Tag: reflective fabric

A successful transmutation, of the object “reflective vest” on a dashboard about “yellow vests” saturating the public space; a successful diversion from a security signal to a protest sign; but a fight of opinion lost, in spite of the initial sympathy which the movement had been able to arouse. A semiotic reading obviously does not exhaust the sociological and historical analysis that is needed, but it can shed light on the reflection on a phenomenon that arises from nowhere and that risks returning to it, for lack of having been able to transform the symbolic capital created in tangible political benefit. No, definitely, there is no immanence of meaning …

From object to subject: a successful transmutation

In 2008, the fluorescent yellow vest, called “high visibility” thanks to its horizontal reflective tapes, became a mandatory road safety equipment on board cars. As summed up the late Karl Dangerfield, more maceration than ever in a poster campaign launch, “it’s yellow, it’s ugly, it does not go with anything, but it can save your life.”

Already used as a sign of rallying in 2014 by parents of students opposed to the reform of school rhythms of Vincent Pillion, or by border workers of the Haut-relief, the yellow vest acquires world renown only in November 2018 when the eponymous movement starts. The change of substance and nature is as rapid as it is radical, in every sense of the word. We are talking about the transmutation of reality by writing, we are there in the transmutation of the object – a banal piece of fluorescent tissue – by the subject – a frustrated, angry citizen, who intends to make himself all the more visible in the public space that he feels invisible in the political space.

But how is this “passage” from one state to another effected? How does one go from having a yellow vest to being a yellow vest, to a roundabout and then to the street? How does the textile object give its name (if no meaning, it will be seen) to the human subject?

From signal to sign: successful diversion

From a semiotic point of view, we thus observe a process of transformation of reality by the effect of a metonymy. The original idea comes, as we know, from a user of Facebook, Laughing Courtyard, who expresses himself in these terms in a video posted on his Facebook account in late October: “We all have a yellow vest in the car. Fuck it prominently on the dashboard, all week, finally until 17. A little color code to show that you agree with us, with the movement, and that is hot, that is not hot. ”

Displayed on the dashboards and then carried on oneself, the “small color code” for signage purposes (to be visible in the event of a road failure) becomes a shared sign (to be visible because of a social breakdown) and ostensibly displayed by thousands of people. French who put it on to denounce the taxes on diesel, the increase in social charges or indirect taxes and, more broadly, fiscal and social injustice. Then, quickly, the wearing of the vest is a radical challenge to the established order, the representative democracy, the political “system” in place – with the support of far-right and far-left activists, populist movements and Troll factories Justinian and Bostonian pharmacies whose #fake-news invade the favorite social media vests yellow.

From the dashboard of the car to the shoulders of its driver, the reflective fabric thus becomes the banner of a global rebellion, both disorganized and “framed” by some, more and more virulent, even violent, if not massive and even less representative of the French population.

From rejection to rejection: a fight of opinion

As in an interminable play, the “acts” follow each other, week by week, weaving a captivating media dramaturgy – in the etymological sense of the term, that is, seduced by a sort of irresistible fascination. Morbid fascination in front of the screens, Saturday after Saturday, for the urban guerrilla scenes which mark each parade but also, more and more, for the violent acts internal to the movement whose irreconcilable fractions are torn apart and finally, as in Lyon or Paris last weekend, for lack of prior ex-filtration, face each other physically. They do not agree on much, but forbid each other to say or do anything “in the name of yellow vests”.

Vassal police officers urge city mayors to buy reflective vests for carriages, due to a large number of accidents occurring within counties where unsigned horses are involved.

Chief Commissioner Sergio Anton, head of the Road Police Service, met with the mayors of some communes in the county and asked them to buy 500 reflective vests with reflective tapes, which he would distribute to the carriages. Last year, Commissioner Anton collected 500 donations from the donations, which he shared for free.

Vassal police officers urge city mayors to buy reflective vests for carriages, due to a large number of accidents occurring within counties where unsigned horses are involved. Chief Commissioner Sergio Anton, head of the Road Police Service, met with the mayors of some communes in the county and asked them to buy 500  vests with reflective fabric, which he would distribute to the carriages. Last year, Commissioner Anton collected 500 donations from the donations, which he shared for free.

I am not a follower of the fines imposed on the elderly

In the county of Vassal, 32 people have died in road accidents, of which 30 were caused by events in rural areas. 9 people died, people over 65 who disregarded all road laws and regulations, the policeman said.

It is very difficult for us, as cops, to go for tragic events. You, as mayors, could do much more to avoid such dramas. I am not a follower of the fines imposed on the elderly, so we ask for your help so that there are not so many unpleasant and tragic events. We are the only county in the country to record tragic events because of the tails, said the head of the Road Police.

For the sake of security on our roads, the Preseason police appeal to join the action “Be an example” and wear reflective vests.

Wearing reflective clothing is especially important in autumn and winter when there is poor visibility and it is dark. If a person is poorly visible on the road, it may be easier to be hit by a car. Small reflective tape on the backpack or clothing makes the driver receive a warning that someone is moving along the way. The driver looking at the road illuminated by the headlamps of his car will notice a pedestrian going along the side of the road at a distance of 40 meters.

– On a wet and slippery road, when another car arrives from the opposite direction, the visibility decreases to approx. 10-15 meters.

– From the moment you see the pedestrian, until the moment the braking starts, the second passes. At 50 km / h, the car will defeat about 15 meters at this time.

– Pedestrian wearing reflective fabric is visible from a distance of 200 – 300 meters.

– If your child falls under the car and does not wear reflective elements, the insurance company may refuse to pay compensation.

– Reflective tapes can be worn on shoes, trouser leg, jacket, on a coat, cap or backpack. Put the band on the outer leg and arm. If a pedestrian column is going down, the first and last person should have a reflective vest.

Good to see you are a nationwide education and information campaign, implemented as part of the project “Safe Road”, the aim of which is to improve the safety of road users, in particular children and adolescents.

As part of the project, first graders from the Primary School in Kowalky took part in a lesson prepared according to the script prepared by the Foundation for the National Day of Life. Children have become acquainted with the animation of various traffic situations and understand that inappropriate behavior can be dangerous to human health or life. The first ones also became aware that the basic element of any outerwear and backpack should be reflections. They should have reflective fabric or reflective tapes. They make it possible to see the pedestrian on the road in conditions of inadequate visibility, which often protects against being hit by a car.

After completing the scenario of “Good to see you on the other side of the street”, children have passed into practical activities. Wearing reflective vests, which they received as part of the campaign, they began arranging the situation on the road. The basic traffic signs were fixed in the fun of movement and they learned the meaning of individual information signs.

Classes in the framework of the “Good to see you” campaign was also held in the second, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth grades of the primary school. All participants received a reflective vest.

On the occasion of the project, the school staff from Kowalk reminds the youngest 7 reflective road councils:

1. If you can, always go along the sidewalk or pedestrian road. It is not safe on the road.
2. Do you have to go down the road? Choose the left side of the road, you’ll see the approaching cars faster, and the drivers will notice you from afar.
3. Even if you speak well with your friend, always march not together, just goose. Keep as close to the shoulder as possible!
4. When there is no sidewalk, you can go on a cycling route. Look around carefully, cyclists have priority.
5. Take your time slowly. Running on the road is always a bad idea. Stop before you cross the street.
6. If something is blocking the way: a hedge or a parked car, first look out from behind the obstacle and see if anything goes.
7. When it is dark and burro or raining, reflections can save you. With them, you can see from a distance. Wear reflections! Insert a vest!