retro reflective material is 0.2 m².

This information is for guidance only. Always make sure your visibility clothing is appropriate in any given situation.

Veolia technicians wear safety vest track down leaks

Drinking water is a precious commodity that must limit the loss. At Veolia, Veolia technicians wear a reflective vest tracks down leaks in the network of 59 municipalities in the Vendees.

For us, it just turns on the tap. And the water flows. Drink a glass of water; take a shower, washing dishes… And when one receives a note in our mailbox to warn us is that the water will be cut off during the afternoon, it is the disaster. “Water leaks is classic, says Pascal Bernard, responsible for the distribution of drinking water in Veolia. The thing is to identify as quickly as possible to cause the least possible inconvenience to the users. On average, they will be without half a day, maximum. “Because it’s right, the submerged part of the iceberg.

Leaks often related to road problems

Leakage may result from heavy work; thaw a pipe in winter or, an obsolete pipeline. “When you see water flowing along the sidewalk, for example, the city hall is calling us directly to resolve the issue”, describes Melinda Gilbert, head of Veolia service network. Consequences: broken pipes, geysers that form in concrete, rough roads … In short, it is the snowball effect that attempt to limit the field technicians.

At Lyonnais, wearing a helmet, wearing gloves and a reflective jacket, Pascal shows how to capture a water leak in the pipes. This is an acoustic research, managed by a big box and headphones, everything is done. “The longer the flight, the lower it will be difficult to capture, he says, tapping his case. One must also take into account external noise. “Example: traffic. A car passes and all analysis is flawed. That’s why sometimes you have to these analyzes at night when traffic is less.

Five to ten accidents per year

“Water losses account for about 5% of consumption,” explains Melinda Gilbert. If losses remain stable in proportion, they increased in volume recently Lyonnais worrying the environmentalists. Sometimes leaks are related to other problems than those on the network. At La Roche-sure-Yon, the latest based on a sprinkler system, left open overnight inadvertently.

To detect the technicians follow the daily consumption, thus raising their consumption peaks unexplained cases. To avoid such complications, there are sectors listed with about 150 meters. Each technician in safety vest has a map where they are listed. “This is not to lose time in their search for knowledge in what sector of leak, it already reduces the scope, says the manager. It takes a lot of permissions so as not to lose time.” Pretty well-established systems since, according to Melinda Gilbert, there are between five and ten major accidents per year.