Children can’t be seen in the dark without reflective clothing

In autumn and winter children in road traffic are particularly vulnerable, a reflective vest can make children be seen and be safer. But for a safe way to school in the dark, rain and ice, parents can do a lot - even without "Taxi services".

They draw early in the morning: packed with heavy backpacks school children, on foot, by scooter, skateboard or bike. Located in the busy rush hour, it’s rain or shine - in the fall and winter, even at dusk or even in the dark. The danger of being overlooked in traffic is even greater than for adults for children.

In the dark season parents should look for in their children bright, best fluorescent or reflective clothing. This glow in the beam of the car up to 160 meters fluorescent materials in orange or yellow as well as large-area reflector strips are already prescribed for the market today satchel. Parents recognize this satchel on the DIN standard 58124 and appropriate safety clothing to the designation DIN EN 13356. But normal jackets, hats and bags can be easily retrofitted by reflective material figures or stripes or sews. For added security worry dangling "cat's eye" pendant whose additional movement particularly draws attention to itself?

Helpful in fashionable concerns that sometimes already have five-year refuse any cooperation, are fun experiments: the mother or the father has been raised in different clothing to the curb, trying the child in the car with the other parent, she or recognize him. The concrete experience helps the child to understand an otherwise abstract context.

For children aged six to eight years of close to other, if they themselves can see an illuminated car well, they assume that the driver sees them. Younger children interpret the spotlight often referred to as eyes that can see everything - like their own children's eyes. But even in the bright kids are hardly properly evaluate capable of distances and speeds. In darkness, it is virtually impossible for them. And the reaction time of children is about three times as long as the adult.

Training takes taxi

No wonder that more and more parents chauffeur their kids to school by car. A poll by the Forsa Institute showed that in 1970 made in Germany alone on the way to school 91 percent of primary school, in 2012 there were only 50 percent. But the family taxi is dangerous: On the way to school children come not only on foot or by bicycle to harm but also by the car. And the traffic is just too close to the schools where many children are traveling. In addition, it lacks many children to move, which in turn is important for the formation of psychomotor skills - a prerequisite for a safe movement in traffic.

Also, traffic psychologists call: Parents should trust their children something. Already six to seven year olds can handle the way to school alone. They exert to move in public space and to bring critical situations. "At first, parents should accompany their children and indicate possible harm," said Dr. Ralf, psychologist at TÜV NORD. However, children get distracted quickly and behave willing to take risks, especially in the company of other children.

"Often the children's attention diminishes when they feel safe and in the dark, fog or snow also very familiar paths are dangerous. It is therefore advisable to check from time to time whether the once learned permanently will be implemented. In particular, in the fall and winter, when dangerous in fog or snow also familiar ways parents should accompany the school children again and this particular attention to the traffic behavior." Especially in the dark winter months, it is important to let children wear reflective clothing and send off the child in time. Without time constraints, a child may perceive the road better and it will remain on the safe route.