reflective clothing Archives

Tips on Walking and Cycling Safely

Police Chief Andrew Caggiano wanted to remind residents of some safety tips for riding bicycles and walking along township roads as they get out of their homes to enjoy some fresh air and get a break from self-isolation during the COVID-19 crisis.

Bicycling:

Any person riding a bicycle on the street must use the right side of the road.

Follow the rules of the road, as if you are driving a car.

Always wear a helmet.

Wear bright, reflective clothing with reflective fabric.

Avoid wearing headphones, at least not in both ears.

Slow down at intersections.

Look drivers in the eye when a potentially dangerous situation might ensue; be sure they see you.

Be predictable, and signal your turns.

Always look behind you or in a mirror before veering/swerving left into the lane of traffic.

Do not ride on the sidewalk.

Wave your arms if you are unsure of your visibility, especially at intersections or with cars turning right, into your lane.

Ride defensively, as if every driver is on a cell phone, not paying attention, or on drugs, and never give a driver the benefit of doubt.

Pedestrians, including runners, should follow these safety tips:

Run against traffic so you can observe approaching automobiles. By facing on-coming traffic, you may be able to react quicker than if it is behind you. Utilize sidewalks when available.

Look both ways before crossing. Be sure the driver of a car acknowledges your right-of-way before crossing in front of a vehicle. Obey traffic signals.

Carry identification or write your name, phone number, and blood type on the inside sole of your running shoe. Include any medical information.

Always stay alert and aware of what’s going on around you. The more aware you are, the less vulnerable you are.

Carry a cell phone.

Wear reflective material if you must run before dawn or after dark. Avoid running on the street when it is dark.

DON’T WEAR HEADPHONES. Use your ears to be aware of your surroundings. Your ears may help you avoid dangers your eyes may miss during the evening or early morning runs.

Have fun and be safe!

Pedestrian safety advocate speaks out after police give reflective armbands to seniors

Pedestrian and cycling safety advocates are speaking out after Toronto police officers handed out reflective armbands to seniors at an event aimed at raising awareness about pedestrian safety.

Officers who attended the event, which was held at Woodside Square mall in Scarborough on Saturday, offered up safety tips to pedestrians and handed out reflective armbands to elderly residents.

The move sparked an outcry from pedestrian safety advocates, including Friends and Families for Safe Streets spokesperson Jessica Spieker.

“The reason that no road safety advocate likes this approach is that all of the evidence tells us it simply won’t work,” Spieker told CP24 on Monday.

“It is a waste of money, time, energy, and other resources to be essentially trampling the Charter rights of seniors because we all have a Charter right to freedom of personal expression and that includes our clothing choices.”

Coun. Mike Layton also weighed in on the controversy at the city hall on Monday, noting that he does not think it is reasonable to expect people to wear reflective armbands to protect themselves.

“I don’t know what they do in other parts of the world and whether or not this is something that works. All I do know is I don’t think we can expect everyone to wear an armband just to try to feel safe,” he said.

But not all city councilors share Layton’s views.

Ward 6 Coun. James Pasternak took to Twitter on Monday to voice his support for reflective clothing with reflective fabric .

“Wearing high visibility clothing or reflective gear is a key part of keeping everyone safe, including pedestrians, construction workers, cyclists, police officers, and crossing guards,” he wrote in a tweet.

Spieker said that there have been no studies to suggest that wearing reflective gear is a good way to prevent pedestrian deaths.

“There is no evidence that it works. Any study that has looked at high (visibility clothing) on vulnerable road users doesn’t find much of an impact. One study found it made things worse. So we know this isn’t going to have an impact and yet were focusing on it anyway,” she said.

She said improving the design of infrastructure is the main way to reduce collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.

“Our current road design induces drivers to speed. We have these wide, straight lines. It looks a lot like Highway 401 so people tend to drive that way… predictably blowing red lines, making inattentive turns, they strike pedestrians who have the right of way,” she said.

“We lose one vulnerable road user per week roughly… This is not a trivial issue and this is not something that we should be delaying and playing games around.”

Spieker noted that the city could improve road safety by adding things like protective barriers.

“These are not expensive. They are not difficult to do,” she said. “There is no reason to not just aggressively pursue what we know will work.”

We are not opposed to change, but the traffic police have not suggested anything to us

The Ministry of Transport is ready to hold a debate on some of the changes that the new head of traffic police Tomas Lerch would like to push through. One such change could also affect the point system. Lerch is considering compulsory reflective clothing in the dark for pedestrians or confiscation of technical certificates on-site.

According to the Ministry of Transport, however, the police have not yet submitted any proposal for changes and the Ministry has not consulted on such a thing. However, it does not oppose the proposal.

“Some recommendations of the traffic police can be debated. Possible changes in sanctions for traffic offenses must be assessed with a view to not softening the current system and loosening discipline among drivers,” said ministry spokesman Tomas Gerold.

He hinted at Lerch’s talk to MF DNES on Monday about possible adjustments to the point system. “The system today says – twice and enough. And we say three times and enough, but the driver is punished on the spot. There is no need for community discussions and obstructions that are often written,” Lerch said.

In addition to adjusting the point system, the traffic police are also burning the condition of the fleet. The road is often returned to vehicles after total accidents. “If you buy a new car today, after a year you crash and get it repaired, and the repair is not done professionally, you don’t need a technical inspection for three years and your car is not only a threat to you,” says Lerch.

According to the Ministry’s spokesman, the ministry is ready to work closely with the traffic police in this case. “If legislation is to be made on this matter, it is necessary to set the measures so that they are unambiguous for both the driver and the traffic police,” Neřold said. It would be necessary, for example, to carefully define in which cases the police may drive the car off the road after an accident and require a new technical inspection, the spokesman said.

Lerch’s proposal for mandatory reflective material features on pedestrian wear in the dark will have less chance of enforcement. In the past, the Ministry of Transport has advised the Ministry of Transport to use reflective accessories in poor visibility. It is unrealistic to impose reflective elements on them.

A risky month for pedestrians

It was dark and raining Monday night, when a man wearing dark clothes crossed against the light on Fraser Highway at the intersection with the Langley Bypass.

A driver making a left-hand turn didn’t see the pedestrian in time to stop and knocked him down.

Ambulance paramedics didn’t find any serious injuries and the man declined an offer of transport to the hospital.

It was one of three such incidents reported in the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley that night.

Langley RCMP is reminding residents that November is a risky time of year for pedestrians, who need to be aware of the potential hazards.

Just because you are in the right, doesn’t mean you are safe, cautioned the head of the Langley RCMP traffic section, Sgt. Matthew LaBelle.

“The crosswalk is not a cone or wall of safety,” LaBelle observed.

“Pedestrians need to be reminded that they have a role in assuring their safety,” he advised.

Sgt. LaBelle said “common sense” precautions can help prevent accidents, such as walking facing traffic and wearing reflective clothing or attaching reflectors.

ICBC has mounted a pedestrian safety campaign with police and TransLink to urge pedestrians and drivers to stay safe as crashes with pedestrians spike at this time of year.

ICBC stats show Langley averages 85 pedestrian-related accidents a year.

According to the insurance agency, the number of pedestrians injured in crashes from October to January nearly doubles as the weather changes and daylight hours decrease

Lindsay Matthews, ICBC’s Vice-President of Public Affairs and Driver Licensing said the risk is highest late in the day.

“Crashes with pedestrians are highest between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. every day when most of us are commuting home from school and work,” Matthews said.

In B.C., 1,200 pedestrians are injured in crashes between October and January and 670 pedestrians are injured between May and August.

Safety tips from the RCMP in B.C.

For Pedestrians:

Wear bright colors or reflective clothing with reflective tape after dusk and before dawn;

Even if you have the right of way, be sure to look before crossing;

Make eye contact with drivers to ensure they know you are there;

At controlled crosswalks, wait until drivers stop before crossing;

If you use earbuds or headphones, make sure you can still hear surrounding noise.

For Drivers:

Slow down; roads will start to get slippery and stopping distances increase.

Change those tires (If your tires aren’t suited to the weather you can be ticketed and you can be held liable in an accident).

Pay attention to all pedestrian signals-even if you have a green light to drive someone may be crossing a crosswalk at an intersection legally.

Shoulder check; many cars with new technology warn of impending collisions, but nothing beats using your own eyes.

Pay attention to all road signs; they warn of upcoming hidden intersections and crosswalks.

Put down the phone, your call or text is not worth some one’s life.

Surrey pedestrians, please stop jaywalking

It is our collective Christmas wish, here at the Now-Leader, for people to stop jaywalking.

Is it too much to ask?

We know it ’s tempting to make a dash for it sometimes. Impatience is, after all, a human condition. But if you want to keep on being a human – an alive one, anyway – please resist that urge. So much depends on it.

Members of our staff have witnessed people making a run for it across busy streets like King George Boulevard rather than using a crosswalk fewer than 50 strides away.

Of course, sometimes pedestrians are injured or killed in crosswalks. But your chances of survival are much greater using one of these than hoping traffic will stop for you as you run for it, especially during rainy nights and mornings, and especially if you are not wearing reflective clothing with reflective fabric.

A woman died on Dec. 16 after being hit by a car in Cloverdale, at the intersection of 192nd Street and 80th Avenue. Earlier that day, another woman was injured, also in Cloverdale, while crossing at the intersection of 188th Street and 56B Avenue .

The day before, a man was killed after being hit by a vehicle in the 7100-block of Scott Road. The Surrey RCMP said he ’d been crossing the street mid-intersection.

So far this year, seven pedestrians have been killed in Surrey. Not all victims, of course, had been jaywalking. However, these seven souls gone, leaving behind grieving families and friends, underlines the risk pedestrians face in Surrey and the need for drivers and pedestrians alike to be vigilant.

According to ICBC, there were 450 pedestrian-related traffic crashes in Surrey last year, 440 in 2017, 400 in 2016, 430 in 2015 and 390 in 2014.

That makes for a five-year average of 420 pedestrian crashes in Surrey annually. The five-year average for the entire Lower Mainland is 2,300.

In the years 2014 to 2018, there were 2,110 pedestrian-related crashes in Surrey and an unbelievable 11,400 in the Lower Mainland.

As a species, we have to be smarter than this.

Cranston-Based Corky’s Reflective Wear Wins Clothing Product of the Year

Cranston-based Corky’s Reflective Wear has been awarded “Clothing Product of the Year” by the Pet Independent Innovation Awards program.

“Never has safety for pets and their owners been as important as it is today. Most people walk their dogs early in the morning or in the evening. The dangers of low light, low visibility, distracted driving, and poorly lighted roads during these times is at its highest,” explains Top Dog Alan Jacober.

The Awards honor the innovation, excellence, hard work and success in a variety of pet care industry categories.

“As the pet industry continues to grow, we are seeing an evolving shift in how we treat and care for our pets. We see the pet market-focused not just on growth, but on creating tangible value for their products to help give our pets a better life. Our 2019 Pet Independent Innovation Award winners deliver on that focus, providing true value with new and innovative technology. The winners were chosen by a group of judges who are senior-level marketing and pet products professionals who have personally worked within the pet product space,” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director of the Pet Independent Innovation Awards.

Corky’s Reflective clothing Wear products are reflective to 1,000 Feet, weatherproof, functional and stylish. Dog Jackets and Extenders, Overcollars, Leashes and Ladies Vests.

The products are made with MiraFab, Corky’s proprietary fiber that is wind resistant, repels water, is a fast-drying micro polar fleece, breathable, maintains body temperature, 3-layer bonded interlock, machine washable and easy to care for and has high visibility reflective tape that can be seen up to 1,000 feet.

Corky’s Reflective Wear’s line is available in many pet specialty stores across the U.S. in 6 colors: Lab Black, Healer Blue, Hunter Green, Doggone Red, Oh My Orange and Precious Pink from XXS – XL.

The products are as follows:

The Overcollar is a simple, practical solution to a common safety problem. Regular collars are often hidden by hair or fur and can’t be seen. This goes “over-the-collar” in seconds providing a high level of visibility and an added level of safety for both the dog and its walker.

“Sportswear for dogs’ describes the line of jackets that have a great look, technical and functional features and are the safest, highest visibility protection for dogs and their owners on their walks. (Complete with a built-in Overcollar for added safety.) And, another very innovative creation is a Jacket Extender is available that adds up to 5 “for ‘dogs who need a little extra room!”

Reflective Leashes have all of the safety elements as the rest of the line with ‘LeashSafe’ for quick-hold safety to easily control your dog in crowded areas, crossing a busy street or in high-stress situations.

Ladies Training Vests combine fashion and function for year-round safety plus weatherproof properties, 2 zippered pockets, a cell phone pocket and a large zippered pocket in the back for treats or storage.

Reflective clothing elements save lives

More than one hundred pedestrians die on the roads every year. In the vast majority of cases, these are accidents at night or in poor visibility when the driver overlooks a pedestrian. Therefore, every person moving around the road should wear reflective material elements. Pedestrian hazards are highlighted by the ‘You Can Do It’ campaign run by the Lifebuoy Association.

It is no coincidence that at night the number of accidents related to a collision of a person is significantly higher than during the day. In normal visibility, the driver has more than ten seconds at speed to react to and avoid human movement. At night, reaction time is significantly reduced.

“When a vehicle is driving with high beams on, it will see pedestrians without reflectors at a maximum distance of 100 meters. If the vehicle is traveling at eighty kilometers per hour, the driver has less than five seconds to solve the situation. But if it only shines with the classic dipped beam, it sees pedestrians up to fifty meters away, which means that it has about two and a half seconds to react,” says Lukas Hutta from the Lifebuoy Association, which campaign ‘You Can Do It’.

However, the driver must also take into account the braking distance. “If the driver is doing his job properly, he can respond in about one second, which means he’ll be twenty-two meters away. However, the stopping distance at eighty kilometers is another 32 meters, which can be a disaster. Also, we have to add that this braking distance is only valid on dry roads, on wet asphalt it is ten meters longer,” adds Hutta.

Thanks to reflective elements you will be visible even from ten times greater distance.

Nevertheless, any pedestrian moving near the road can minimize the risk of an accident. All he needs to do is place reflective elements on the moving body, ideally on his wrists, forearms, and ankles. “If a pedestrian is wearing reflective tape elements, the driver can see him up to three hundred meters in the dark with the main beam on. This roughly corresponds to the distance that pedestrians would see during the day,” says Veronika Krajsová, President of the Lifebuoy Association, which brings together rescue bodies and other institutions with which she develops and implements projects related to information, education and prevention in common risk and emergency areas.

Even with the dipped beam, the driver on the pedestrian with reflective elements reacts in time. He could see him at a distance of one hundred and fifty meters. “Reflective elements save lives. But one should not be confused with fluorescent elements. These are obvious at first glance, but unlike reflective elements, they do not reflect light, so they are not visible from such a great distance. However, if you have a white or yellow jacket, you are seeing more than in dark clothes. Nevertheless, a person moving around the road at night should wear several reflective clothing elements, both in the city and in the village,” Krajsová adds.

The association implements a ‘You Can Do It’ campaign, featuring innovative instructional analytics videos based on real road accidents. “In our project, we present the viewers with a unique combination of real shots of IRS units from interventions together with accident analysis and a preventive emotional message from the rescuers’ mouths. Thanks to the analytical part and statements of rescuers intervening at the scene of the event, we acquaint the viewer both with the course of the intervention and mainly with the reasons for the accident and especially with the specification of errors. Our goal is to make the viewer aware of the risks and, of course, we wish to minimize the number of traffic accidents with this project,” Krajsová concludes.

Proper selection and care of warning work clothes is a must

Especially winter days are short, often cloudy, visibility is worse. Anyone working outdoors, on the streets, on roads or construction sites, needs warning clothing with reflective elements. “Ideal protective clothing is safe, comfortable and ergonomic,” says Silvia Mertens, Product Manager.

A graduated textile engineer knows that only those who feel good in their bright orange or yellow clothing are also consistently worn. Trouser belts or jacket sleeves should be comfortable and fit for physical activity. Also thoughtfully designed pockets or loops for tools and other needs are important.

Reflective clothing must comply with ISO 20471. All safety requirements are also met by the certified clothing collection “Dynamic Reflect”, which offers a wide range of combinations. There are fluorescent orange or yellow reflective jackets, pants with pockets and bib. All according to ISO 20471, class 2. In case the jacket is worn together with trousers or pants with a bib, it is class 3. MEWA also offers sweatshirts, polo shirts, and t-shirts in fluorescent yellow or orange color.

Regular inspection is vital

Fluorescent substances, as well as reflective tapes, lose their functionality after some time by wearing, soiling and mechanical stress. Therefore, regular checking of clothing is essential. “In any case, a specialized textile service provider should be entrusted with the washing of warning clothing. This is the only way of guaranteeing a professional treatment of clothing, detection of a possible defect and its professional removal,” says Product Manager.

A camera system with special software examines the garment and evaluates its condition using an algorithm. Afterward, employees check each item of clothing again to see if it can be used. If the reflective element or the fluorescent substance no longer fulfill the protective purpose, these parts are repaired or replaced. Clothing can thus continue to fulfill its protective and warning function.

Reflective clothing must comply with ISO 20471. The “Dynamic Reflect” certified collection of clothing meets all the safety requirements and offers a wide range of combinations.

Short days and less bright streets: dangerous autumn and winter

In this period of the year, the hours of daylight are reduced, particularly in the morning and at dusk, considerably affecting the number of road accidents. In the last 10 years it has been noted that from November to February, from 05.00 to 09.00 and from 17.00 to 19.00, the probability of being injured or killed in accidents increases up to 58% compared to the rest of the year. This percentage is higher for less protected users, such as motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians. The TCS, on the occasion of the international day of light, draws attention to this danger and to the need to see and be seen.

The TCS recommends that the most vulnerable road users pay particular attention to the visibility conditions, adopting a defensive guide and equipping themselves with clearly visible and season-appropriate safety clothing. The accidents that see them involved are more frequent in these months, characterized by reduced brightness and difficult atmospheric situations.

Motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians at risk

For motorcyclists, the risk of accidents in the morning, from November to February, is almost 60% higher than in the other months of the year. This time slot, in addition to that between 17.00 and 19.00 (for a total of 6 hours), counts – over 24 hours – more than 40% of the motorists involved in an accident.

Even cyclists are equally exposed to these dangers in the same critical period of the year. A traditional cyclist is 52% more likely to incur an accident between 05.00 and 09.00 and even has an additional 54% chance that such an accident will cause serious injury or death. This last risk also affects drivers of electric bicycles with a percentage of 43% in the same time slot.

Pedestrians are the most vulnerable users in road traffic, particularly in winter. The greatest number of accidents happens in the morning with 44% more than 25% which is usually included at the end of the day.

Some tips to move safely

Road users are responsible for their vision and to be seen at all times. This golden rule is even more important for users who do not drive, so they are not protected by a body and are therefore more vulnerable in road traffic.

To be able to see well, in this period characterized by short days, cyclists and motorcyclists must check the lighting of their vehicle, before setting off. For their part, pedestrians must favor well-lit paths, to observe traffic well and prevent, where appropriate, dangers.

At the same time, it is advisable to increase one’s visibility. Drivers on two wheels can equip them with reflectors and wear light or reflective clothing with reflective tape. Clothing is an essential factor for safety, even for pedestrians. The “Made Visible” campaign, conducted by the TCS with the Road Safety Fund, provides numerous attractive solutions to combine fashion and visibility in all circumstances. Scarves, stickers, pendants, stylized backpacks: the possibilities to make oneself more visible are not lacking!

The law brought a novelty for cyclists

The latest changes to the Road Traffic Safety Act have also brought some novelty to cyclists, who now have to wear reflective vests, clothing or other reflective markings when riding on all roads.

Cyclists who fail to comply with the obligation to wear a reflective vest, reflective clothing or reflective driving tag may be fined HRK 300.

The provision, found in a law passed on September 27, which had just come into force, surprised cyclists’ associations because, they claimed, it was not mentioned during the public hearing.

“We agree that the visibility of cyclists on the roads is extremely important, but European and international experience has shown that the proposed measure of wearing reflective clothing decreases the attractiveness, convenience, and accessibility of using a bicycle as a local vehicle, which minimizes and counteracts the many positive effects that bicycle popularization has in the community, “the Cyclists’ Union said, warning that the stricter obligation to use reflective clothing, in this case, was not based on evidence to suggest that existing legal obligations were insufficient.

And until now, cyclists have been obliged to use bicycle lights and reflective clothing with reflective fabric or vests on public roads anyway.

Namely, the police do not collect data on the use of lights and reflective clothing, or even as data in road accident reports involving bicycles.

“Existing legal requirements for the use of lights would be far more effective measures for the night visibility of bicycle riders, but their level of use is extremely low. by that data, about half of bicycle riders in the Zagreb area do not use any lights in the evening and at night, and less than 40 percent use both statutory lights: front white and rear red, “say the Cyclists’ Union.