The most important thing is caution and being able to brake properly

 

In recent years, more than 10,000 per year have been registered in traffic accidents in which a car collides with animals. Also, this number is rising year by year. Accidents in which wild animals are to blame can take various forms, from damage to a vehicle, injuries to people or animals, to completely fatal consequences. Although cars are becoming safer and the consequences of accidents less severe than before, experts urge drivers not to rely on the safety equipment of their vehicles and to pay maximum attention to driving.

 

According to police statistics, there were over 15,500 traffic accidents last year in which a car collided with forest animals. For comparison, in 2015 it was 6 thousand fewer accidents. According to the police, the estimated damage caused by the collision with the game in 2015 was below 300 million crowns. In 2019, it exceeded the amount of 600 million.

 

On the roads, animals are most likely to be threatened in the early morning hours before dawn, and then at dusk or dusk. The game most often moves on roads leading through the forest and along with fields.

 

Road administrators install odor fences in the most critical places, which should at least partially discourage the game from crossing the road. Fences are installed in some places, but this usually only applies to motorway-type roads. Besipu experts emphasize that by far the most effective prevention is to reduce the speed below the value allowed in the given place - especially where the road sign directly warns of the increased occurrence of the game.

 

No prevention is ever 100%, but there are ways to reduce the risk. Anticipation and reduction of speed have already been discussed. If the driver sees an obstacle at a distance of 60 m, he will not be able to stop from a speed of 90 km / h. On the other hand, at a speed of 80 km / h, the distance to a complete stop is approximately 55 m.

 

However, heavy braking, which is causing difficulties for some drivers, is proving to be a necessary condition. "Unfortunately, many drivers can't break in a panic," says Škoda Mulač, an analyst at Škoda's traffic safety team. "In a critical situation, you need to kick the brake pedal and brake with all your might until it comes to a complete stop. Pulsation in the pedal due to the action of ABS leads some drivers to subconsciously release it - and this is the biggest mistake, "explains Karel Mulač.

 

If there is no avoidance and the impending collision cannot be averted, the driver should not try to avoid the collision. The best reaction is to brake hard and hold the steering wheel in the direction of travel at the same time.

 

Modern cars have such a level of passive safety that they can handle an impact on an animal commonly found in Central Europe without any consequences for the crew. "If the driver does not dodge, he makes the collision in the safest possible way. On the contrary, the effort to avoid a collision usually ends off the road, which in the forest usually means a collision with a tree or a fall from aside. This is how the most serious accidents take place, with the most serious consequences, "adds Karel Mulač.

 

Today's passenger cars are equipped with several electronic systems, which add a significant dose of active safety to their high level of passive safety. For example, the Front Assist system warns the driver at speeds from 5 to 210 km / h of an imminent collision and, if necessary, brakes the car automatically. supports full braking. Also, this system is supplemented by an emergency brake function designed especially for city traffic at speeds from 5 to 34 km / h.

 

Adaptive headlights that optimize headlight lighting depending on road configuration and ambient conditions can also help. But paradoxically, these otherwise great helpers may not be to the benefit of drivers in these situations. The animal rarely stands in the way without movement as a solid obstacle. Much more often, he suddenly runs out of the bushes or ditch, and in that case, the assistant can't do much. Likewise, intense lighting causes the animal to get stuck in the road and stop behaving as expected. That is why Besipu experts advise the appropriate combination of high beams with dipped beams.

 

If the game is close, the driver should manually deactivate the high beams and perform any rinsing with a horn, not a flash.

 

This, of course, requires the direct involvement of the human factor, adaptive headlights cannot handle it on their own. And so it is more true here than anywhere else: to limit speed, not to rely on assistive technologies, and to be prepared for lightning-fast response.

 

If an accident occurs, it is important not to panic. The first step in such a case should be to check the health of the crew and possibly call an ambulance. If no injuries have occurred, it is the turn of the reflective vest and the marking of the accident site with a triangle. The accident must also be documented and reported to the Police of the Czech Republic. Never load a dead or injured animal in a car. Such activity, albeit in good faith, is considered poaching. It is advisable to contact the insurance company directly from the accident site.

More stamps than ever before

 

During the past two weeks, the Mari students have been walking to school diligently. And wore safety vests. Now there were certificates for it.

 

In the past two weeks, the Mari students came to school “safe and visible”: namely with a neon yellow safety vest and preferably on foot. There was a stamp on their stamp card. And so every morning there were lots of yellow "fireflies" in the schoolyard at the stamping point to pick up their stamps.

 

At the end of the campaign, the class representatives, in Corona times of course with a mask and on behalf of the whole class, received the certificates. It was worth it again: "A total of 2566 stamps could be collected, that was more than ever before," writes the school in a press release. "The great community achievement was entered in the action certificate, which is now publicly displayed in the school hallway."

 

The certificates of recognition for each class are posted in the classroom to remind all children to keep wearing the vests, especially during the darker months of the year. "Because with a vest," says headmistress Angelika Wiedau-Gottwald, "the children are much better seen on the way to school."

 

With this campaign, the school supports the annual call by the German Children's Fund and the German Transport Club to increase the safety of children in road traffic, it says in conclusion.

Vests, signs, and safety ... What changes for hunters from this 2020 season

 

Since October 15 and the entry into force of a decree from the Ministry of Ecological Transition in the Official Journal, hunters will have to revise their habits somewhat. It makes 3 concrete actions mandatory - as reported by the Chasse Passion and Chassons.com websites - to reinforce safety when hunting.

 

Neon vests

Article 1 ( L. 424-15 of the Environment Code ) now requires you to wear a fluorescent safety vest during collective hunting hunts with large game. "The waistcoat can be integrated into a brightly colored garment such as a t-shirt, jacket or cape", specifies the decree.

 

Signage

Any organizer of large game hunts must post temporary signs before the start of the hunt and remove them once they are finished. These signs must be placed on the shoulder or near public roads (municipal, departmental and national roads) to indicate the main entrances to the hunting area.

 

The issue of providing information to other nature users on these secondary axes is essential to increase everyone's safety.

 

Security

Last point of the decree: hunters will, every 10 years, be made aware of through training in basic safety rules, at the request of the National Federation of Hunters (FNC). "Holders of a hunting license have a period of 10 years to meet this obligation to upgrade", specifies the order of the Ministry of Ecological Transition.

 

The Departmental Federation of Hunters will be responsible for setting the terms of information and convocation. The content of this safety training is currently being finalized by the FNC after consultation with the French Biodiversity Office. Also, a departmental security commission will now have to be set up in each departmental or interdepartmental federation. Its opinion will only be advisory.

Child safety on the road

When and how you can walk with children on the road? Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users and this is doubly true of children. When a car hits a pedestrian at a speed of 30 km / h, an average of every 20 pedestrians dies, with a speed of 50 km / h, almost half of the impact will not survive. The encounter of a pedestrian with a car driving 60 km / h means almost certain death for him.

However, if a car collides with a child at any speed, it can always end tragically, at a speed of 30 km / h is already critical to the child. This is precisely why care should be taken to prevent the safety of children on the road, which also addressed in the amendment to the Road Traffic Act, which entered into force in January this year.

Among other things, the amendment to the Road Traffic Act also brought additional obligations for pedestrians on the roadside or the roadside. In poor visibility, they must wear reflective elements or safety clothing not only outside the village but also inside it. The law defines reduced visibility as visibility in which road users do not see each other sufficiently clearly, especially from dusk to dawn, at fog, snow, rain or in a tunnel.

Especially in municipalities that do not have sidewalks at the edge of roads, these preventive measures are taking place, as the risk of a pedestrian collision with a motor vehicle has increased significantly. If the pedestrian moving along the road is not wearing reflective elements, the distance that the driver can see is significantly reduced.

Proper clothing in road safety plays a very important role. Generally, if we dressed in dark colors, the driver of a motor vehicle us in the dark, they see from a distance of about 20 meters, but the reflective material shines up to 200 meters distance. This effect is even more pronounced in young children.

Clothing and accessories in bright fluorescent colors then greatly contribute to increased safety during the day. Visibility of pedestrians and especially children or cyclists can be increased not only by well-chosen clothing but also by various reflective elements, patches, and accessories made of special materials. Reflective material at night can be seen at three times greater distance than white clothing, and at more than ten times greater distance than dark clothing.

At a speed of 75 km / h, the driver needs at least 31 meters (about 1.5 seconds) to realize the danger and respond appropriately. Thus, pedestrians, cyclists and skaters will be given enough time with reflective materials or various elements.

REFLECTING ELEMENTS

By using reflective elements, pedestrians protect their health and life. So their standard equipment, especially in autumn or winter, should include a reflective vest, tape and various illumination on the hand, foot, hat or bike helmet reflective stickers.

Reflective elements for children include safety reflective vest or reflective vest worn on top clothes, ensures good visibility for at least 50 meters and serves to protect children when moving on the road, walking and overall outdoors. The reflective safety strap can be attached to a shoulder, leg or bag as it rolls itself and is suitable for children and adults. For school bag, rucksack or backpack it is possible to buy reflective cover of yellow color, which is well visible from long distance.

It is fastened with sewn rubber and rubber straps and is also ideal for hiking or cycling trips. Reflective elements already used by many manufacturers of clothing and school bags, which can be supplemented with the above-mentioned reflective vests, retractable straps, as well as caps and winter hats with reflective patches, reflective keys, pendants in the shape of various animals, etc.

Even shoes equipped with reflective elements as standard reflective elements should always be placed on moving parts of the body, ideally on the upper or lower limbs. To be sufficiently visible, they must not be overlapped by additional layers of clothing or carry baggage. Having reflective elements on your clothes is not an expensive thing or a disgrace.