Warning vests should protect motorcyclists

“Seen – not to be overlooked” under this motto, the Association for Crime and Traffic Prevention would like to motivate motorcyclists to wear neon yellow safety warning vests.

 

Reutlingen. Although the accidents in the county of Reutlingen declined significantly, the motorcyclists were still over proportionally affected, police director Franz Lutz declared on Wednesday at the press conference to the start of the motorcycle season. 39 bikers and riders were heavy in 2009, twice as many easily injured. Two accidents were fatal for the cyclists concerned.

 

“We do not want to accept that,” emphasized Land Thomas Riemann, the chairman of the association. And because almost half of all accidents are involved in the motorcyclists, are caused by the other traffic user, because they overlook the cyclists, too late or misjudge their speed, the association now wants to intensify the “better recognize ability” of the bikers , This is to be achieved by means of the reflective safety vests. Unfortunately, the acceptance of the neon yellow jackets among the traditionally rather black dressed bikers so far quite bad, admitted Riemann. “Safety has to be sexy,” Riemann warned for a change in fashion awareness.

 

For Horst Porringer of the criminal and traffic preemption, the jacket has already proved its best. The passionate two-wheeled driver has worn the vest since 2009 and since then “has not had a single critical situation”. Even his colleague Matthias Spitzer, who used to be in the “fashionable black” – he was almost overlooked – swear by the vest worn over the normal motorcycle clothing.

 

Of course, does not want to be left alone with the West action. Because of the accidents caused by the bikers themselves, more than 90 percent are due to excessive speed, the speed controls should be tightened. To improve the safety of bikers, lectures are offered for motorcycling clubs. And in schools, the traffic safety mobile is again on the road, which is intended to make it easier for young people to enter motorized traffic. The roundabout guard also offers several one-day safety training courses for motorcyclists.

 

Participants are not only trained to better identify and avoid danger situations, they also learn how to cope with dangers in practical training. “95 per cent of all motorcyclists cannot have full braking,” says Dieter Sheffield, the head of the roundabout watch. Curving also risks many bikers are not aware of: “A motorcycle in an inclined position almost covers the width of a passenger car.”