Tag: reflective material

Reflective Fabric: People’s outdoor security guard

Reflective fabric is generally sewn on high visibility warning clothing, with reflective effects in the night. It plays the role of a safety warning. High visibility warning clothing is widely used in all kinds of outdoor workers, in our country, many people are working outdoors. According to statistics, in 2018, there are 600 thousand fire workers, about 1 million 900 thousand police, 320 thousand cleaners, nearly 3 million coal mine workers, and so on. These professional practitioners need to configure at least two sets of high visibility warning clothing. And high visibility warning clothing’s life is short (some countries in foreign countries for one-time use), each year will produce a large number of professional high visibility warning clothing.

At present, foreign well-known sports company first used reflective fabric in clothing, shoes and hats, bags, making clothing in the beautiful, practical basis, and increase the security function. At the same time, the use of reflective materials on the clothing is the embodiment of fashion and high-end features, but also the international trend of fashion trends. For example, in NIKE, C&D, BDGYGUARD, CAMEL, ADIDAS, REEBOK, and many other well-known international brands can see the presence of reflective material, DOUBLE STAR, LINING, and other brands also appear reflective fabric.

Do police need to wear high visibility reflective vests when on duty?

Everybody has heard the urban myth about the driver who escaped a speeding fine because the police officer that issued his ticket wasn’t wearing a high visibility vest for Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S). So, with CarAdvice reader Trent e-mailing us with that exact question this week, we set off to investigate.

Q: Hi guys. I love the site! Keep up the great work. I’m from Victoria and a friend told me recently that police can’t issue you with traffic infringements if they are not wearing high visibility reflective vests for safety. Is this right?

A: Good question, Trent. It’s one that has been doing the rounds for some time — where the individual fought a speeding fine because the police officer wasn’t wearing a high visibility reflective vest.

To get a definitive answer, we touched base with the Victoria Police to see what the ruling is in your state.

Victoria Police senior media officer, Ben Radisich, told CarAdvice:

“Members must wear a high visibility vest when performing a role where the primary function is road policing duties or when on roads near moving vehicles. Members will not be required to wear a high visibility vest:

Wherein the assessment of the member, wearing the vest with reflective material represents a serious risk to health and safety (such as responding to an armed offender or siege situation); or if authorized by a supervisor on a specific occasion, for specific duties or planned operations.

If members assess that wearing the high visibility vest on roads represents a serious risk to health and safety they must be able to justify such a decision if required to do so.”

So there you have it, Trent. Generally speaking, police officers must wear high visibility reflective vests with reflective tapes when performing duties outside of their vehicles.

But, that doesn’t mean it’s okay to break the law and use technicalities to get around infringement notices.

Safety vest for riders

Mandatory wearing of a reflective vest is being pushed in Baguio City in a bid to curb road crashes.

The City Council has introduced an ordinance that requires all motorcycle, e-bike, scooters and bicycle riders to wear high visibility reflective vests or jackets when traveling within the roads and streets of Baguio City from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. Violators will be penalized.

The measure, authored by Councilor Elaine Sembrano and which is eyed to be passed before the year ends, seeks to prevent vehicular road crash caused by human error.

Sembrano said there is a need to enact the ordinance to protect motorists, passengers, and pedestrians.

The measure also mandates all riders or passengers who carry with them a backpack that has a reflector or a visible reflective material small enough for easy visibility.

High visibility reflective vest is personal protective equipment designed to have high visibility and reflectivity. It is worn by a rider and a passenger to make them more noticeable while traveling on the road.

Patricio Evangelista of United Metro Baguio Benguet Transport Operators and Drivers Federation raised the idea during a public consultation in October, saying high visibility vests should be more worn during inclement weather when traversing city roads.

Roberto Aquino Macagba, the founder of Brotherhood of Riders Advocating Discipline Equity Respect and Safety and governor of Cordillera Motorcycle Riders Federation Incorporated, said that even before the crafting of the ordinance, members of the group have been using vests anytime when traversing inside and Outside the summer capital.

“It started as a part of our uniform, like a banner for the group. At that time, issues for safety and visibility was not yet a concern. After a while, when the growing concerns for visibility of the rider and safety arise, I From my group were fortunate that we already have it and have been wearing it. From different safety riding seminars, we learned the true essence of wearing the vest and its importance which is, it adds visibility of the rider especially at night or even at a foggy place.” he added.

At present, the group has 1,200 members.

Asked for comment, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) traffic management head Police Major Oliver Panabang said the measure would be a great help considering the situation in the city, which is experiencing fog.

He said high visibility vests allow drivers to notice motorcyclists traversing during zero visibility.

“We will also follow the existing ordinance of San Fernando, La Union that all motorcycle riders should wear a reflective vest while traveling and onboard of the motorcycle. As long as it is reflectorized that can be easily be seen and spotted by other motorists, ” he added.

Meanwhile, Benguet province passed this year a law on the mandatory use of reflective vests to decrease cases of road crashes involving riders and motorists.

Provincial Board Member Fernando Balaodan said all motorists must wear the reflective vest when traveling in the province especially when the visibility of the road is poor.

“Road transport injuries continue to be the leading cause of death among young and old people. The province of Benguet recognizes the need for policy action to reduce motorcycle, tricycle, bicycle accidents that resulted in physical injuries and even death,” Balaodan said.

Data from the World Health Organization in 2018 showed that motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable road users along with pedestrians, and they contribute more than half of all road traffic deaths.

Francis Almora, Land Transportation Office-Cordillera director, said the agency will support anything that would help secure the motorists.

Almora said that even before the creation of the proposed measure, riders would wear high visibility vests with the logo of the motorcycle club(which made of reflective heat transfer vinyl).

“It would enhance the visibility of the rider. This will give ample warning time for other motorists to react in case the rider would slip, when the road is slippery and that would give ample time for other motorists to react safely, it is really useful, “Almora said.

Why motorcycle riders shun high-visibility clothing

Motorcycle riders are greatly overrepresented in the U.S. traffic deaths, with more than 5,000 killed each year.

The Governors Highway Safety Association says frequently when cars and motorcycles are involved in a crash, car drivers said they didn’t even see the motorcycle.

The safety group says wearing high-visibility clothing with reflective material could help prevent some of those types of crashes – but its new study finds many reasons why motorcycle riders don’t.

Spokeswoman Kara Macek says many who participated in the study dislike the neon colors used in most high visibility or reflective clothing. Clothing is often not seen as “cool,” and study participants had some derogatory names for those who wear it, such as “midlife crisis riders.”

Others didn’t think the high-visibility clothing would help, believing that the noise of their motorcycles would make car drivers notice them, more than high-visibility gear.

“The few folks who did report wearing this gear said they did so because they had been involved in a motor vehicle crash,” says Macek, “or someone they knew had been involved in a motor vehicle crash.”

Macek says states can use the study to educate motorcycle riders about the importance of wearing reflective or high visibility clothing with reflective tape.

And she says companies should make the clothing more appealing to motorcyclists.

What are the differences between the fluorescent and reflective?

The appearance of many yellow vests in the streets, on our screens and in one of our newspapers is an opportunity to be interested in a scientific eye: these devices must be both “fluorescent” and “reflective”. What are the differences between the two and what are they due to?

If at night, I see a car in the distance, it is either because it emits light, or that the light from another source. It reflects at least in part. Specifically, the light rays are partially absorbed by the car and partially reflected, before reaching my eye.

It’s very simple until then; let us now see the fluorescence: when a material is fluorescent, it is able, each time it absorbs a little light, to emit a little too. Thus a fluorescent vest with reflective material gives the impression of being even brighter: not only does it reflect a part of the light that reaches it, but also its yellow or orange zones emit light for each part of the light that they absorb. Which makes the one who wears it more visible and improves its security.

The usual safety vests also have gray bands that look dull in the light of the day. To make them more beautiful? No, of course! These are reflective strips, which, they, aim to return any ray of light in the direction in which it arrived, which also ensures to be very well seen.

The principle was developed just one hundred and one years ago by a French inventor, juxtaposing three mirrors at right angles to form like a cube corner or a pyramid. Little by little, we miniaturized this device to make reflective plates that equip wheels and pedals of our bikes. Finally, we find that half-spheres have similar properties. By aligning many of these tiny spheres side by side on a safety vest, we can create these reflective strips, hardly thicker than a classic fabric!

This reflective effect increases the safety of humans on foot, by bike, by car or motorbike, but it also exists in nature: it is also thanks to him that the eyes of cats glow in the dark and that ours sometimes appear red in the photos!

How about a bee raincoat for children’s traffic safety?

Under the theme of “Protecting children from traffic accidents with fashion,” students at the Bunka Fashion College, a vocational school, created stylish “child safety clothes” that are easy for drivers to see. On the 5th, there was a final review meeting at the same school, and “honey bee raincoat” was selected as a Grand Prix from works using fluorescent fabrics and reflective tapes.

Fabric for work clothes transforms for children

Rainwear with the image of Sentai Heroes and vests for men and women combining denim and fluorescent fabrics. At the judging committee, 10 teams from first-year fashion engineering basic courses presented their work.

Clothes using reflective fabrics and fluorescent fabrics are called “high visibility safety clothes” and there are official standards for adults such as vests worn by road workers, but there are many color and design restrictions, It is difficult to apply for children.

From May this year, students took lectures and conducted market research to work on clothing design and production. A popular vote was held by visitors at the cultural festival last month, and the top 10 teams faced the judging.

Represent the bee stripe pattern with reflective material

In the review, 11 experts inside and outside the university, such as traffic safety education organizations and apparel officials, comprehensively evaluated points such as “I want to wear and I want to wear” in addition to safety and fashion.

Grand Prix raincoat designed bee color and shape. It is a conspicuous color of yellow and black. The waterproof cover on the back that can cover the school bag has an image of transparent wings and a flower on the bottom. Leader Momoka Kudo (19) said, “I wanted to make use of the features of bees, such as the roundness of the buttocks and stripes, in the design. It was difficult to sew the reflectors together.”

Commitment is the second year this year. The school was sponsored by the Nissenken Quality Evaluation Center, which promotes the spread of safety clothing.

Honda holds a road safety tote bag presentation ceremony

On the 19th, Honda produced a road safety tote bag for children, “Mamata Tote on the shoulder” and held a presentation ceremony and a road safety class at a nursery school in Tokyo.

Reflective material is a strong ally that prevents accidents after the evening

Compared to midsummer, which was bright until around 19:00, it was much faster to set sun. In my area, a voice and chime broadcast “Let’s go home” is played at 17:30 for children playing in parks, but it is already dim at that time. A traffic accident while walking will increase in the time when dusk is getting much earlier. Looking at the data on the number of casualties by age, it is stunned that there are many children aged 7 years. The most common time is October, with 68% of accidents occurring between 15:00 and 18:00, just after leaving school.

My nephew was just 7 years old this month, but he entered elementary school in April this year, and for the first time he went to school on foot without his parents. Spring was still tense, but my friends increased and I became used to school life. After the summer semester, the second semester started, and now I can walk on my way to and from school. Sometimes he suddenly starts running with friends and chats without looking around.

At that time, if a driver carelessly passes by. If you think so, you will tremble, but you can imagine that many unfortunate situations often overlap the background of the sudden increase in accidents for 7-year-old children. No matter how much attention parents and teachers have, it is difficult to completely correct the behavior of free-spirited children. Therefore, what is important is to increase the accident prevention effect with clothes and goods for “protecting yourself”.

According to data from the Cabinet Office, the distance that a driver can see a pedestrian with the headlight of the car facing down at night is about 38-50m for bright clothes such as white and yellow with reflective fabric. Black clothes such as black will be shortened to about 26-30m. Since the distance that a car with a speed of 60 km / h travels in about 1 second is about 17 m, the driver will notice that the pedestrian is delayed by 1 second, which increases the risk that people in dark clothes will lead to an accident Thing.

Therefore, a powerful helper is a reflector that glows when the car’s light hits it. Wearing this, it is said that it will be visible enough even for people in dark clothes to be confirmed by drivers about 60 to 130 meters away. In addition to the accident prevention effect of such reflectors, the focus was on the psychology that the driver slowed down when looking at the uniform of the sun shining in the dark, with this time Honda wants to protect children from traffic accidents , “Mamote Tote” started free distribution in accordance with the autumn national traffic safety movement.

Thoughts on Honda’s safety

When I went to Sakai Nursery School, where I wanted to see the actual thing as soon as possible, 20 children aged 4 to 6 gathered and the traffic safety class “Ayatorii Hiyoko” was held. From the various sounds lurking in the city, the children were overwhelmed by the quiz of identifying and applying “dangerous sounds”. We listened in a friendly atmosphere, such as how to see traffic lights and how to cross pedestrian crossings.

This “Ayatorii” started in 1995. Instructors from each region trained by Honda are held approximately 4,000 times a year for nurseries and kindergartens throughout the country, and approximately 273,000 children (2018) are taking this course. A news gathering was held at the nursery school. Every child looks fun. Finally, the children were delighted when everyone received a “Tote”. You can hear the voice of “Oma-san!”

According to the catchphrase of “Omari-san on the shoulder”, reflecting material is applied in the same design as the police officer’s uniform based on dark blue fabric, and there is a part that shines red like a stick, so it is quite realistic when seen in the dark. If I saw this while driving, I realized that it would slow down first. When I talk to a five-year-old girl, my mother is picking up at 18:30, and by that time it will be already dark. What do you put in this “Tote”? He answered cheerfully, “Change of clothes!”

With the slogan “Safety for Everyone”, Honda aims to create a society where all people who use the road can live with peace of mind. He said that he made a “tote” on his shoulders in the hope that it would help. In addition to accepting free distribution at Honda Welcome Plaza Aoyama and distribution on special websites, donations will be made to some nurseries in Minato City.

As a mother of one child, this activity brings together the strong feeling of “I want to protect the lives of children” and at the same time, as a driver, “I do not want to be a perpetrator who takes the lives of future children” I feel that this is a meaningful activity to reach out. Honda also seems to have a little humor in that each child has a “My Oma-san”. Until now, my daughter had been holding bags and hats with keyring reflectors, but from now on, I would like to use “Mamote Tote” as a lesson from the evening and keep it firmly protected.

Hope for Road Workers and Careless Drivers

Dars now use a special collision safety bellows mounted on the back of a truck or a larger delivery truck to protect workplace lockups, as well as vehicle breakdowns on back belts and accidents. Its main role is the absorption of released energy upon impact.

The first defense pillar that protects careless drivers by overlooking all light alerts and traffic loops is the safety bellows. This safety element, whose aluminum core, embedded in panels or honeycombs, is capable of absorbing large amounts of energy upon impact, has saved many lives on our roads.

Experienced maintenance coordinator Dusan Molek from Dars Highway Base in Postojna, Dusan Molek, who is very involved in highway safety, says that in the case of a safety bellows, it is fairly effective protection:

“The onboard safety bellows are introducing a new rulebook, and are intended for highway users, drivers who make a mistake. Its technology allows a clumsy driver who overlooks all the signage and bumps up to a hundred miles per hour to save lives. Unfortunately, work barriers are too frequent, and this year alone, the oncoming security bellow has already played the role of a defensive pillar three times this year. “

1. Turn on the turn signals

We drive 130 miles an hour and all of a sudden the car breaks down. In such a case, immediately turn on all the safety indicators. Let’s not try turning the key and pressing the gas immediately. Instead, we press the clutch pedal, as this is the only way to maintain enough speed to shift the calm vehicle to the edge of the carriageway. the paragraph lane where we stop.

2. Make sure you wear a reflective vest

When leaving the car, all passengers in the vehicle must wear a reflective vest with reflective material. If we do not do this or we do not have a vest, we are especially visible in the mist, in the snow and at night, and present a possible risk of a vehicle colliding with us. Also, police officers can find us.

After stopping, the vehicle must be left as soon as possible, being very careful, since the remaining traffic is running smoothly. In the rear-view mirrors, we have to make sure that the carriageway is empty while holding the reflective vest with reflective tape we will put on our way out. With our vest – even at night – we are secured and visible at greater distances. Otherwise, we must get out of the vehicle as quickly as possible and retreat behind its rear. Possible passengers should exit through the right door and retreat beyond the guardrail – special caution is needed on objects and those parts where there is a gap behind the guardrail. They then wear a vest and keep an active eye on traffic.

3. Safety triangle

The following is the installation of the safety triangle. If we know where it is, we can quickly find and use it, but if we have a lot of luggage loaded in the car, we will be in big trouble, so the triangle should always be on hand for quick use. It is advisable to learn how to make a triangle at home because even in this moment of panic, even this simple act can cause problems. We need to place the triangle at least 100 meters from the vehicle. The longer the distance, the sooner drivers will be able to react and prepare for danger.

It is very important not to move around the right lane when setting the triangle, but to walk only behind the safety fence.

Check the difference!

In Norway, 29 percent use reflex on average. In the three northernmost counties, the average is up to 38 percent. This is confirmed by Project Manager in Trygg Trafikk, Carina Henske.

“I expect it has something to do with dark time, but we are generally too bad to use reflex in Norway,” she says.

Difficult

For this reason, Trygg Trafikk wants an order to use reflexes in the country. Some care, others don’t.

It may be a good idea, should we believe Karlsson on Jula. He is happy that many people use reflex, but have a clear idea of ​​who does not use.

“The youth gives a shit fuck. To me, it’s scary that people think so differently,” he emphasizes.

And he’s not alone in that thought. In Safe Traffic you are aware of the problem.

“Youth is a difficult target group, but I think there are just as many adults who reflex,” says Henske.

At least two reflexes

She recommends having at least one reflex on each side of the body.

“Certainly at knee height on moving parts. A hang reflex or a strap up is good, four reflexes are superb,” she says.

Henske sees no tendency that there is a new trend in reflex use, but that more and more people use the vest.

“We want an order for reflexes in traffic, but it is not unknown that people are afraid to ‘destroy’ the outfit with a reflective vest over. But there are alternatives, we should believe Henske.”

Now there are more and more garments with sewn-in reflex. Then it quickly gets a little cooler.

She also brings out the so-called “microflexes” as figures and other small objects that can be used as a reflex. Although we are better at using reflexes in Northern Norway, many believe that people are too poor to travel safely in traffic.

Led tapes

A quick visit to some of Bodo’s stores shows that it is the reflective vest with reflective tape that sells best when it comes to reflex equipment.

“Especially kindergartens want the kids most visible,” says Eldar Andrè Stendal.

He is the store manager at Europris Morkved and believes that several also swear to so-called joint bands with reflective material where there are flashing lights inside the reflex that you wrap around your arm or foot.

“People are also interested in luminous figures that are often hung on a jacket or backpack,” he continues.

This is what you need to have in your car if the crisis hits

On Tuesday, several landslides took place in Sogn and Fjordane and Hordaland, after heavy rain showers.

Over 150 were evacuated from their homes, and 1,500 households lost power.

“If dangerous weather is reported, we do not recommend that people are driving. But if you still are, it is important to be prepared,” says Haavard Stensvand, emergency manager in the county of Westland.

Here is Stensvand’s advice on what you should have in the car, should the accident occur.

1. DAB radio

It is important to get updated information about the situation you are in.

“People trust that the mobile network will work, but then we see during this incident that it can be false security. Then it is important to have an alternative,” says Stensvand.

Then a battery-powered DAB radio may be wise. At least if you can’t use the radio in the car.

NRK P1 is the official emergency channel and a good source of information for crises and accidents.

2. Warm clothes

It is not stupid to have extra clothes lying in the car if you get stuck.

“There should be clothes that allow you to either get out of the car and keep warm, or stay in the car for a few hours without the engine and heater working,” says Stensvand.

3. First Aid Box

If you or someone around you get minor cuts or injuries, it is a good thing to be able to help yourself.

“Fortunately, it comes with first aid cases in many cars. It is very good to have something like this in the car,” says Stensvand.

5. Flashlight

If it is dark outside or the power goes off, a battery-powered flashlight is your best friend.

“Everyone should have this, both at home and in the car. Maybe the lights around you are taken by the avalanche. If you have to go out and go in the dark, this is useful,” says Stensvand.

6. Antibac

It is important to take care of basic hygiene, even in the car, so that no one gets unnecessarily sick.

“In recent years I have always had Antibac with me, to be on the safe side,” says Stensvand.

7. Reflective vest with reflective tape

Everyone is required by law to have a reflective vest with reflective material in the car. If you are stuck somewhere, it is wise to make yourself as visible as possible.

“Reflective vest is important, so you can be seen if a search is made,” says Stensvand.