Road safety tips for bicycle riders.

Sometimes we tend to consider the reflective stripes as accessories. Their roles should, however, not be neglected: they protect us when riding at night. Thanks to them, we are, indeed, visible to motorists, which reduce the risk of accidents.

Why invest in reflective tape?

This type of accessory cyclists makes them visible when they roll in very dimly lit areas or at night. All road users are, thanks to this, able to see the bike and take into account the presence of it when it is moving.

Despite the legislation, too few cyclists are aware of the importance of being able to report their presence on the road. So cyclists have extra protection against accidents, which will be recalled, are wreaking havoc every year, so it is very important to stick at least one reflective tape on your vehicle.

Where to install reflective strips on your bike?

The reflecting band is in general, mounted on the bicycle rim. Its size is designed so that the cyclist is as visible as possible.

Your bike should normally be equipped with reflectors, for reflecting light. By law, your bicycle must, indeed, have in the back, the sides, the pedals and front. With this precaution, it is possible for you to report your presence, regardless of the angle at which you are located.

To be even safer, you can also invest in clothing with reflective strips or stick one on your reflective clothes. In case of rain or in the dark, and there will be no chance that other road users do not spot you.

How to choose your reflective tape?

In terms of reflective tape, aesthetic criterion is what prevails the most. You choose it, in fact, not based on this criterion: you must choose to optimize your visibility.

For efficiency, the rider can opt for bands of gray colors that reflect more light.

Moreover, the type of reflective tape on which you lean, buy those that conform to current standards in this area; these products are recognizable by the CE mark on the package of the product.

It was the second last part of our series on bicycle tires; we soon went around this universe. We will return soon with a comparison between the tires with rigid or flexible rod.

Shopping bags with reflective stripe

See and be seen. The basic rule for pedestrians is on the road. Doubly true in bad weather or at night, wear reflective elements up to ten times increase the distance at which the pedestrian is seen. Due to the unfortunate experience of senior arise equipped hall in Jed ​​u Bran all pensioners’ reflective stripe.

“We had a few unpleasant when even two cyclists died. Then there was also an incident with two small children, “he recalled Mayor Jed ​​u Bran Jan Hardily (before.). After the municipality in cooperation with the police endowed schoolchildren reflective pendants turn came to earlier. “Thanks to the guesthouse we have multiplied the number of seniors, so they have more moves. After several incidents, we decided to help them, “added the mayor. Town Hall for the oldest residents of the village, therefore, had made 120 shopping bags with reflective tape.

According to a police spokesman Bohemia Alaska seniors are a risk group because they dress in darker colors. “I wear black pants and a gray dress. Similar colors but they are not visible from afar, “said Malaren. To wear reflective elements they want the police to convince the elderly and children as well as in the streets.

“I’ll be careful. Although it goes only one car, so I better wait until it passes. Nothing with reflectors although I have not yet, but the bag will wear it when I go somewhere in the evening, “she promised senior Ditka Fuchsia.”Personally, I do not go in the evening too, but perhaps grandson and the other children you have reflective elements – such as the legs,” recalled the previous security event hall Josef Role.

Reflective elements are mandatory maybe soon. At night or early in the morning, most of the pedestrians died on Czech roads. Due to the unfortunate statistics aspire police, traffic experts and the Ministry of Transport of the compulsory wearing of reflective elements. Getting should have prepared an amendment to the Road Traffic Act. Pedestrians would have to wear a reflective element or apparel when they will move in poor visibility along the road where there is off street lighting. Potential sinner’s police would be able to grant up to two thousand fines.

In many other countries, wearing reflective elements for pedestrian’s worth. For example, the Slovak Republic declined over five years the number of dead pedestrians from 184 to 64th.

Reflective stripes as accessories

Sometimes we tend to consider the reflective stripes as accessories. Their roles should, however, not be neglected: they protect us when riding at night. Thanks to them, we are, indeed, visible to motorists, which reduce the risk of accidents.

Why invest in reflective tape?

This type of accessory cyclists makes them visible when they roll in very dimly lit areas or at night. All road users are, thanks to this, able to see the bike and take into account the presence of it when it is moving.

Despite the legislation, too few cyclists are aware of the importance of being able to report their presence on the road. So cyclists have extra protection against accidents, which will be recalled, are wreaking havoc every year, so it is very important to stick at least one reflective tape on your vehicle.

Where to install reflective strips on your bike?

The reflecting band is in general, mounted on the bicycle rim. Its size is designed so that the cyclist is as visible as possible.

Your bike should normally be equipped with reflectors, for reflecting light. By law, your bicycle must, indeed, have in the back, the sides, the pedals and front. With this precaution, it is possible for you to report your presence, regardless of the angle at which you are located.

To be even safer, you can also invest in clothing with reflective strips or stick one on your reflective clothes. In case of rain or in the dark, and there will be no chance that other road users do not spot you.

How to choose your reflective tape?

In terms of reflective tape, aesthetic criterion is what prevails the most. You choose it, in fact, not based on this criterion: you must choose to optimize your visibility.

For efficiency, the rider can opt for bands of gray colors that reflect more light.

Moreover, the type of reflective tape on which you lean, buy those that conform to current standards in this area; these products are recognizable by the CE mark on the package of the product.

It was the second last part of our series on bicycle tires; we soon went around this universe. We will return soon with a comparison between the tires with rigid or flexible rod.

Stay visible with reflective stripe

It is a dark winter day in central Bergen. The time has not yet become eight, and a rush of cars and buses whizzing by venerable Bergen Handel gymnasium in Kalfarveien.

On both sides of the street are people on their way to work and school.

A pupil who shall number the first lesson runs across the street without worrying about cars driving past. Get user reflective tape, but still crossing the street untroubled.

We would make a cool reflection for young people who want to make them visible in traffic, but that was still simple and stylish, tells student at Bergen Handel gymnasium, Stain Landaus (18).

Along with two classmates, he started in Sept. youth enterprise “Be visible UB”, which produces practical and tough reflective bracelet, with room for mobile.

The style conscious boys spent considerable time planning how the bracelet would look like, and got good using a draftsman and ALF center for employment training, producing bands.

We would keep it as pure and simple as possible, telling Landaus who are general manager of the youth now.

Currently they have sold about 30 tapes of teachers and acquaintances, but hope the other students at the school will take interest reflex gradually.

They plan to set up a booth at the school where they will be selling ribbons, and have created a separate group for now on Face book.

The bracelet is made of the same material as exercise tights, so it should be easy, and sit comfortably on your arm.

It is black with two reflective stripes and has a simple design.

Reflective is so easy that you do not notice that it is outside of the jacket, and then you do not take it off and on, says Hans Jacobsen (17) pr.- and marketing manager.

He says that it is also ideal for training because it has room for mobile.

The company was started as part of the subject “Entrepreneurship and Enterprise Development” and with a grant from Sparebanken Vest shall continue to operate until the end of May.

Reflective bands sold for 150 million piece, and the boys hope they will make a profit within the school year is over.

The contractors tell they are keener to use reflex after they sat behind the wheel for the first time.

When you go out in the dark thinking that the cars look, but once you start to drive, you learn that it is not true, says Lars Otto Torsi.

Now he makes sure he always uses reflex when it is dark, and hope other young people will follow his example.

Severe Kristopher Jensen went by bus for 18 years, and has had several scary situations on the road because of pedestrians who do not use reflectors.

Pedestrians who do not have the reflex are a nightmare for us running bus, because they blend in with the surroundings and you see them so late. Then it can quickly cause a hazardous situation cannot manage to stop in time, he said.

Jensen finds that it is especially adolescents and adults who are reluctant to use a reflector, and that people in the city are duller with reflective clothing use than those living in more rural surroundings.

He praises the boys for the project and agrees that it is necessary to have a product that can appeal to young people.

I think it is absolutely king that the boys have been involved in this matter, and that they have found something that is easy to carry and use, while it works in traffic, says Jensen.

Reflective stripe requirement applies in Germany

From July 1, a reflective vest requirement also applies in Germany, and then there must be in each vehicle a safety vest. Shortly before the deadline, however, know 42 percent of motorists still unaware of the new regime, as evidenced by a recent survey of the portal “deals.com”.

Although Of the more than 2,000 respondents have three-quarters of female (75%) and two-thirds of male car owners (69%) already have a safety vest. However, more than one in four still has to be retrofitted (28%).

One reason for the poor interim result could be that 41 percent of respondents consider the safety vest unnecessary. This could, however, soon revenge, because who from July 1, has no safety vest in the car, which may be a fine of 15 Euros will be imposed. And who contributes to an accident no safety clothing, who even risked his insurance coverage.

Available are the red, yellow or orange vests, which are in other EU countries for year’s duty, on the Internet or at Dakar. However, many gas stations have safety vests. But beware: The vest has the standard DIN EN 471 or EN ISO 20471: 2013 match.

In a joint test of “Auto Bald” with the Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (IFA) has been found, for example, in the past year that some of the 13 audited vests do not meet the requirements.

Four of the tested west – MBW, Help and Aral – did not meet the German standard for undersized reflective material or poor reflectors and were rated with 10 Euro, the protective clothing of Aral was also still the most expensive “deficient.”.

Rated “sufficient” and therefore also not recommended are the west of Calf and ATU The predicate “good”, however, was six times awarded, including the reflective stripes on protective clothing of ADAC, Shell, Leona and Obi.