“Without reflex, you are like a gray spot”

“It doesn’t matter if you look like a Christmas tree, only you can see,” says Camilla Fri-Bergström at the Raseborg police. Without reflex, you blend into the surroundings, at least sixth-graders in the Katarina School in Karis know.

The darkness came so suddenly that Freija Kauranen did not react. By the next week when it seals further, she will dig out reflex tapes and trays. Also, she sometimes wears a reflective vest sew on reflective tape.

“But only when mom forces,” she adds whispering.

Here at the Katarina School in Karis, it is obvious to use reflex. Sixth graders Freija Kauranen, Linus Wiklund and Arvid Hanell do not show the slightest hint of attitude problems when it comes to being safe in traffic. It’s cool to be safe. But what about the external requirements?

“The use of reflex is a matter of course, but it should not look anyhow,” says Kauranen.

Both Arvid Hansell and Linus Wiklund are both good users of reflective vests and other smaller reflexes. What one looks like is secondary when it is the issue of security.

It is dark after all so no one sees one.

At the Katarina School, the attitude is admirable, but everywhere people are not as positively inclined to use reflexes. For older Constable Camilla Fri-Bergström at the Raseborg Police, darkness is a yearly recurring theme, if possible even higher than for the rest of us.

“Situational speed. Deer. Moose. Dark. Driving lights. Schoolchildren. Reflex. Raceborg. My thoughts this morning.”

So Fri-Bergström writes on the Raseborg Police’s Facebook page one Tuesday morning in October. The rain, the fog, and the darkness have made their way into classic October manners, and this is evident in the traffic.

The children’s reflections are extra important to think about, she says – the family’s smallest can behave erratically in traffic. Here, the constable points to parents’ responsibilities. Regardless of whether or not reflex is considered a bargaining factor, it is a must for anyone who wants to be different from the environment.

It doesn’t matter if you look like a Christmas tree, only you can see.

Darkness is a national phenomenon but touches on a local level. In Raseborg, taxi drivers who pick up school children in the mornings have wanted all children to wear reflexes to appear better.

But also as an adult, it is important to think about your safety. Fog and bad before, like the dark, affect how you look – and street lighting does not help the situation significantly, although many believe it. Something should be flashing for you to be seen, says the constable.

Without a reflex, you often become a small, gray spot in the surroundings.

A citizen informed the police of an adult who was cycling along the country road – without reflex. According to Camilla Fri-Bergström, this is a common attitude problem – you think you will be seen but the reality is another. In the darkness only what is illuminated by the headlights.

The truth is also a crunch in numbers. The driver of a car with turned on dipped beams can see a pedestrian at an average of fifty meters distance. If the pedestrian wears reflective clothing, they are visible at a distance of 350 meters. With the main beam turned on, the reflex is even more efficient. The law states that pedestrians should use reflex – yet half of the Finns do not, according to data from the Swedish Transport Safety Agency.

“This applies to common sense: use reflexes for others in the traffic to see you,” says Camilla Fri-Bergstrom.

Cyclists and pedestrians can also find it difficult to see in an illuminated urban environment. Immense windows, shadows from shrubs and trees as well as various light sources can affect the field of view. Dirty windshields and bad lanterns can further aggravate the situation.

Since 2003, it has been mandatory by law to use reflexes also in an enlightened urban environment. In a new proposal for the Road Traffic Act, however, the reflex clause shines with its absence – something that caused the Swedish Transport Administration to shudder.

“The statutory code is also a guideline for media and education, private individuals and municipalities. Nobody has been disturbed by the rule for 35 years,” says CEO Anna-Liisa Tarvainen in a press release.

And even though the law recommends the use of reflexes, the one who does not avoid any penalties is met.

“Toothless,” says Ola Lindholm from the insurance company Lokaltapiola South Coast.

“If you are hit, it does not matter whether you wear reflex or not, when looking for potential substitutes. Circumstances determine: has the person gone on the right side of the road? Everyone must follow the rules in that regard,” says Ola Lindholm, whoever goes on the wrong side of the road may have been involved and caused the accident.

Fortunately, such accidents are relatively few and point out that generalizing rules are difficult to give when nothing is black and white.

Ola Lindholm himself thinks that a single reflex is not worth much – here is the reflective vest that applies.

It is quite lean with a reflex that dangles at knee height when moving on a dark road.

Winter biker, here are easy tips for safe riding

Cycling is the best utility exercise, an ecological choice, and often, especially in cities, the fastest way to get from one place to another instead of standing in a traffic jam. So why take a running game into storage for the winter?

“You don’t have to do that,” says Aki Tyynelä, the store manager of Lahti Bicycle Maintenance.

With the right framework and attitude, cycling is a success all year long. Peaceful lists a few practical tips to make winter biking fun.

1. Pins Below!

When the thermometer drops to zero or the front side, it is advisable to replace the studs with tires that increase traction on ice and snow. Even tread grips will improve when a little air is released.

The bike is equipped with stud tires and more than a hundred.

“Tires can withstand many winters. If you drive a lot, they will pay off,” says Tyynelä.

2. Make sure you wear regular clothing – layering works best

Layered clothing helps to keep heat inside as well as moisture and the latter outside.

It is especially important to keep your hands warm. Wind gloves protect your hands from the worst wind.

3. The right helmet will always protect you

Statistics show that cycling in winter is no more dangerous than in summer. However, only a cycling helmet can protect your head no matter what the season.

4. Appear in the dark

The bicycle must by law, have light permanently attached to the bicycle. The front light must be light. The light should not be too bright, but not too dim.

Flashing light is not prohibited by law but is not recommended because flashing light usually indicates a hazard, not an oncoming vehicle.

The rear light is not mandatory, but the red light on the back significantly improves visibility.

Good reflectors ensure motorists can detect the cyclist.

Pedal reflectors are not mandatory, but the bike must have side reflectors or reflective tires. Also, the cyclist should wear reflective clothing, like reflective vest sew on reflective tape or reflective jacket to improve your visibility in the night. This way the cyclist can be seen well when crossing the road.

Adding arrow to cyclists’ vests reduced number of crashes

Cyclists who are concerned about their safety should don a specially designed high-visibility vest with an arrow to help stay safe on the road, according to new research from UBC Okanagan.

Gordon Lovegrove, an associate professor in the engineering department, and collaborator Takuro Shoji say they were interested to see if communication was more important than visual aids when it comes to bike safety. They added an arrow to a reflective vest to convey a message to Drivers: move over.

Their study, published in the journal Sustainability, claims to be the first paper in the world to study the role communication aids can play to help vulnerable road users.

Researchers gave cyclists high-visibility vests with different designs, as well as no vests, and discovered that a vest with an arrow design pointing left was the most effective.

The study discovered that the arrow vest with reflective tape design reduced the number of traffic accidents between cyclists and drivers.

“Vehicles passing VRU test subjects wearing the arrow vest design showed more respect, and participants’ perceptions generally agreed,” the study reads.

Part of their research, Lovegrove says, was fuelled by an interest in examining whether the advice of “Be safe, be seen” actually helped cyclists.

He notes that bikers are recommended to have front and rear lights, reflectors and brightly-colored reflective clothing, but it doesn’t just help.

“While overall detectability on the road is critical, evidence suggests that current conspicuity aids cannot provide safety in their current form,” And a more optimal design is needed.”

The researchers call the results “promising,” but add that they used a relatively small sample size, and additional work is required to further test their findings.

Five tips for choosing good work clothes in construction

Protection on all fronts: that is the most important requirement for construction work clothing. Strong material that can take a beating, but at the same time is comfortable. Clothing that can be worn by weather and wind, no matter how cold it gets, but offers enough freedom of movement. What are you paying attention to? Proto gives five tips.

 

Proto knows what good work clothing must meet. Now that autumn is approaching, the company is sharing 5 tips for purchasing work clothes for the winter season.

 

  1. Wear clothing in layers

Wearing different layers of clothing ensures pleasant body temperature and prevents perspiration. This is a common and annoying problem because working on construction is strenuous and requires a lot of the body. Good work clothing protects the body against external and internal factors.

 

Good work clothing consists of:

 

A moisture-wicking substance on the skin, which absorbs perspiration

A fleece jacket or sweater that provides pleasant warmth

– water-resistant clothing

 

Perspiration moisture feels uncomfortable but is also unhealthy. The combination of moisture and cold makes people on the construction site more susceptible to diseases such as colds or flu. This is eliminated by the moisture-wicking layer. The water-repellent layer ensures that no moisture from outside enters the body so that your employees stay warm for a long time.

 

Of course, your employees can always adjust the number of layers to the situation. You can easily exchange a warm winter jacket for a sturdy softshell. And in extreme cold, wearing thermal underwear is an important extra layer that protects the body.

 

Wearing cold-resistant gloves, a hat and padded work shoes or work boots are additional measures for working safely outside during the winter season.

 

  1. Choose sustainable materials

There is sufficient work clothing for construction on the market, but not every material is the same. At Proto, we choose Cordura or kevlar workwear, two extremely strong fabrics that can withstand a lot and have a long life. This not only increases sustainability, but also the safety of your employees.

 

Pants with extra reinforcement on the knees or in the crotch increase the lifespan even more. In addition, comfort naturally also plays a major role in the purchase of work clothing. A lot of work is done on the knees in construction. Trousers with knee pockets in which knee pads can be placed provide optimum comfort and are certainly worth considering.

 

  1. Visibility

When people and machines work together, visibility is an absolute necessity. In bad weather, which often occurs in the winter, or night work, this is often mandatory. Visibility reflective clothing makes a direct contribution to safety on the construction site. Of course, you can opt for safety vests with reflective tapes, but when your employees come into contact with vehicles on the construction site more often or structurally, it makes sense to invest in clothing in which visibility is integrated. Your people forget their jacket less quickly than their jacket, so you minimize the risk of accidents.

 

  1. Choose suitable work clothing

Many workwear for construction consists of stretch elements. Ideal, because stretch gives a lot of freedom of movement, warmth and is comfortable. Because work clothing with stretch fits nicely to the body, it looks neat and trendy. Even more important is that well-connected clothing contributes to safety. Too wide sleeves give the risk of catching on something, this also applies to too wide or too long work trousers.

 

A fitting session for the right clothing size is a must when purchasing work clothing for construction. At Proto you not only have the option of an extensive fitting session for your employees, but you can also easily change the clothing. That way, no-one with inappropriate clothing will ever have to leave the building site.

 

  1. Take standards into account

The standards for work clothing may differ per construction site. Coordinate well with the client which standards must be met. Standards are important because they are directly related to the safety of your employees.

Police are checking in the schoolyard

No light, no bell, loud music in the ears – Before the Dahlewitzer Herbert Tschäpe high school police checked on Tuesday the bicycles of the students. Many of the wheels were not safe.

 

Tuesday began with a – not always pleasant – surprise for the students of the Herbert Tschäpe secondary school. When they entered the school grounds, the police were already waiting, especially for the cyclists. The Revierpolizisten Manfred Ewert and Uwe Depner checked whether lights, reflectors, and bell are available and work well.

 

Support was provided by the security community Blankenfelde-Mahlow and the prevention team of the police department West. Chief Inspector Ute Streckert and High Commissioner Axel Schugardt distributed reflectors, safety vests, reflective bags made of reflective fabrics, and informational materials to show what a safe bike is all about.

 

Police call out “days of visibility”

Throughout Brandenburg, the police have called the “days of visibility”. Until Thursday, especially cyclists are informed about the risks of the dark season. “People with dark clothes only recognize a car driver from a distance of around 25 meters,” explains Axel Schugardt. With light clothes, it is at least 40 meters. Anyone wearing reflective clothing or light can be seen 140 meters away.

 

Principal Michaela Töpelmann and her fellow teachers Lutz Schwabe and Matthias Stiller are at the school gate. “You know your Pappenheimer,” says Michaela Töpelmann. Most of the 267 students come by bike. Many wear headphones in their ears that play so loud music that they do not notice their surroundings. Others hang their cycling helmet over the handlebar instead of turning it over.

 

30 of the 82 bicycles have defects

The balance of the day: Of 82 controlled bicycles have 30 shortcomings. In most cases, the lighting is broken or not available at all, others do not have the prescribed reflectors front, rear, on the pedals and spokes, yet others lack the bell. A bike was particularly negative. “Apart from brakes, it did not have any safety-relevant parts,” says Axel Schugardt. Revierpolizist Manfred Ewert noted all the shortcomings on lists, which the students should work off.

 

That parents leave their children with such companions on the street, annoys Michaela Töpelmann. “Everything that serves security is good”. The Herbert Tschäpe high school is located directly on the busy L 40th “We have had some accidents here,” says the headmistress. Hot situations between motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians are not uncommon. Whether the action brings something permanent to the police? Michaela Töpelmann hopes.

 

Girls were more insightful

Some students, especially girls, found the action good, the boys were less insightful. Some dropped their bikes on the way. Olaf Lehnhardt, who is responsible for prevention in the Teltow-Fläming Police Inspectorate, wants to take some more breasts in the coming weeks. “I’ll do retraining,” he says. Silvia Fisch, chairman of the security community, is even more rigorous. “My son is not allowed to cycle to school until the light works. Until then he will run. ”

 

safety vests

No question, safety vests are handy. But where to go with the thing in the car?

 

In Germany, the safety vest is not mandatory equipment for private vehicles. However, TÜV Rheinland always recommends wearing this protective reflective clothing in the event of a breakdown – not only in the dark season. The reflective material is already seen from a distance of 150 meters. People without a safety vest recognized by motorists only when they are only 80 meters away.

 

So that the vest is quickly at hand in an emergency, it should be stored indoors, preferably in the glove compartment, under the seat or in the door pockets. When the vests are open in the interior, they can age faster due to solar radiation. The trunk is less suitable for accommodating the vest. First, you have to walk around the car without protection to get to the vest, on the other hand, she could be covered thereby luggage.

 

Approved in Germany west in red, orange and yellow, which comply with the standard 71 DIN EN. For children, there are also other colors with the label DIN EN 1150. The vest is available from about two euros, for example, the ADAC or the TÜV, but also at many gas stations or accessory shops.

 

If you have no safety vest in the car, you have to pay

Motorists must expect a fine from July if they have no safety vest in their vehicle. However, there is no obligation to carry – the Ministry of Transport points to personal responsibility.

 

Many road users in Germany must expect a fine of 15 euros from 1 July, if they have no safety vest in their vehicle. As reported by the “Saarbrücker Zeitung”, the Federal Ministry of Transport, led by Alexander Dobrindt (CSU), has fixed the amount of the fine in a new regulation.

 

According to the information must be carried in cars, trucks, tractors, and buses in the future, a safety vest sew-on reflective tape. Motorcyclists are excluded from the new rules.

 

Motorists should wear the reflective vest in the event of a breakdown or accident. However, according to the report, the new regulation does not provide for any obligation to carry. Instead, the Ministry “on the self-responsible action of road users.” The Federal Council had already decided in July 2013 the warning waistcoat. The carrying of a warning triangle has long been mandatory in Germany and in other EU countries.

 

In other countries higher fines

With the revision of vest Germany is now following the example of many European states. However, in other countries significantly higher fines are due than in the future in the Federal Republic, and their road users must also wear the safety vest with reflective material if it comes to an accident or a glitch.

 

For example, road users in Portugal are fined between € 60 and € 600 if they are caught without a warning vest. In Italy, violations of this nature are punished with at least 35 euros; In Spain, not wearing costs around 90 euros.

Reflective clothing keeps cyclists safer on road

The Gymnasium prepares its pupils for the dark season with the reflective vest. At four stations, the sixth graders learn the most important things about safety on bicycles.

 

Saddle wrong, brakes broken, air out: The prepared bike at the station of Peter Keeners of the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) looks bad. The light is not, “Someone has demolished my bike,” complains Keeners at the students at his station. The seven girls and boys of the sixth grade eagerly seek out the mistakes, immediately put their hands on each other, and give each other tips. Not ten minutes later, everything is running, the plug on the dynamo was pressed again and the air in the front wheel pumped up again. “Done, you can go home,” confirms Keeners the successful repair.

 

At this and three other stations, the children of the Gymnasium learn all the basics for a safe ride on a bicycle. Five sixth grades are allowed to explore the four stations in the classroom every hour. The “Action Light” was initiated by the city in cooperation with the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Friendly Cities (AGFS) and the ADFC. Alexander from the P3 Agency for Communication and Mobility, who has been accompanying the Light action for several years as a presenter, welcomes the students’ knowledge as a greeting. How many brakes must a bicycle have in this country? Which reflective clothing is required, which are not? Manfred Weygand, bicycle representative: “We want the kids to ride more bikes, but for sure!”

 

Security is top priority for Police Chief Commissioner Herbert Kinder. “Eight out of ten wheel accidents end with a head injury,” says Kinder. In addition to the bicycle helmet, his station also deals with reflectors and the correct lighting. “Accidents always happen when drivers cannot recognize you.” The pedals, the cat’s eyes on the pedals, are the only way for others to recognize a cyclist as such from behind. “Drive carefully and take care of yourself!” lends Kinder the group to the next station. Angelika and Manfred Weygand show how reflective clothing works.

 

The children can choose from a wide range of protective vests, warning stripes, and especially reflective bicycle helmets and illuminate each other in turn. Everyone is enthusiastic about the effect of the radiant clothes. At the last station, the black box, it is necessary to spy on a search image cyclists with and without light and write down its result. Under the correct answers, three winners will be drawn who will receive a safety pack with reflective vest and reflective band. However, nobody goes out of their way: there is a reflective plush pendant for everyone.

Runaway Chicken Polly wears a safety vest

Farmer from Dillinger equips his chicken with protective reflective clothing. From now on, chickens who repeatedly break out of their enclosure and participate in traffic as pedestrians must wear safety vests for safety reasons. Anyone caught without a signal vest must expect a severe fine of up to ten fresh eggs.

 

Clemens farmer from Dillinger sets a good example and has his outlier chicken Polly equipped with the protective clothing. “Polly flies over the fence on a regular basis and walks along National Road 51. We did not want to trim her wings, so she wears a reflective safety vest for her own safety,” explains Kerman.

 

He discovered the model on the internet at an English manufacturer. It must be a bit of fun, says the farmer, where the chickens live in free range. Polly seems comfortable with the unfamiliar chicken fluorescent clothes and undertakes her excursions as usual. Only the rooster did not trust his eyes first.

The police in reflective vest check the accident

Snowfall and low temperatures have made the conditions on many roads of our city and podia extremely treacherous and you should drive more carefully, slower and more sensible. Since Friday, we recorded 14 road incidents, including 1 accident. That is why we appeal to those who are driving for careful driving. We also ask the pedestrians to remember about wearing reflective clothing – reminds Sergeant Anna from the Rybnik police.

 

Unfortunately, despite numerous actions and appeals of Rybnik police officers, we have noticed several road incidents since Friday. Fortunately, most of them were only so-called collisions. Unfortunately, there was also an accident.

 

The accident happened tonight, around 4.00 on Borski Street in Rybnik. From the preliminary findings of the police officers of the Rybnik road traffic department, it appears that Opel driver – 28-year-old Rybnik resident – driving towards Gory, did not adjust the speed to road conditions, lost control of the vehicle and hit a parked BMW car. The police in safety vest checked the sobriety of the driver. The result of the test on the breathalyzer showed in his body nearly 2 miles of alcohol. While checking in police bases, it turned out that the 28-year-old did not have the right to drive. The exact circumstances of the accident will be explained in the pre-trial proceedings conducted by Rybnik uniformed.

 

Rybnik Police reminds Low temperature and snowfall caused a significant deterioration of conditions for driving a car. The roads became slippery. Under such conditions, a moment of inattention is enough to lose control of the vehicle and end the ride in the ditch. Rybnik police officers appeal for great caution and imagination. Drivers in such conditions should keep longer distances between moving vehicles and avoid sudden braking. Above all, take your foot off the gas to safely reach the destination.

 

Pedestrians should also be especially careful. Entering the road directly before a moving vehicle, they risk a lot. On a slippery surface, the braking distance is significantly longer. Every pedestrian and cyclist should also remember about their safety and take care to be visible. A reflective vest, key chain, headband, or even a flashlight can save your life.