Safe reflections

Only every tenth reflector meets the requirements - it results from the inspection of the Trade Inspection. Entrepreneurs and consumers do not distinguish them from gadgets that do not increase road safety. UOKiK, in cooperation with the Police, the Central Institute for Labor Protection and the Motor Transport Institute, has prepared special guides on safe reflections.

According to the statistics of the Prevention and Traffic Office of the General Police Headquarters, in 2014, 1,116 people lost their lives in cases involving pedestrians, and the most tragic was the effects of events in the undeveloped area, on unlit roads - every third person died. According to the regulations, all pedestrians moving along the road after dark outside the built-up area obliged to use reflective elements.

Conducted in the first quarter of this year the inspection of the Trade Inspection concerned the safety of reflectors available for sale throughout Poland. The reflectors tested for marking, reflective properties, resistance to falls and the effect of rain. Laboratory tests carried out by an accredited laboratory of the Motor Transport Institute.

The results of the inspection

The inspection revealed that entrepreneurs lacked basic knowledge about the requirements that refinements should meet (including the conformity assessment procedure appropriate for this product group). Offered reflective accessories also marked without due diligence.

UOKiK noted that the market dominated by gadgets that resemble glare, but should not be used by consumers as reflective accessories, because they do not meet the most important size requirements (minimum 15 cm2), reflective surface properties and resistance to maintain these properties, even in difficult weather conditions. Many of them sold with information suggesting that they are full-value reflective accessories, and wearing them increases the visibility of the user on the road.

IH inspectors checked 113 entrepreneurs (producers, importers, retailers, and large-surface stores.) Over 90% of 226 tested batches of products were questioned. Research in the ITS laboratory, which was subjected to 41 samples, showed that 41.5%. of them did not meet the photometric requirements - the light was not reflected sufficiently or the reflective surface was too small (according to the regulations, it should be at least 15 cm2). In 81 percent. the reservations were related to a user manual that was missing or incorrect. Other remarks referred to inadequate documentation and marking: a missing or incorrectly prepared EC type-examination certificate - 58%, EC declaration of conformity - 71% and CE marking - over 40 percent.

In the case of 156 products, the Provincial inspectors of the Trade Inspection enabled entrepreneurs to undertake voluntary corrective actions. They also issued 17 decisions temporarily forbidding access to reflections that did not meet the requirements and sent 13 notices of suspected offenses to law enforcement agencies. UOKiK has initiated 14 administrative proceedings so far to withdraw the disputed products from sale. In most cases, entrepreneurs have already taken voluntary corrective actions.

How to buy and use them correctly?

When buying a reflective vest, pay attention to whether the CE mark has been affixed to it, the name of the manufacturer and the type of the product and whether the instructions for use are included. The lack of these elements means that the product should not be used on the road - it is a gadget that only looks like a reflection.

The lower the reflector is located, the better the car's headlamps will illuminate it and the driver can see the pedestrian earlier. Therefore, the optimal height at which the user should wear a reflector is the height of the car headlight falling on it.

Make sure that the reflective materials worn are not covered with a scarf, bag or backpack.

When walking along the left side of the road (in the opposite direction to the movement of vehicles), it is best to wear reflections on the right hand or leg (from the direction of vehicle movement). When we move in the column, we should go the right side, then we should wear them on the left hand or leg (from the side of the vehicle movement).

In the case of elements permanently attached to clothing (especially sew on reflective tapes) periodically check that the reflective surface has not been wiped off, as a result of repeated washing or rubbing. If we notice that the reflective tape sewn on our clothing or backpack is worn, it should be replaced.

If the reflector is leaking and water gets into it (this applies to reflectors made of plastic and prismatic foils), replace it with a new one. The water inside the reflective surface causes the loss of reflective properties.