Tag: reflective materials

European Child Safety: Schools Start to Get Reflective Vests

Vest Propagation Project Launched by National Traffic Injury Prevention Program for Children and Youth.

49 metropolitan schools began to receive reflective vests for children of grades 1-3 from public activists and the Patrol Police within the framework of the project “Express Yourself”. The Vest Propagation Project was initiated by the National Traffic Injury Prevention Program for Children and Youth. Information partner of the national Glavcom program.

Activists say that reflective vests are needed for schoolchildren when they go to school outside school. By dressing the toddler in such bright vests, the babies become well visible to drivers, other road users and those who accompany them. This is especially important when moving along roads, or when crossing a carriageway, dangerous intersections, and so on.

Which general educational institutions will receive reflective vests, was selected by the patrol police of Ukraine together with school administrations and representatives of the Traffic Challenge. Among the selection criteria, there should be dangerous driving areas near these schools. Such a school is, in particular, the 266th comprehensive educational institution. Police and activists handed over to the school 1 set (30 pieces) of vests. “There is a very busy track near this school. There are many pedestrian crossings, but children still run straight across the street. Now, going for walks throughout the class, children will be able to be seen at a great distance thanks to these vests,” explains patrol police inspector Louise Sidelnikov.

According to her, there are also categories of schools that have very active administrations that actively teach children road safety.

The police say that the practice of vest distribution in Ukrainian schools has not been done so far. But wearing such reflectors is a pan-European practice.

“The traffic rules state that when a pedestrian is on the roadway or moving along the road in the dark, they must stand out, that is, have reflective elements on their outer clothing. Of course, we do not follow these rules,” Siedelnikova stresses.

Traffic Challenge chairman Olga Drobysheva says the problem is that people do not even understand the importance of wearing reflectors on clothing and vests.

“It is important for people to understand that this is saving lives. When we were little, we were not taught in schools or universities, or even in driving courses, how close we are as drivers to see a pedestrian without reflective materials in their clothes. For example, a person in dark clothing can be seen from a distance of 5 to 30 meters, depending on weather conditions. But 30 meters is a very short distance for the car to brake. Because the braking distance of the car is an average of 3 seconds. This is unless we have ice and a good dry road,” Drobysheva says.

Therefore, children should be dressed in bright colors. Then they are visible in the daytime under good weather conditions up to 100 meters away.

In many European countries, wearing reflective vests by adults in adverse weather conditions is a prerequisite for traffic regulations. And it is important to have reflective fabrics on clothing in, for example, Poland and the Baltic States. Their absence is punishable by fines.

Activists argue that such vests should be in all schools. The vests have already been handed over to most of the schools planned, and the vests will be in Chernihiv next week. Messages from teachers and parents from all over Ukraine began to arrive at us. They want to have these vests to send their children on excursions, school walks and more.

In total, 8,000 light-reflecting vests will be distributed in 10 oblasts of Ukraine within the framework of the “Manifest Yourself” project.

How to choose a school bag?

From September, our child will have a daily companion bag, which, if wrongly chosen, can cause shoulder and back pain.

Quality instead of fashion

It may be tempting to get a cheap but more fashionable backpack during your bag deals but don’t. The life of such a bag will probably be only a few weeks, maybe a month, and then we have to look for another bag. So it’s better to invest now and land on a durable, quality piece. Let’s see if the material it is made of is strong enough. Doesn’t it disappear somewhere? Will, it does not easily separate along the stitches/perforations? The zipper should always be covered with fabric to protect it from the rain!

Size matters

If the size of the bag is not good, the child will be misplaced while wearing it, which is a direct way to back and shoulder pain. Therefore, when choosing a school bag, the most important consideration is perfect size and comfort! Here are some practical tips for doing this.

1. Select the appropriate size: The width of the bag should be approximately the width of the child’s back. In short, a young child should not carry an adult backpack. The upper part of the bag should ideally start 5-6 inches below the shoulder and end at the waist or slightly above the waist.

2. An ergonomically designed, well-ventilated back is important: It protects the small spine and does not sweat in warm weather.

3. Wide, padded, adjustable shoulder strap: This is important for comfort and weight reduction. It is important that we adjust the shoulder straps to equal lengths and that our child does not carry his/her schoolbag halfway.

4. Looking for a multi-pocket, multi-compartment bag: This helps ensure better weight distribution. Heavier books or objects should be placed close to the child’s back and lighter ones should be placed in the front pockets. Of course, it is not the last one in terms of organization.

5. The weight of the bag should never exceed 15% of the weight of the child: The bag and its contents should remain below this value. This means a maximum of 6 pounds for a 45 kg child. The newest models weight less than 1 kg.

6. Stable soles: For the underwear especially, but also for older children, it is advantageous to have a hard plastic soleplate so that it can be placed firmly on the floor and the books are better placed inside.

7. It does not hurt to have fluorescent reflective materials or reflective tapes on it: It is essential for the safety of our child when traveling alone in the rain or fog.

8. Before You Buy Try It Out: Take some of the things your child will normally carry in the bag, put it in the piece of choice and check the weight distribution.

On autumn roads do not forget about reflective elements

To maintain road safety in the autumn, police recommend that pedestrians use reflective materials. On the social network, the Police Force of the Slovak Republic points out that a pedestrian walking along the side of a road should have these elements on the side of the body seen from the road, not on the side of the road. Reflective tapes are best placed close to the knees, belt level and shoulder, cyclists also on helmets and bicycles.

“In addition to wearing the helmet and reflective fabrics on clothing, cyclists should also ensure that the bicycle is properly illuminated and lights are positioned. In bad weather, ice and snow, it is advisable to use other means of transport,” police said.

The pitfalls in the autumn are waiting for drivers. “On a wet road, a car can become unmanageable. To do this, remove the foot from the throttle and depress the clutch. Align the steering wheel, hold it with both hands and not risk overtaking,” recommends the police.

If there is fog, the speed should be reduced and the distance between the vehicles increased. Drivers should turn on the fog lights. However, if they are standing in the column, it is enough for them to do so first and last in line not to blind other drivers.

If drivers are at risk of encountering game, don’t hesitate to avoid the obstacle at high speed. Police warn that the consequences of shear may be greater than the crash itself, especially when driving on a highway.

Reflective elements in pedestrians, design changes

There are fatal accidents when a driver strikes a pedestrian because he overlooked it. This happens especially in the village, at night, when the pedestrian moves on the road in dark clothes and on a dark background, when it is virtually invisible. I make one of the suggestions on how to deal with this situation.

Different reflective elements for pedestrians compared to one Euro coin. Reflective velcro tape. In the middle reflective tape with own source and flashing LEDs, also with Velcro. Below is the most commonly used reflective tape with an internal spring.

Special provisions on pedestrians

Pedestrians may walk along the side of the road or the edge of the road at most two side by side, provided that they do not endanger or restrict road traffic, especially in reduced visibility or increased traffic; this does not apply to persons moving on the shoulder or on the edge of the road on skis, skates or similar sports equipment, which can only move in a row. From sunset to sunrise and in poor visibility, a pedestrian walking on the road or the edge of the road, inside and outside the village, shall have visibly placed reflective elements or wearing reflective safety clothing, so that it can be seen by drivers coming from both sides. This obligation shall not apply in the case of the transverse passage of the road at controlled pedestrian crossings or illuminated and uncontrolled pedestrian crossings.

Rationale:

By extending the obligation of reflective elements from outside the municipality to the municipality, pedestrians will be especially visible in villages where there are no sidewalks and use the road to move.

The obligation to be seen by drivers from both sides will eliminate the deficiency when the pedestrian had a reflective element only on his back, most often on his backpack. As a result, when walking along the opposite road surface not seen for incoming drivers.

By using the terminology from sunset to sunrise, which is common in aviation, we can easily and accurately determine the time from when to when it is required to use reflective materials.

To avoid unnecessarily burdensome pedestrians in well-lit city centers, this obligation is not at pedestrian crossings, in addition to footpaths. This also means that pedestrians without reflective elements will have to use pedestrian crossings as a priority.

What to consider when buying a life jacket for dog

It might be an odd thing to consider. Why does my dog need a life jacket? Can’t dogs swim?

We seem to think that our pets have retained all of their wild instincts, but the fact is that they simply aren’t true. Many dogs would have no better means to swim to safety in the event of a water-based emergency than we would. Therefore, your dog must be as well-equipped as they can be when venturing out into the great blue sea. Or just the nearby lake, even.

If you are looking to play it safe while boating, sailing, swimming, or playing near the water with your pooch, you should invest in a dog life jacket. Here’s what you should know if you want to buy a life vest for your dog.

Four things are critical in a good doggy life safety vest. The first is buoyancy. This is the jacket’s natural ability to float, which is a pretty important aspect of the life vest. You want to make sure that the vest can hold your dog’s weight to ensure its success. Dog life jackets are rated for weight, so check before you buy.

The next thing to consider is color. You want the vest to be a very bright color. In the event your pup is knocked overboard or lost in the water, this will make them easier to spot. Some even have reflective tape to catch the light better and make your dog more visible.

Strong handles will be the third important detail. If you have to haul your pet out of the water, ensuring that the handles can withstand the dog’s weight is a must. Test the handles before you bring your dog to the water. Make sure they can hold your pup’s full weight.

Lastly, you want to make sure the vest fits properly. This is as crucial with a dog as it is with a human child. An improperly fitting vest can be almost as dangerous as no vest at all. If you can, bring your dog into the store to make sure it fits both safely and comfortably. Check that your dog can sit and lie down while in their vest. If your pup is a bit on the heavy side, make sure nothing is being pinched or pulled, too.

Is a doggy life vest really necessary? Yes! Your dog should wear a life jacket on or near the water – as should you, and everyone on your boat.

While every dog should be properly equipped for safety, certain dogs must be given life vests with reflective materials. Dogs with low body fat such as the Greyhound, senior animals, and dogs with health or mobility issues should always be properly secured when going out into the water. They are our family members, after all!

Riding tips at night Guaranteed safe and comfortable, what is that?

If you are a very motorbike kid, you will often be very motorbike to forget time. Next thing I knew was night time. For those of you who like motor do not know the time, there are tips on riding at night.

Because riding needs physical, mental readiness to make sure the motorbike is safe to drive. Especially for riding at night. Of course need extra preparation, right. Well, so you are ready to be invited to ride at night, let’s follow these tips, as reported by Motors.

1. Change the Brighter Headlight

Magda anti main lights cannot be done haphazardly. Several factors must be considered before choosing the bulb for the main light.

Passengers

First, choose a yellow or white light bulb, not a colorful one. For the record, the white light bulb cannot penetrate the fog light huh, friend.

2. Adjust the Lamp Height Angle

Set Lamp Angle Height

After replacing with a brighter light bulb, don’t forget to adjust the height of the lamp angle. This aims to ensure the light falls into the road. Because of the light angle is too high it will dazzle the vehicle user from the opposite direction.

3. Ensure that the brake lights and indicator lights are functioning normally

Illustration of Brake Lights and Motorcycle Indicator Lights.

Don’t just focus on tapping the headlights, friend. Brake lights and indicator lights aka turn signal lights must also be considered.

Make sure the brake lights and turn signal are functioning normally, after all, for the sake of your safety and the motor behind, right?

4. Use Reflective Tape

Illustration of Using Reflective Tape on a Motorcycle.

Using reflective tape such as Scotchlite can help you and the motorcycle you are riding on be more visible when riding at night.

Not only on motorbikes, but you can also add reflective fabric on your jacket.

5. Use a jacket with easily visible colors

Choices of Motorcycle Jackets with Bright Colors and reflective materials.

Do not be afraid of your level of beauty down if you use a jacket with easily visible colors. Nowadays there are many cool motorcycle jackets, with bright colors, and some even reflect light.

Reflective vests will be mandatory in Germany in July

After the adjustment of the points system in May and the number of fines, Germany is preparing another change in traffic regulations. Since July, drivers will have to wear reflective vests in cars, and there is a fine for breach of duty.

 

Including a mandatory vest in the car should improve the safety of drivers who, in the event of an accident or breakdown, have to get out of the car because the motorists will see them better in the surrounding vehicles. The new edit does not specify whether the reflective vest is orange, yellow or green.

 

Unlike Austria, German regulations will not require a vest for each passenger, one per vehicle will suffice. If the driver does not have a reflective vest with reflective tape in the car, he may be fined 15 euros during a road check.

 

Mandatory since January 2011

However, the German ADAC club points out that if the driver does not wear the vest when getting off the vehicle, the offense is not. But in that case, he is unlikely to be entitled to compensation from an insurance company if a passing car injures him.

 

Reflective vests are mandatory in the Czech Republic as of January 1, 2011. There must be at least one vest in the car, it can be placed anywhere in the vehicle. In France, Italy, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary, every vehicle occupant must have a reflective vest. One vest costs about 50 crowns, in some foreign countries reflective vests with reflective materials in green color, which use security forces (police, rescuers) are forbidden.

 

Police actions to prevent accidents involving pedestrians

Over the coming week, road policemen across the country will step up their actions to prevent road accidents involving pedestrians!

 

The traffic police will act on a national level between 6 and 12 November, under the coordination of the Romanian Police Road Directorate, to save lives and to prevent road events involving pedestrians.

 

Activities are aimed primarily at combating pedestrian traffic violations.

 

Particular attention will be paid to areas with road potential risk as well as to those where road events occurred due to these deviations.

 

Romanian police recommend pedestrians:

To engage in crossing the public road only through the specially arranged places (on the pedestrian crossing) and in the green color of the electric traffic light, where there are.

 

To ensure that, even when crossing the pedestrian crossing, it can safely be crossed (the vehicles are stopped before the pedestrian marker, especially when the road has several lanes on the way).

 

Never cross the pedestrian marker, regardless of the emergency at any given time.

 

Not to move on the roadside, and where there is no pavement or paved road (predominantly in the countryside), move on the left side of the road as close as possible to the edge of the road.

 

In bad weather or dark, wear open-color reflective clothing and/or reflective materials and reflective fabrics to be visible.

 

Not to cross the front or back of public transport when they are stopped at the station.

 

Children should not be allowed to cross themselves – they are unpredictable and can not appreciate distances and speeds correctly. Do not forget! – children imitate the road behavior of adults.

 

Vehicle drivers must reduce travel speed and travel with great care.

Children are seen even in the dark and grubby weather

The dark season starts and it brings especially cloudy weather and poor visibility with it. Children are among the weakest road users in road traffic. They are particularly vulnerable if they are not sufficiently “visible” to other road users.

 

In order to be better seen in rain, fog or dusk, children should wear bright and contrasting clothing. The trade offers – quite practically – even jackets with reflective tapes. For jackets or vests without incorporated reflectors, reflective motifs can be ironed on later for little money.

 

Also, a good choice is reflective tapes that can be worn around wrists and ankles and are quickly put on when needed and find a jacket pocket.

 

For children who ride their bikes, there are even bicycle helmets that light up. Not to be forgotten is the control of lights and reflectors on the bike, which are often used in the dark season. Because: Especially with clip-on lights, after a long summer in which the lights were not needed, suddenly the battery is empty.

 

The school backpacks also have reflective materials. But if these are “pasted” with stickers, they do not serve road safety.

 

The classic “blinkers”, attached to jacket or bag, are often lost. This is also what Ulrike Margraf, Rector of the Westerhausen Primary School, stated: “They are quickly tearing down.”

 

That’s why the first graders of the school have been wearing bright yellow safety vests from the ADAC hooded for several years now. Not only are they pretty glaring and well visible a few meters away from other road users, but they also have reflective stripes and look pretty fragrant. The I-males from Westerhausen also find that. “The vest is cool,” the students have stated. Class teacher Cornelia Mandley has distributed the reflective vest a few days ago in her class. Almost all of the 20 children have been wearing the vest since then. With the traffic safety training at the elementary school, they become the right little traffic detectives. And that’s the way it should be in the best case.

 

Reflective vests – it’s worth having one in the glove compartment

In Poland, passenger car drivers do not have to have them, but they should. They cost only PLN 7-10, and they can save a life. In most European countries, reflective vests are mandatory equipment for cars and trucks (in some also motorcycles).

 

From July 1, the obligation to wear a reflective vest was introduced in Germany. Its absence means a fine of 15 euros. The obligation applies only to the drivers of cars registered in Germany, but for the sake of their own safety, it is worthwhile to respect it also with us.

 

In countries where reflective vests are compulsory, they must be worn whenever the driver and passengers have to leave the vehicle, like as a result of a breakdown or accident, on a highway or other road – except of course parking lots.

 

Reflective vests with reflective materials are already valid in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic (applies to foreigners), Croatia, Finland (you can have reflective tapes), France, Spain, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Hungary and in Italy.

 

The regulations are not uniform – in one country one reflective vest in a car is enough, in others, all passengers must have it. In some countries, this obligation also applies to motorcyclists and cyclists, if they travel on roads after dusk.

 

Reflective vests – better to have than not to have

So what to do with a vest when planning a trip abroad? We advise you not to look for loopholes and use the maximum variant – take as many retro-reflective vests as possible for the number of passengers traveling.

 

The reflective vest costs from 7 to 10 zlotys. You can buy it at every gas station, in supermarkets, on the Internet. Let’s just remember to meet the norm – reflective vests are allowed in 3 colors: yellow, orange or red-orange. It must also have 2 reflective tapes at the front and back.

 

When buying a vest, do not forget about children, in the event of a car breakdown or an accident, they will be particularly vulnerable. Reflective vests must be carried in the cabin of the car, and not – as most drivers do – in the trunk. The point is to be able to put on a vest before leaving the car.

 

We would also like to remind you: in the event of a breakdown or accident, a warning triangle should be put in front of the car, passengers should get out of the car not on the road, only on the right side, on the roadside. It is not allowed to stay on the road without having to go down to the side or the barrier as soon as possible.