Month: December 2019

Children to Dress in Reflective Tape

Do you know what’s scary about Halloween? Children between the ages of 4 and 8 are 10 times more likely to be killed by a car on Oct. 31 than on an average evening, according to research published Tuesday.

This is not by any means a reason to keep your child inside, on a leash, or dressed as a highway worker. According to the same study, the absolute risk is very, very small: 2.5 fatalities per 100 million Americans in 2015, at the end of a four-decade study period.

But the data is one more way that Halloween shines a light on the way we built America, for better and for worse. On the positive side, Halloween is the holiday that most venerates good neighborhood design. Tiny ghouls and pumpkins prove to be more astute critics of urban design than the credentialed professionals at City Hall, with their instant recognition of welcoming features like sidewalks and streetlights. A city’s best neighborhoods for trick-or-treaters will also have houses that aren’t too far apart, windows facing the street, and front doors that are easy to find. They might have parking accessed via back alleys, small or nonexistent front yards, or a front porch or stoop rather than the blank door of a garage. Planners call this accidental architectural standard the trick-or-treat test.

The flip side of that is that Halloween is a moment to reflect on why so few American neighborhoods live up to that standard, and what we can do to build more of them — or perhaps more practically, let more people live in the ones we have. Families shouldn’t have to commute to go trick-or-treating.

No design feature determines a neighborhood’s Halloween potential like the speed of passing cars. The spike in pedestrian fatalities on Halloween is the most vivid example of this. But a more typical one, in some ways, is the response of city governments to the anticipated, extraordinary event of … children walking around the city.

In San Francisco, which is not a forlorn hiking trail but one of America’s most densely populated cities, the Sheriff’s Department advises making your children carry flashlights. Virtually every city in America urges parents to drape their children in string lights, glow sticks, or reflective tape. Orange County, California, got the message out with Ready Fox, a vulpine road worker whose workaday neon vest is a perfect fit for this particular Halloween panic.

For the most part, however, the problem begins and ends with the way Americans drive in residential neighborhoods — fast, and with the expectation, no one will be crossing the street. AAA, of all places, has some advice that targets the right people: Slow down. Drive 5 mph under the speed limit. Look for children crossing the street. Watch for people walking on the road.

Better yet, we could build neighborhoods that make cars slow down. That way, on the one day America permits children to walk around their neighborhoods by themselves, we wouldn’t have to dress them up like they were repairing subway tunnels. It might be nice on days that aren’t Halloween, too.

Does your car have reflective tape?

The transport department will launch a drive across Ranchi district next week to enforce the use of retro-reflective tape (RRT) in all types of cars, buses, trucks, and three-wheelers as per Central Motor Vehicle Rules-1980 to cut down on accidents at night.

Ranchi: The transport department will launch a drive across Ranchi district next week to enforce the use of retro-reflective tape (RRT) in all types of cars, buses, trucks, and three-wheelers as per Central Motor Vehicle Rules-1980 to cut down on accidents at night.

Ranchi district transport officer Naresh Paswan, who revealed that they would be launching the drive in conjunction with traffic police, said the decision was based on a fresh directive issued to states, including Jharkhand, by a Supreme Court committee on road safety.

“In Ranchi, the transport department doesn’t issue fitness certificates to vehicles without reflective tape and speed governors. But a periodic check and awareness drive is always advisable to find out whether it is been followed or not on the ground,” he said.

An official explained the need for RRT on vehicles.

“RRT is a tape of high reflective quality. The tape shines even in dim light so that a driver notices a vehicle ahead. The tape has adhesive on one side and can be procured from any automobile shop and pasted on vehicles easily,” he said, adding that while most buses used RRT, other vehicles like cars did not, primarily due to lack of awareness.

He said vehicles must have white tape on the front fender, red on the rear and yellow on both sides of the car.

A meeting of Ranchi traffic police and district transport department officials is likely to be held next week. Ranchi traffic SP Sanjay Ranjan Singh said they had already worked out a plan to launch the drive.

Singh said that RRT was a safety requirement. “Even when a vehicle is stationary, RRT provides safety. People park vehicles on the roadside at night without the backlights blinking. There have been instances when stationary vehicles have been hit on highways. Section 104 of Central Motor Vehicle Act talks about the need for RRT, “he SP said.

While Ranchi district administration is gearing up to launch the drive, Palamau administration began an awareness drive on Friday by publishing a notice in local dailies. The administration has directed all vehicle owners to ensure compliance at the earliest. It has also announced a crackdown.

Here’s how to see and be seen at night

The days are getting shorter, but that’s not going to stop us from stretching the riding season out for as long as we can. Some of us never stop riding through winter. Night riding opens up a whole new set of hazards, though, mainly related to seeing and being seen. Here’s how to prepare yourself to be a night rider.

Upgrade Your Lighting

Without the sun to light your way, you have to rely on whatever light your bike can throw in front of you to see where you’re going. Stock headlights range in quality from pretty good to utterly abysmal, so this is a good place to start. In the past, running more powerful halogen bulbs has been a popular solution. This draws more power from your already weak electrical system, though. Plus, your wiring harness may not be able to handle the extra power. A great solution is LED bulbs. Not only do they produce more light, but they also draw less power than your original halogen bulb. The light they produce is also a pure white rather than halogen’s yellowish tinge, which is a bit more eye-catching. Make sure you invest in a good bulb, such as the ones available from Cyclops Adventure Sports that I use.

While you’re at it, put an LED bulb in your tail light (s), too. It will last longer, and your brake light will be more visible thanks to its instant-on nature. You can upgrade your turn signals to LED as well, but this often involves some shenanigans with resistors, relays, and such to keep them flashing at the correct speed.

Add More Lighting

In addition to the lights the bike came with, you can also add more of your own. My Honda PC800’s headlight beam pattern is terrible, to the point where not even the Cyclops bulb helped improve it much. I added a pair of cheap LED driving lights from SuperBrightLEDs.com to supplement the weak headlight. Look for a “spot” beam pattern, which throws light a good distance down the road while still illuminating the sides just a bit. Pencil beams are good for high-speed highway riding. Flood beams will only light the general area right in front of you, so while they’re good to work lights, avoid them for this purpose. Whatever you get, be careful to aim them away from oncoming drivers’ eyes. You don’t want to have them swerve into you due to their target fixation on your bright lights.

Again, tail lights are worth upgrading, too, so you can be seen from behind. When I replaced my Honda Shadow’s turn signals, I tied them in with the stock tail light so that when they weren’t flashing as a turn signal they shined steadily, giving me three tail lights instead of one. I used red turn signals for this purpose since most states frown upon amber tail lights. On my PC800, I used AdMore Lighting’s kit to install LED brake, turn, and tail lights in my Givi top trunk. This puts a complete second set of lights at drivers’ eye level, making them quite difficult to ignore. I also added a brake light flasher that briefly flickers the LEDs before they shine steadily, again to get drivers’ attention. This may or may not be 100% legal, as it’s a flashing red light. I’ve never had any issues with law enforcement, however. Just to be safe, though, I unplug these lights for state inspection, since the bike’s original lighting still works fine.

Reflective Tape

You don’t have to rely on your lighting to be seen. Reflective tape lights up your bike from other people’s headlights, making you even brighter than before. Some people go nuts with white, yellow, amber, and red tape everywhere. I liked the blacked-out look of my Honda Shadow, but I added several strips of black reflective tape to my saddlebags. The black strips were invisible during the day but lit up white at night to make me much more visible.

You can get as creative as you want with this. Cut out pretty designs. Stick it anywhere you want, including your helmet or jacket. Some riding gear comes with reflective piping or reflective fabric sewn into it, which is also helpful.

Slow Down And Watch Out

We’ve covered how to see and be seen, but it’s also worth mentioning that you should change the way you ride at night. You should only ride as fast as you can see, and be able to stop within the distance your lights shine ahead of you. As tempting as an empty highway in the middle of the night can be for high-speed shenanigans, think of the deer crossing the road that you may not see until it’s too late. Another hazard is drivers who set off with only their daytime running lights on, leaving them completely unlit from behind.

As always, you have to watch out for “the other guy,” and that’s even truer at night. It’s much more likely that other people on the road have been drinking at night than during the day. If it’s particularly late, people will be tired, which can adversely affect driving ability almost as much as alcohol.

Even if you haven’t upgraded your lighting or added any reflective tape, this is one step you can take on any bike to be safer on the road. Of course, upgrading your lights lets you see farther down the road, which lets you increase your speed. Even then, though, you should slow down a bit from your daytime pace.

Reflective Materials Market by Key Players, Application and geography

Reflective materials, manufactured from different optical quality glass beads measuring three fourth the size of human hair, are packed together densely and coated with aluminum. The process transforms each glass bead into a convex mirror. Light hitting the glass bead is reflected towards the source, unlike in a normal flat mirror where the reflection is only on the opposite side of the image. Therefore, a mirror build with reflective glass beads displays the image on every side.

Planning to lay down a strategy for the next few years? Our report can help shape your plan better.

Typically, reflective materials are made by leveraging micro prismatic technology or glass bead technology. The glass beads technology mostly finds application in the textile industry since it is flexible and easy to store. The technology uses millions of high-performance glass beads that reflect light effectively in all directions because of their spherical shape. The micro prismatic technology, on the other hand, consists of retro-reflective microscopic prisms formed on a polymeric film. They help to produce a bright reflective appearance on accessories and garments.

Spurring demand for reflective materials is the growing demand from end-use industries such as construction for materials having high visibility. Such materials offer greater visibility and hence safety in low light conditions resulting from fog, snow, and darkness after nightfall. Fabric made of reflective materials also finds use in safety and traffic management.

Despite solid demand from different sectors, the market currently has to contend with a few headwinds resulting from the supply and demand gap and fluctuating prices of raw materials. However, the market is still anticipated to grow on the back of the rising usage of reflective materials in manufacturing solar panels, windows, architectural glasses, and various apparels, namely sportswear, shirts, shoes, vests, fashion, jackets, belts, armbands, signs, safety vests, backpacks, badges, belts, and raincoats.

Product-wise, the key segments of the global market for reflective materials are reflective coating, reflective sheet, reflective film, reflective tape, reflective fabrics, reflective inks, etc. At present, the segment of reflective coatings is seeing maximum demand in the market due to their widespread usage in the textile industry, where flame retardant reflective apparels are much in demand.

End-use industries pushing up demand for reflective materials are textile, construction, automotive, etc. Among them, the construction industry is a major growth driver. Demand for reflectors, display panels, and lightening lenses drives the market.

Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa are some of the key geographic segments in the global reflective materials market. The Asia Pacific, of them, is a leading region which is being driven mainly by India and China. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are also fast emerging as prominent regions because of the surging demand for reflective materials from construction, automotive, and textile industries.

The global market for reflective material is characterized by stiff competition because of the presence of quite a few local companies in the market. To surge ahead of rivals in such a competitive environment, savvy players are seen focusing on leveraging the latest technologies to facilitate product development. In this manner, they are hoping to improve sales and therefore up their profit margins.

If you are going on holiday by car, you need to know the rules

Croatia, the most popular destination of Slovaks, directs daylight. Reflective vest, warning triangle, first aid kit, and even fire extinguisher are not missing.

Holiday destinations this year Slovaks also choose in terms of security. According to Invia statistics, the first places of interest are European countries that can be reached by car, namely Greece, Italy, and Croatia. Before traveling, drivers need to study the traffic rules not only in their destination but also in the countries they pass through.

In Austria and Slovenia, as the most common transit countries, 0.5 per mile of blood alcohol is tolerated. In Austria, unlike Slovenia, it is not necessary to light all day. Reflective waistcoat with reflective material, warning triangle, and first aid kit must be available to drivers. They must also present a green card in Slovenia. Children must be obliged to travel in child safety seats.

Croatia, the most popular destination of Slovaks, directs daylight. Reflective vest with reflective tape, warning triangle, first aid kit, and even fire extinguisher are not missing. “Children under 12 must not sit in the front seats. If they are traveling in the rear, they must have a suitable car seat or cushion designed for their age and weight category,” explains Lukas Fiala from Britax Romer.

Year-round lighting is mandatory outside the village and in Italy. “In Italy, there is also a new ban on smoking in a car carrying children under the age of 12 or pregnant women under a fine of between EUR 500 and EUR 5 000. The use of child seats is mandatory without exception,” adds Fiala. The first-aid kit is not mandatory in Italy, but due to its safety and the obligation to have a first-aid kit in the neighboring countries, experts recommend it here.

The maximum speed limit in Slovakia – Croatia / Italy states is 50 km / h in the municipality and 130 km / h on the motorway. A small amount of alcohol in the blood is also tolerated. However, experts do not recommend alcohol at all on long journeys.

Tips on how to travel by car

The car is still the most popular and used vehicle in the world, and it is not the same in our country. We travel by car to work, to the family, to shopping, to trips and, last but not least, to holidays.

Most Slovaks prefer to travel on holiday by car, despite affordable air transport. We like to travel by car very often, so we have prepared a summary article that can help you before you travel by car.

We focus mainly on what to check before traveling, what to watch out for and to recommend a few devices and applications that might be useful for you.

What to check?

The basic basis and necessity are to check the condition of the vehicle. We believe that without a basic check of the condition of the car you will not go on a long journey. You do not need to be an expert or car mechanic to check important parts of your car. First of all, it is the tires – their condition and correct inflation. The optimum tire inflation values ​​can be found on the label at the bottom of the B-pillar or the inside of the fuel filler flap. Checking the fillings is also very important, which means checking the level of oil, coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid. This is the very foundation.

If you have an older car, it is advisable to have a little distilled water and suitable engine oil in the trunk. We also recommend that you check the required equipment, which may vary by country. A warning triangle, a reflective vest, a first aid kit, and a spare wheel is essential. This is not only necessary if you have RunFlat tires or a tire repair kit. Our recommendations include a basic tool kit, an LED flashlight, and spare bulbs.

Why not forget?

Before you (not only) take a long journey, make sure that you have compulsory contractual insurance (PZP). You show this to the competent authorities with a green card that applies throughout Europe. PZP covers only those damages that you have caused to the other party – your damages are without compensation. For this reason, it is also worth having accident insurance. If you have one or want to do so, check with your provider for territorial validity. You may not want to pay in the country you are going to.

This can be completed and paid for a short period. In addition to car insurance, do not forget about personal insurance. If you are traveling as a family, you can take out insurance for a given period together and often at a very advantageous price, often including luggage and valuables insurance. Many insurance companies have mobile applications that ensure the whole family in minutes, without having to visit any branch in person. An important and necessary document in the car is also an accident report, which should be safe in English. Just download the report on the Internet and print it. Nothing complicated but very important for you to have.

If you are going on holiday with foreign car hire, you should also consider the official confirmation of renting the car. If you are stopped by the cops and you do not have it, it can be a big problem and, in the worst case, an early exit. If you rent a car, print out a simple document on the rental of a motor vehicle for a certain period, with which you must visit a notary and have it officially verified. Of course, even with the owner of the vehicle. Doing so will prevent potential problems. When renting a car from a rental office, this form is a matter of course. And do not forget your identity card (valid within the EU and Switzerland) and children under 15 must have a passport. If you do not have it, you can also provide it for your children quickly – within two working days for an increased administrative fee.

Luggage properly and passengers come first!

Always observe the basic principles of proper storage when loading the luggage in the vehicle. The heaviest items (suitcases, water, etc.) should always be at the bottom and as close as possible to the backrests of the second row. This will prevent them from sudden shifting during emergency braking, and also achieve a lower center of gravity, which is beneficial to the driveability. Heavy objects on the top help to increase the vehicle’s tilt in curves and are also very dangerous. However, any improperly attached or placed item that can take up to several times its weight during impact is dangerous. We also recommend that you take the trunk only to the level of the backrests in the second row. Remember to divide your network to go higher. Also, it will not hurt if you secure the entire luggage in the trunk against the movement of the pulling belt, etc. And do not forget the maximum permissible vehicle weight!

Passengers are always in the first place! Make sure each passenger has enough space and comfort, while not trying to push extra luggage and things that have nothing to do into the cabin itself. The cabin includes only important personal belongings, snacks, drinking regime, or some games for children that entertain them during a long journey. If you do not have enough space in the trunk, consider a roof box or a compact trailer – you do not have to buy them, they can also be borrowed. Proper sitting is also very important, always sit max. comfortably, but pay attention to safety. A child seat is a must for children and all passengers should be restrained at all times. At the moment, it is a big habit for passengers or rather passengers to put their feet on the dashboard of the vehicle for comfort. Please, never do this! Even in a small car accident, it is a life-threatening position.

The driver should not forget about regular breaks, good music, and drinking regime. During long journeys, breaks are very important, ideally after 3-4 hours of driving. You will appreciate it not only for you but also for the crew. Have a good coffee at the petrol station, stretch bones or take the highway to discover local cafes. Coffee and energy drinks are good, but everything should be taken in moderation. These tasty drinks suppress fatigue – do not remove it!

Devices and applications that you might find useful

If you are traveling with children, it is advisable to have devices that can entertain them and are not difficult to operate. They can be offline games, but also game consoles such as. Nintendo Switch. It’s also great to have a tablet to download games and record movies or fairy-tales that younger children will appreciate while watching them without an Internet connection. This includes a tablet holder to make viewing comfortable and safe. You can buy a quality holder from as little as 15 euros, but make sure you are compatible with your car. A good smartphone holder will also appreciate a chauffeur who should know that the phone is not behind the glass (in direct sunlight). Ideally, it should be placed lower on/under the dashboard or in a bracket to be placed in the vent – the air conditioning will cool the phone.

If you are taking a laptop, a voltage converter will come in handy as well. It is affordable and invaluable at certain times. You should not miss a good car charger for your smartphone. Modern cars have multiple USB-A charging ports integrated, so you only need cables. You can also use a quality power bank, which you use not only in the car. There are also those available to start the car with a discharged battery! We believe you have a smartphone, so use it properly. Certainly, it should not miss navigation applications such as Google Maps and Waze. While these applications need data, they are no longer a problem even abroad within the EU.

We believe that these recommendations will help you to manage your trip without any problems and that you will enjoy every holiday or trip by car.

The municipal police have assistants

They have reflective vests, walk through the streets alongside police officers and control cars or supervise the safety of children at school crossings. We are talking about city police assistants who have passed their first week in the streets of Pilsen.

Meanwhile fifteen of them move around the city, in April there will be five more. “They monitor the situation in the city, supervise safety in general, focus on parking, supervise dogs or public order,” summarizes the activity of young people, City Police spokeswoman Jana Pužmanová. stopping vehicles as well as self-defense, as they will move in the streets on their own from March without their more experienced uniforms.

“If they encounter a problem in the city, they contact the operations department and send a patrol. The assistants only monitor the situation, and the municipal police officer can, of course, ask for help in urgent cases. They are more qualified to do this than an ordinary citizen who is not trained like them, “the spokesperson explains.

Within the project of professional practice for young people up to 30 years of age, the districts were attended by graduates of mostly secondary schools with a security law specialization. After spending one year as assistants in the streets, they can apply for work with the municipal police. Before that, however, they have to travel around the districts to try out different activities. “Each district has its specificity and that is why they will take turns in the offices in Pilsen,” concludes Pužmanová.

Martin Matula: I enjoy working as an assistant

He is twenty-four and has completed his first week as an assistant to the Municipal Police in Pilsen. Martin Matula was so impressed with the work that he was considering becoming a guard in the future. How is your working day?

In the morning before seven o’clock, I come to the office, then I go with officers, they show me problematic or safe places and locations where there are more people.

What are you doing in those places?

It’s about prevention. People see a policeman, see a reflective vest, they can feel safer. For example, we are standing in front of the school, supervising crossings when children go to school or, on the contrary, leave.

And do you enjoy it?

I have been a Pilsner man all my life, knowing Pilsen in a way I have never experienced before, and at the same time, it is a decent job because I help. That’s what I enjoy. What’s more, it’s a different job, something different happens every day, and it’s never the same.

Are you considering joining the municipal police then?

I have completed a month of training within the project and I have been in Pilsen streets for less than a week, which is not long. In the meantime, I can say that I would like to join the municipal police after the project.

What did you find most interesting about your work over the past week?

The most grateful is the service at schools, I see that we help children and nothing happens to them. It is the balance of the repressive component that is also with the municipal police.

Speaking of the repressive component, what activity did you do in this area?

We check to park occasionally, I was present with the citizen. And that is also the content of the project, as well as the work of the officer. He has to deal with people.

Going on vacation to Croatia? Equipment you must not forget

If you are planning to go on holiday to Croatia this year, you should keep in mind that each country sets different mandatory equipment for your car.

If you go to Croatia by the shortest route, you will go through Austria and later through Slovenia. In contrast to mandatory equipment in the Czech Republic, the one in Austria includes a first-aid kit, which is also mandatory for bikers and must be in a package that prevents the ingress of dirt into its contents.

A reflective vest is only mandatory for motor vehicle drivers but is recommended for other crew members. The following colors are allowed: orange, yellow and red. If you have an on-board camera behind your car’s windshield, take it off while driving in Austria. They are forbidden here and you face a fine.

After crossing the border with Slovenia, prepare for the fact that a reflective vest is mandatory for anyone who gets out of a motor vehicle in an emergency. You are subject to penalties of up to 40 Euros. It is also not allowed to transport children under 12 years on a motorcycle or moped.

If you set out to Croatia on a longer route through Slovakia and Hungary, you should know that in Slovakia, a reflective vest is mandatory for anyone who leaves a motor vehicle in an emergency, day and night. Restrictions on navigation and similar devices that must not be placed in the driver’s field of vision also apply.

In Hungary, be prepared that the rear position lamps must also be on for the daytime running lights and that it is only mandatory outside the cities. In Slovakia and Hungary, anyone who moves on low visibility communications is required to wear a reflective vest.

In Croatia alone, the driver is required to have a reflective vest for the driver, a ban on the carriage of children under 12 years in the front seats of the car, except children under two years, placed in a special “egg” have two triangles for a towed vehicle.

Driving abroad? Beware of different mandatory equipment

Traveling by car offers many advantages, but also many disadvantages. Those who cannot allow this type of transport should not forget that the same rules as in the Czech Republic do not apply everywhere.

Andrea Schmiedová from Cheb, who went to France last year, knows about this. “We were checked by the police and I did not carry an alcohol tester, which is mandatory here, and a reflective vest for all passengers. Fortunately, they just warned me and I didn’t pay the fine.”

According to experts, the basis of mandatory equipment is the same as in the Czech Republic, but there are differences. “Compulsory equipment in European countries is usually the same as in our country. However, you will also need a fire extinguisher somewhere – for example in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece or Turkey, and if you have an N-category vehicle, Croatia, too,” said Eduarda Hekšová, director of the consumer organization dTest.

Problems await those who drive abroad with a company or rented car. “You will need a confirmation from the owner that you are authorized to drive the car, and you should also take a work contract or a rental car. The confirmation should be in English or another world language and with an officially verified signature,” explained Hekšová. “Take the confirmation even if you are a company executive or even the only person in the company. It can be difficult to negotiate with foreign police.”

Those who are going to drive outside the European Union should check if they need an international driving license. This is usually issued by the authority of any municipality with extended powers.

Albania

In Albania, a tow rope, a first-aid kit, and a triangle are mandatory in the car. It is recommended to carry a fire extinguisher in a passenger car and is mandatory in buses and trucks. Children up to 12 years of age must be seated in the car in the child restraint system. A helmet for cyclists of all ages is also mandatory on the road. Alcohol at the wheel is prohibited.

Belarus

In Belarus, the mandatory equipment of a car includes a reflective vest, a warning triangle, a sticker with a state mark, a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit. Children up to 12 years of age must be seated in the car in the child restraint system. Phoning behind the wheel is only allowed with hands-free. Alcohol at the wheel is prohibited.

Belgium

In Belgium, a reflective vest for the driver is included. In vehicles registered in Belgium, the reflective vest is also mandatory for the passenger. Motorcyclists who drive motorcycles over 50cc are required to wear protective clothing – gloves, a jacket with long sleeves, trousers with long trousers and boots with ankle protection. For vehicles registered in Belgium, a fire extinguisher is also mandatory. For foreign vehicles, it is only recommended. Children up to 135 cm in height must be seated in the child restraint system. Children from 3 years of age up to 135 cm in height must not sit in the front seat of the car seat. Alcohol at the wheel is allowed at 0.5 ‰.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, a mandatory vest must be fitted with a reflective vest for anyone who leaves the car during an emergency, such as an accident. The same goes for bikers. A reflective vest, a first-aid kit, and a warning triangle are also mandatory. All cyclists must wear a helmet, regardless of age. Children from 5 years of age must not sit in the front seat of the car seat. Alcohol at the wheel is allowed at 0.3 ‰.

Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, all vehicles except motorcycles must be equipped with a fire extinguisher. You should not forget the reflective vest, which is mandatory not only for all passengers who get out of the car in the event of an emergency but also for bikers and their passengers. The warning triangle and first aid kit are also mandatory. Children up to 150 cm in height must be seated in a child seat. Children from 3 years of age up to 150 cm in height must not sit in the front seat, even when they are in the car seat. Alcohol at the wheel is allowed at 0.5 ‰.

Montenegro

In Montenegro, a reflective vest is mandatory for all persons leaving the vehicle in the event of an emergency. The same goes for bikers. A safety helmet is mandatory for all cyclists. The warning triangle and first aid kit are also mandatory. Children under 12 must be seated in a restraint system. Children between the ages of 5 and 12 must not sit in the front seat, even when they are in the car seat. Alcohol at the wheel is allowed at a rate of 0.3 ‰ except for professional drivers – they are zero.

Croatia

In Croatia, a mandatory vest must include a reflective vest with reflective tape, a warning triangle, a first-aid kit and a fire extinguisher (N-category vehicles only). Vehicles with a trailer must have 2 warning triangles. Children under 12 years of age must not be transported in the front seat, except for children under 2 years old who are placed in a safety egg and the airbag is switched off. Children under 12 years must not be transported on motorcycles or mopeds. Children under 16 years of age must wear a bicycle safety helmet. Alcohol at the wheel is only allowed for drivers with experience of 0.5 ‰. Novice drivers and professional drivers have zero alcohol levels.

Reflective vests will be mandatory in Germany from July

Starting in July, drivers in Germany will have to wear reflective vests in cars, and there is a fine for breach of duty. On the same date, the environmental rules for entry into some German cities are also tightened, to which cars with red and yellow emission plaques will no longer be allowed.

The inclusion of a reflective vest in the mandatory equipment of the car should improve the safety of drivers who have to leave the car in the event of an accident or breakdown, as motorists will be able to see them more easily in the surrounding vehicles. The new design does not specify whether the reflective vest should be orange, yellow or green. Unlike Austria, German regulations will not require a vest for every passenger of the car, one will be enough per vehicle.

If the driver does not have a reflective vest with reflective tape in his car, he is at risk of a fine of 15 euros (410 crowns) at the roadside check. German car club ADAC, however, warns that if the driver of the vest when getting off the vehicle, it is not an offense. In this case, however, he will probably not be entitled to compensation from the insurance company if he is injured by a passing car.

Since July, the rules for entry into some German cities have also been tightened. While so far cars with three types of emission plaques were allowed to enter, only cars with a green plaque, which indicates the engine with the least environmental impact, will now be allowed to enter. The measure concerns 21 cities in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. Similar arrangements have been in place for example in Berlin.

The type of emission plaque is determined by the number of harmful substances that the vehicle emits into the atmosphere during operation. The Green Plaque has been eligible for petrol-powered cars since 1993, diesel-powered passenger cars since 2006 and trucks put into operation since October 2006. All-electric vehicles are also automatically awarded the Green Plaque.

In the Czech Republic, it is possible to obtain the plaque at most technical inspection stations upon the presentation of a large technical certificate. According to the Central Automotoclub of the Czech Republic, the price of the plaque is around 300 crowns, its validity is not limited in time.

Should the driver enter the defined low-emission zone without an emission plaque or with a lower grade than the given city permits, he will face a fine of EUR 80 (CZK 2200).