From August 31, every pedestrian moving along the roads outside the built-up area will have to equip themselves with reflective material. The police will be able to punish the pedestrian with a mandate for lack of required reflections.
The amendment to the road traffic law will come into force on the last day of holidays. Goal is to increase pedestrian safety, and at the same time to reduce the number of fatal accidents. Until now, the regulations for the obligatory use of reflections after dark outside built-up areas concerned persons under the age of 15. Everyone will now be regulated, without exception.
The holidays are over and the school year begins any day. What does it mean? In addition to the density of cars on the streets, the number of pedestrians moving outside the built-up area will increase significantly. An unspecified stroller combined with faster and faster dusk – these are often the main reasons for the tragic events on the roads. Many pedestrians also move on the wrong side of the road.
Pedestrians are often forced to move outside built-up areas, in places without lighting, sidewalks or even shoulders. They move along the edge of the road. Even if they follow the right, left side of the road, but do not have reflective elements: vests, braces, bands – their visibility is limited to only 30 meters. For a driver driving 90 km / h, it is too short a distance for reaction and effective avoidance of such a person – explains the younger aspirant Joanna.
After sunset, the visibility of the pedestrian is very limited. Thanks to the vests, the drivers will be able to see people walking from nearly 120 meters. Remember that the permitted speed of cars moving outside the built-up area is 90 km / h. On dry asphalt at such a speed, the distance from the moment of braking to the complete stop of the vehicle will be extended to nearly 80 meters. It is scary to think about the length of the car driving on the wet road.
If the pedestrian does not comply with the regulations – the police will be able to impose on him a fine of 20 to even 500 PLN. Just look at last year’s statistics, which clearly present the scale of danger. In 2013, 9.5 thousand were recorded on Polish roads. accidents involving pedestrians, in which 1147 people were killed. For nearly 9,000 the injured parties ended up with injuries. The most tragic month was November, when 159 pedestrians died.
It is worth educating and making aware of how big a danger on the road is an invisible pedestrian. A simple, ordinary reflector is always worth having with you, even if you are moving in built-up areas – he adds. It is worth to buy reflective elements. The price of the set: reflective band and vest should not exceed PLN 10. The costs of treatment are disproportionately higher.