Due to the weather, the risk of accidents increases. Pay attention to fluorescent and reflective materials.
Autumn has special requirements in road traffic: The days are getting shorter. The weather is getting worse and thus the overall visibility. Adverse weather conditions, slippery roads and short periods of daylight give pedestrians and cyclists a greater risk of being overlooked by motorists. It is highly recommended to wear reflective clothing in rain, fog and darkness. “Additional safety is provided by reflectors, which are already perceived by drivers at distances of up to 150 meters, thus allowing enough reaction time and stopping distance,” says Ralf. 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.
Pay attention to the test mark
“When buying reflective products, consumers should pay attention to the corresponding standards, license plates and test seals,” Denman 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 tapes for joggers to incorporating prisms also ensure good reflective properties. 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 Denman. If uncertainties arise with regard to the retro reflective behavior during the purchase, the TÜV Rhineland expert recommends making a cell phone photo with a flashlight from the reflective surface from a few meters away. Good retro reflective behavior is then directly visible on the display.