Motorists should keep an eye on whether they have a reflective vest in the car. In many countries, it is mandatory, often under the threat of thousands of fines.
Most recently – since April 30 – it is mandatory to wear a reflective vest in Slovenia. Local measures are among the countries where the vest is compulsory, the most moderate. The driver must always wear it when he or she leaves a car on a motorway or expressway in an accident or breaks a car.
A similar situation as in Slovenia is in Belgium, Italy, Romania and this year also in Luxembourg and Hungary. Still, there are differences – The Hungarian police have no power to collect fines on the spot in cash, a fine is paid by a payment order and must be paid within 15 days. In Italy, passengers must also use the passenger jacket if they leave the vehicle in the event of an accident or breakdown.
Stricter conditions apply since 2005 in neighboring Austria. Outside of the village, the driver must wear the safety vest always in a situation where a warning triangle, motorways and express roads are to be built behind the vehicle every time they move out of the car. In addition, it is the duty to carry the vest. Failure to comply with these rules will theoretically amount to a penalty of up to € 5,000, in reality the fine ranges from € 14 to € 36 (about $ 350- $ 900). According to the Austrian Automobile Club ÖAMTC, the lower rate is most often levied.
A similar situation as in Austria is in a typical summer destination for Czech drivers – in Croatia the duty is extended except for motorists and motorcyclists, but for violation, there is no sanction at present. In the Czech Republic, according to Government Regulation 168/2002 Coll. Reflective vest is a part of mandatory service equipment. Vehicle vehicles are also subject to the obligation to wear reflective vests in Germany.
The European Standard EN 471 defines how the visor should look properly. If this standard matches the high visibility vest, it should be marked on the label along with other product data. Although in many countries there is no obligation to have or use reflective vests, transport experts agree that it is always better to keep it in touch with regard to their own security in case of unforeseen events.