The danger to pedestrians increases in traffic as the days get shorter and darker. Almost half of the accidents happened in the dark season or at dusk. If you are on foot, you should make yourself visible.
In the winter months, it is often dark early in the morning on the way to work and school. Especially when the weather is rain, cloudy or foggy.
The danger for pedestrians rises
In the dark season, the danger increases in the traffic, especially for pedestrians. According to Statistics Austria, a quarter of all accidents happen at dusk and in the dark. In the months from November to January, it is almost half. Similarly, 30 percent of all accidents happen with pedestrians in the same period. In Salzburg, there were a total of 292 pedestrian accidents in 2017. With 31 accidents, most of them happened in November, showing an ARBÖ Statistic.
Visibility is up and down
It is therefore important for your own safety to be visible in traffic. This is the easiest and best with the right clothing. Renate from the ARBÖ Salzburg in conversation with S24: “Reflective clothing is enormously important this season, ideally I’m dressed as a pedestrian completely bright.”
Reflective clothing
Since this is often not possible, there are small tools that provide more security. A reflective hood, a reflective vest or reflective snap-on tapes which made with reflective fabrics worn over arms or legs over the jacket or trousers makes pedestrians more visible to motorists.
Use illuminated crosswalks
In addition, one can avoid danger even with the choice of the way. Renate recommends crossing roads only in well-lit areas if possible. These include illuminated crosswalks, with or without traffic lights. Of course, headlamps and flashlights also make a pedestrian visible. However, Renate points out that they only shine in one direction and are not “round-about lighting”.
Unlit visible much later
A test of the ÖAMTC in Vienna showed how big the difference between a lighted and an unlit person for motorists. While a predominantly dark-clothed person already disappeared about 40 meters in front of a stationary truck in the dark of the night, was a pedestrian with blue jeans and a bright jacket visible to the driver from a far greater distance. Even better to recognize was clothed with reflectors or even a covered safety vest.