Lithuanian police point out that in recent days there has been a misrepresentation of 2014 in the public sphere. July 1 some provisions of the Republic of Lithuania Law on Road Traffic Safety have come into force.
This concerns Article 17 of this law – Requirements for bicycle riders. Cyclists must wear a bright-colored reflective vest with reflective tapes during daylight hours or have a white light at the front and a red light at the rear. It should be noted that this requirement applies only to the carriageway. When cycling, side walking or sidewalks (this innovation for sidewalks is part of the newly drafted Road Traffic Code), you do not need to wear reflective vests or ride with bicycle lights on.
Article 2 (55) of the Road Safety Law defines the term “bright-colored vest with reflective elements”. This is not only a yellow, orange or red vest but also another garment of the upper body (neck to waist) with reflective materials visible to other road users from all sides. By deliberately silencing these details, the public is encouraged to oppose these measures to improve traffic safety.
Bicycle path infrastructure in Lithuania is not yet well developed, as in most of the old EU Member States, where the main bicycle traffic is done by bicycle paths, not the driveway. Also, in such countries, road users themselves are actively concerned with their safety, which makes it a common practice for them to wear a brightly colored vest and safety helmet.
Police recalled that 9 bicycle drivers have already been killed in traffic accidents in Lithuania this year, including 7 in daylight hours, injuring 160 of them, including 135 in daylight hours. Police officers believe that the health and life of every person are more important than certain constraints or inconveniences, in the interests of road users.