Category: reflective tapes

WILL THERE BE REFLECTIVE TAPES FOR MOTORCYCLES AND BICYCLES?

In recent days, the United States Embassy and the specialist firm 3M held a forum on “Perspectives and Trends in Road Safety” at the end of which the need to reduce accidents and deaths on the roads, mainly from motorcyclists and bicyclists, was evident, and in which work will begin on the protection of the latter thanks to the use of retro-reflective or simply reflective tapes, as they are known.

Posted by Dacia 1300 New York on Sunday, April 12, 2020

The figures to start working on a future regulation for the use of these elements were released during the forum:

As of May, road deaths in Colombia totaled 1,366, most of them were motorcyclists or cyclists.

Motorcyclists have put 48% of road deaths in the past 4 years. And the figure instead of falling is increasing, because in the first seven months of the year the death toll reached 1,000.

According to IDB figures, traffic accidents mainly affect people with less income. And the magnitude of this problem is so great that it is estimated that in Latin America 120,000 people die each year and 5 million are injured.

Retro-reflective tapes for motorcycles and bicycles

Under this scenario, 3M highlighted its commitment to strengthening road safety from its technical expertise through the development and innovation of products aimed at improving road infrastructure and visibility on roads, mainly motorcycles and bicycles.

And it is that according to Víctor Cabrera, Business Manager for Latin America of the Transportation Security Division of 3M, the use of this type of tapes has significantly reduced accidents in countries where their use has become mandatory.

Globally, the implementation of contour marking with retro-reflective tapes increases the perception distance at night by up to 100%.

In the United States, speaking of freight transport using these tapes, the reduction in accidents at night fell by 21% between 1962 and 2012. In Italy, the rule was implemented in 2005, and five years later, accidents in the night decreased 36 percent.

In China, these figures fell by 43% for 2017, and thus, the global average of deaths from traffic accidents at night in the countries where these perimeter tapes began to be used in trucks and other vehicles had reductions that are in a range between 22 and 43%.

With this evidence, conversations are being held with the country’s authorities so that the most vulnerable road actors have greater visibility at night, as a form of protection.

And it is that the new materials that 3M develops in terms of retro-reflectivity, were pioneers in these elements in 1940, have advanced to the point that it has different types of light intensity that these tapes offer so that regardless of the climatic conditions, those of the road, or the speed of movement, both motorcyclists and bicyclists can be seen in traffic and that the ‘information’ that returns to drivers is clearer.

Thus the idea is that both helmets, vests, the bodywork, the wheels of motorcycles and bicycles and even the plate, in the case of motorcycles, make use of the new reflective materials that give them greater perimeter and rear visibility to avoid accidents by the scope and at the intersections that are the most critical points for these road actors.

And it is that although it is still in talks with the authorities to implement these elements in the future, the figures provided by the specialists are dramatic due to the reality in which they expose the state of the roads in the country in which the different corridors share actors:

1. 80% of the roads in Colombia are not prepared for coexistence with pedestrians.

2. 85% of the tracks are not prepared for coexistence with motorcycles

3. 90% of the routes are not prepared to coexist with bicycles and pedicabs.

FACT

The American firm 3M, which has products developed for different branches of the industry, and has a division specialized in the automotive segment, mainly in paints and security, as they have specialized in the development of traffic signs, reflective paving tapes, brands reflective for vehicles, safety films for automotive windows and registration plates.

Going for a walk? Old Town offers free reflective vests for pedestrians

The City of Old Town launched its new pedestrian initiative “Walk Safe Old Town” on Nov. 15 to increase the visibility of people walking or running near roadways in the dark.

Old Town residents can pick up free reflective vests at Old Town City Hall. The city purchased the vests for $4.70 each using the city’s Safety Committee Fund.

“The bottom line is it’s going to let people enjoy the outdoors in the safest way they can,” said Travis Roy, assistant city manager. “This just seems like the right thing to do at the right time.”

Within hours of the initiative being announced on the Old Town Police Department’s Facebook page, about 20 people came to City Hall to pick up a vest on Nov. 15 with an estimated 35 more by the following Monday, requiring the city to order a second batch of vests, according to Roy. As of Friday, 120 vests had been picked up with the third batch of 80 vests ordered.

“We’re quite thrilled that the first batch is gone, and we’re on our second batch,” Roy said. “It shows people agreed with us. It was a good thing to do.”

Similar to the ones worn by Old Town Public Works employees, the vests are bright neon yellow with gray reflective tapes and orange stripes along the back. Roy suggests residents pick up a vest in a larger size so they can be worn over their coats in the winter.

Although it would not save every pedestrian, Roy said that if they can get people to wear the vest when they are near the road, it would help increase safety. He also suggests that residents keep the vests clean as it would help their effectiveness.

According to a study by the Governors Highway Association, an estimated 6,227 pedestrians died the first six months of 2018 including three in Maine. In January, a University of Maine student was killed after being hit by a plow at the intersection of Bennoch Road and Stillwater Avenue.

“We ask that when using these vests, you are still very aware of your surroundings, while the vests will dramatically increase your visibility, one must be mindful of your proximity to traffic,” the Old Town Police Department wrote in a press release.

Roy hopes that the success of the vests will encourage other areas to participate in similar projects.

“We’d love to have other communities jump on board and do the same,” he said.

Old Town residents can pick up a reflective vest at Old Town City Hall 7 a.m.- 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. The vests are available on a first-come, first-served basis and are available in most adult sizes.

The solution to the mystery of the police only seems to be obvious

The police from Krotoszyn published two photos and ordered to look at them carefully. At first glance, we see a child in one photograph and not a second. But isn’t he there?

The Police Headquarters in Krotoszyn has published a puzzle on its Facebook profile, which consists of finding a difference in the pictures. The post contained two photographs that depict the autumn twilight on the street in the city. There is a difference, but is it true that there is a child in one picture and no one in the other?

The combination of these photographs allows you to see what drivers see when people on the road are wearing dark clothes. Only when we look closely at the second photo do we notice the child in a gray coat against the background of a tree. In unfavorable weather conditions, e.g. during rain, a child in such clothing is almost invisible to the driver.

Reflectors are a must

The police have published these photos for educational and preventive purposes. They show how important the color of our clothing is when we are on the road. The officers also encourage to wear reflective tape elements. Thanks to them, the driver will easily notice us on the street.

According to the law, everyone who moves on the road in the undeveloped area should wear them after dark. Wearing reflectors is important in autumn and winter. Early darkness, dark mornings, fog, sleet, and rain are not favorable for pedestrian safety.

“Seeing the shining point from afar, the driver has more time to react properly. The seconds gained in this way can save the health or even the life of a pedestrian,” policemen explained in an interview with WTK. The National Police Reflective Day is celebrated in Poland from October 1, 2016. The officers then conduct actions that are aimed at encouraging others to wear reflectors and remind them that thanks to them tragedies can be avoided.

Reflective elements should be worn so that they are noticeable by both oncoming drivers and those coming from behind. You will learn more about the importance of our clothing on the road and how to wear reflective vests.

Car EDC, or what is worth carrying in a car?

Better to wear than to beg – it’s an old but still good rule that makes life easier. Of course, there is no shortage of those who claim that a smartphone, credit card, and good assistance policy is a set that should be sufficient for most emergencies that may happen on the road. Well, if you are lucky and have a lot of time, it usually is.

Unfortunately, in real life it varies – a failure can happen where the telephone is out of range and the only workshop in the area accepts cash only. Sometimes you also need to help other traffic participants or ensure your safety, and even the best card and the best policy are not enough. Here are our proposals for necessary, useful and accessories that only a few need.

Do you know what “EDC” is?

The abbreviation EDC comes from the English “Everyday Carry”, which someone deftly translated into Polish as “Cranes Daily”. Specialists in survival or the so-called preppers (people who try to always be ready for any disasters) without the right set of accessories that can be useful in a crisis, do not leave the house. Usually, the set includes dressing materials, knife, lighter, watch.

Warning safety vest and warning triangle

The warning triangle is must-have car equipment – it must be on board. The most important thing is that it has good reflections and is stable, even with strong gusts of wind. In Poland, there is no obligation to have reflective vests with reflective tapes in a passenger car, but it’s still worth it – and it’s the best one for each passenger. The cost and weight are negligible, and the importance of safety – enormous.

Paper towel and wet wipes

A roll of paper towel and a pack of wet wipes are accessories that come in handy in the car often. From wiping a steamed or dirty glass up to an ad hoc fight with stains on the upholstery – they have a lot of applications, and they do not weigh or take a lot of space and are not very expensive.

Spare wheel and wheel jack

More and more cars do not have a full-size spare wheel on board or even a narrow driveway – instead, there is a repair kit in the trunk, consisting of a sealing compound and a compressor. In the vast majority of cases, such a set in an emergency turns out to be completely useless, because in new cars with low-profile tires it is more common than, for example, to break a nail as a result of breaking the rubber as a result of driving into a hole or running too fast on the curb.

In such situations, no repair kit will help. Of course, we have cell phones and assistance at our disposal, but take it for granted that replacing the wheel by yourself is usually faster than waiting for help in a remote area on a rainy night. A wheel can be useful, and if the car does not have a large enough recess, then the drive-in can be put away in the trunk.

Work gloves

Once a pair of work gloves was a standard feature on many factory-made automotive tool kits. There is a reason! If you take into account the fact that you will have to, for example, change the wheel or start the car using the jumper cables, or do any other “dirty” work on the car, then resistant gloves will also be useful.

First aid kit

It is not mandatory to have a first-aid kit in a private car. This, however, does not mean that it is not needed – in our opinion a good first aid kit should be found in every car.

Throw the book at m-cyclists for not using bike lanes

Every day, when I drive to work from Kuala Lumpur to Shah Alam along the Federal Highway, I see motorcyclists speeding in car lanes.

They do not slow down when motorists are trying to change lanes. Instead, the motorcyclists will blare their horns or show an obscene gesture at the drivers.

Their action causes motorists to panic, especially when they have signaled their intention to change lanes.

I also notice that motorcyclists are riding on all sides of the Federal Highway. They take up the fast lane and even block motorists.

These motorcyclists have to be reprimanded and banned from the road if they don’t use the motorcycle lane.

I also noticed that they fail to wear reflective safety vests with reflective tape at night.

Most wear dark jackets without any reflective materials. There are motorcycles without rear brake lights that put motorists or lorry drivers in a difficult position since they are not visible.

I urge the authorities, especially the traffic police and Road Transport Department, to consider this matter seriously.

There is a lack of enforcement and the law governing motorcycle use on trunk roads and highways in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.

Motorcyclists must use motorcycle lanes provided for them along the Federal Highway.

They must ride on the left side of the road only along trunk roads. Motorcyclists should only ride on the left side of the road in highways.

They must also ensure that the rear and front lights of their machines are functioning.

They should wear reflective safety vests and failure to conform should result in them being fined RM1,000 and handed one-year imprisonment, or both.

Alternatively, ban motorcyclists or suspend their license for two years.

Abingdon and Barter Theater is coming together to make crosswalk improvements

The town of Abingdon and the Barter Theater are coming together to make major safety improvements.

In 2019, two people were hit while crossing the crosswalk in front of the Barter. And the Barter Theater was killed just before Christmas.

“A lot of people come to our theater every day and a lot of people cross that crosswalk,” said Barter managing director, Ross Egan.

Egan said they have all come together to brainstorm ideas to fix it.

“I’m starving the town is taking action in conjunction with Barter to make sure it’s as safe as we possibly can have it,” he said.

Public Works Director John Dew said they were taking a fresh look at what they could do to improve the crosswalk.

“We’re taking a look at lighting, sidewalk visibility, sight distance and clarity from the pedestrians,” said Dew.

The town has been added reflective paint and cleared out landscaping that was blocking the view.

“We’ve always kept it at a low height, but given the two incidents we’ve decided to clear that out,” he said.

Dew said in the future they are going to add reflective tape to the signposts and possibly add more lighting.

“We’re open to listening to any ideas on how to improve it because obviously, we don’t want any other incidents as we’ve had,” he said.

Carleton Police awarded a grant for new safety equipment

The AAA Auto Club has helped provide high-visibility gear such as vests and traffic cones to the village shelves.

Throughout his law enforcement career, Officer Gene Taylor was struck by vehicles three times while directing traffic.

Although he was wearing a safety vest, Taylor, a part-time patrol officer for the Carleton Village Police Department, said older reflective equipment sometimes struggled with the darkness in rural communities.

“I was on dark roads, and all I had was a flashlight,” Taylor said. “Because of the oncoming traffic and headlights, they just want to see me. It was never serious because traffic was moving slow, but it could have been much worse.”

It was these types of preventable injuries that inspired the department to seek supplementary funds to purchase updated, high-visibility safety equipment to protect traffic officers and other first-responders while on the highways.

The department’s vision was met Friday morning at the station when the American Automobile Association (AAA) formally presented the agency with a check for nearly $ 750 to purchase much-needed traffic incident management equipment, including high-visibility vests with reflective tapes, collapsible flashing traffic cones and traffic safety wands.

As part of the annual AAA Traffic Safety Grant, the department was selected among about a half dozen other police and fire agencies throughout the state seeking new safety equipment unavailable through existing financial resources. “With the equipment having a lot of past years, this is quite an improvement,” Taylor said.

“When we started, we all had our uniforms and a flashlight to direct traffic, but people would still see you. The reflective vests, wands, and cones will help protect our first responders.”

When applying for the grant, Taylor said he and Chief Roy Johnson specifically proposed purchasing high-visibility equipment because of the darkness in both the village and throughout Ash Township.

When directing traffic, the department targets each of its officers to be equipped with high visibility safety vests and flashing traffic wand, along with bright traffic cones to alert motorists and protect other first responders in the area.

The total cost for the vests, wands, and cones came to $ 731.15, purchased in full by AAA. Now every Carleton police vehicle is equipped with at least one adjustable news and wand, as well as a tote filled with portable, collapsible traffic cones.

Any time the officers, including three full-time officers and up to eight part-timers, are on the roadways – excluding traffic stops – they may be required to wear the vests, Taylor said.

The hope, he added, is that the equipment will not only reduce but prevent injury, while also helping the department to exceed safety standards set by the Michigan Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

“This is exactly what we want these grants to do, as far as saving lives,” said Adrienne Woodland, AAA spokesperson.

The Traffic Safety Grant program has been providing funding for potentially life-saving equipment throughout the state since 1993, Woodland said.

Since its conception, the program has provided nearly $ 1.5 million worth of traffic safety equipment donated to agencies through Michigan.

Officials say the grant program is part of the AAA history of traffic safety advocacy efforts.

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.

One reflective vest in the car is sometimes not enough

Traffic accidents have increased significantly in recent days. The driver was often surprised by bad weather. But how to behave when leaving the vehicle outside the village or in a crash?

Frost, mists, ice – this is the last day’s weather. And many drivers have experienced how they can torment themselves. However, if you become involved in an accident or if your car breaks down on the road, you should follow certain rules, otherwise, you are also subject to a fine!

Sometimes a reflective vest is not enough

In the Czech Republic, the law mandates to have one reflective vest in the car – for the driver. If your car breaks down or crashes, you have to put it on when you leave the car; this obligation does not apply to other passengers. But under the new rules, they must not be left completely without security elements.

The driver must wear a reflective vest, but if the rest of the passengers move on an unlit road outside the village, they must be equipped with reflective material elements, “says the trainer drivers Jaroslav Honshu. There is a fine of up to two thousand crowns for breaking the regulations.

In some cases, the rest of the crew must have a reflective vest, both in terms of company vehicles and employee transport. “Any employee who enters the road to repair a car must move around the car in a reflective safety vest,” explains Hons’ government decree, according to which the employer is obliged to secure a sufficient number of vests. “They can either be stored in the car or the employee can fascinate them before boarding the car,” he adds.

Czech regulations do not specify where a reflective vest with reflective tape must be stored. Drivers can keep it in the cabin of the car, but also the trunk. But be careful abroad. “In some neighboring states there is a condition that the reflective vest must be placed within the driver’s reach, it is not stipulated in our country,” adds Honsů. Abroad, you have to watch the mandatory equipment, which is often different from the Czech.

Attention! The braking distance in the snow is up to five times longer

The first weekend of this winter in the snow is over and there are confusion and hysteria on the roads. What is weird about it was when it was January. However, the drivers get confused in this weather, and then traffic accidents often occur. Pedestrians should also behave properly in the traffic industry.

“There should always be mutual consideration for both the driver and the pedestrian. The driver is supposed to approach the pedestrian crossing at such a speed that he can stop the vehicle and allow the pedestrian to cross the road safely, “explains Václav Irving from Besip and continues:” The driver is obliged to release the pedestrian and allow him to pass safely, but if the weather is outside and you run into the crossing, the driver is losing.”

Interestingly, children in schools adhere to these principles and, strangely, many children teach their parents and grandparents.

Furthermore, so-called eye contact is important. When the pedestrian contacted the driver and you already know the driver’s behavior, whether he is able or willing to stop. Also, a pedestrian standing at the crossing must give a signal that he is safely entering the pedestrian crossing. Of course, when he is at the transition, he has priority.

“Visibility is another very important factor in this period. It is getting dark soon and I would recommend that pedestrians walk on the roads sufficiently visible. This means that they are sufficiently visible on the roads,” he added.

When a walker walks in dark clothes, he is not visible. Everyone should not only observe the principle of seeing, but also be seen. “People complain that they don’t have the money to buy anything. But I don’t need money to see the money. An ordinary plastic bag is sufficient. In low visibility I’m in sight up to seventy meters, “he notes.

Reflective tapes are commonly available up to two hundred meters. Classically, however, just light dress or even shine a flashlight or flashlight. There are also plenty of clothes that already have reflective fabric elements.

What the drivers did not do much at the weekend is braking. At a speed of 50 km / h, it is necessary to brake about 25 meters. The stopping distance extends on wet, snowy and icy roads. On wet roads, it extends up to twice, on snow up to 5 times, and on-ice even up to 10 times, compared to braking on dry surfaces.

“Drivers think that if they have a car loaded, they will break at shorter distances. But the heavier the car, the longer the distance. With the car fully loaded, I stop on a significantly longer distance than with an unoccupied vehicle. We also point out that the passenger car has a shorter braking distance than the truck,” said Václav Irving.