Traffic chooses O Grove to encourage the use of reflective vests among cyclists

Agents of the Civil Guard distributed these elements among users who circulated yesterday by the PO-316 -This road is within the "Protected Cycling Routes"

Agents of the Civil Guard of Traffic of the subsector of Pontevedra distributed yesterday reflective vests between the cyclists who circulated by the PO-316, to the height of the roundabout of San Vicente de O Grove. The members of Traffic stayed at that point for one hour with the aim of promoting and promoting the use of high visibility garments among cyclists to improve their safety before other drivers of vehicles.

The campaign has been launched in O Grove but will be extended to the whole province, focusing, above all, on those roads classified as "Protected Cycling Routes" that run throughout Pontevedra and that in O Salnés are concentrated in the area of the peninsula Mecca and Sanxenxo. The campaign launched by the Traffic Subsector of the Civil Guard of Pontevedra has the collaboration of the Galician Federation of Cycling, aware that their federated and bicycle lovers are risking their lives on more than one occasion when they go out to enjoy a sport that, each time, has many more followers.

The choice of the San Vicente roundabout has not been a coincidence, since the PO-316, a road that crosses the Isthmus of A Lanzada, is included within the Protected Cycling Routes, that is, within a group of roads that are used to to be used by cyclists on a regular basis and that has led the Traffic Department to highlight them in order to avoid the occurrence of abuses in them.

In Galicia, there are a total of 12 roads included in this catalog, which add nearly 700 kilometers in which to enjoy the bicycle without the fear of being hit by a vehicle. In these paths, the DGT has implemented a series of measures such as the signaling of the route, the temporary reduction of the speed limit and greater vigilance by the Civil Guard agents in compliance with the rules, in particular, the respect to the lateral distance in overtaking (1.5 meters minimum), the inadequate speed or the anti-regulation maneuvers. This last measure not only applies to car drivers but also controls cyclists.

In addition to the PO-316, PO-312 and the PO-317 (San Vicente road) included in this program are also located in O Grove, among the cyclists. valued in a very positive way, since it guarantees certain security in each one of your exits at the time of circulating through these spaces.

Warning clothing meets the new standard EN ISO 20471

New warning clothing standard: progress, clutter or everything "half as bad"?

EN ISO 20471 is the first international standard for high visibility clothing. It replaces the European standard EN 471.

But what changes? And what does the new standard mean for manufacturers and distributors as well as for consumers/buyers of the clothing previously manufactured according to EN 471?

This brings with it the new warning clothing standard EN ISO 20471.

With the new EN ISO20471 requirements for warning clothing for use are set for the first time risk-related, in 3 classes especially for the protection against "high risk". The previous interpretation "for professional or professional use" of the EN 471 is thus a thing of the past.

Class 3 is still the highest and Class 1 is the lowest level of protection, depending on the quantities of warning material (background material) and reflex (retro-reflective material).

IMPORTANT: For the use of the lowest class 1 warning clothing, it is advisable to combine it with clothing of the higher classes to increase the visibility.

According to EN ISO 20471, the amount of warning background material is now determined "net". That is, without logos or other (also provided) imprints.

The warning reflective fabric must definitely also enclose the torso for high-risk clothing (class 2 + 3) for better visibility from all sides. High Class 3 must always wear clothes with sleeves.

Another new feature is that only the higher quality level 2 is allowed for reflective strips. The mention of the previous number in the new pictogram is therefore omitted.

The properties of the classes must now be retained even after at least 5 washes.

The biggest change in EN ISO 20471 is that warning clothing is considered and assessed in terms of "risk". This particularly helps the consumer in assessing which warning clothing is suitable for the particular application. The extensive range of warning clothing from KIND easily meets all requirements.

Back to school: how to choose the binder of my child?

Choosing the schoolbag of your child is important because it will keep it for a whole school year, and sometimes more. To find the right one, follow the guide!

Many parents leave their choice of schoolbag to their child. But if it is he who chooses it, you must still make sure that it corresponds to his needs. According to the Ministry of National Education, the average weight of the backpack for the school is 8.5kg. That's almost 20% of the weight of the student when it should not exceed 10 %! To prevent your child from having pain in the back, neck or shoulders, you must choose it.

Back to school: how to choose your schoolbag?

The first thing is that you have to choose a backpack designed for children. Thus, it will be adapted to their morphology and designed in lighter materials, not to add weight unnecessarily. Then, it is important that the binder does not rest too much on the neck or the shoulders, so you have to take it near the body and with two straps and not on the shoulder. These should be wide and well padded for your child to be comfortable. Finally, do not adjust too long: "to avoid accentuating the camber of the back, the backpack must remain 5 cm from the waist," says ShopALike. It's also better if the bag has reflective tape or reflective material so your child can be seen by motorists when it's dark going in or out of school.

Choosing a backpack with outer pockets is a good idea to spread the weight of the business. The handles on the top allow to raise it without too much leaning and thus limit the effort of the back and the shoulders. Finally, school bags with wheels are a good option for elementary and middle school students since weight is not always on the shoulders. But you still need suspenders so he does not have to lift it at arm's length on the stairs.

A reflective tour of the province

A reflective tour of the province is underway Mazowieckie. Today, the students of the General Education School in Mogielnica in the Grójec district received reflective vests.

This is the next edition of the "You are visible, you're safe" campaign, organized by the Provincial Road Traffic Center in Radom and the Marshal's Office of the Mazowieckie Voivodeship. Over 120 students of grades I-VII received reflective elements. They had the opportunity to practice their skills on a bicycle obstacle course. They also familiarized themselves with the principles of first aid and road safety.

"Today, the children got sets with four reflective elements. These are two wristbands that can be put on your arm, leg and two pendants, which you can attach to your backpack or keys," said Tomasz Jagodziński from the Marshal's Office.

"In addition to learning, safety and health are in the first place. This campaign should be promoted by all schools to make young people aware that this safety is the most important thing for their lives," said Jolanta Tomczyk, the director of ZSO.

"Every action that will save a human life is the most important one. If any visible and visible reflection allows the car not to enter only one person, then it is already a success," said the councilor of Mazovia regional council Leszek Przybytniak.

The Grójec police and fire brigade were also involved in the reflective action in Mogielnica.

"Reflective materials are very important, especially important among the youngest ones. There are no sidewalks in this area, which also significantly affects safety. In addition, now it is not yet clear enough when children go to school, so they will be able to use these reflections for their safety, "said Agnieszka Wójcik, a press officer of the Poviat Police Headquarters in Grójec.

WORD Director Dariusz Piątek is used to several reflective trips a week, but he also sees the effects. The campaign is bearing fruit. "It's getting better. First of all, it is caused not so much by fashion, but by the fact that producers and clothing and those reflections go with the times. It is no longer like one type of hangers, one color. Various elements are produced from hangers, bangles, vests with reflective tapes, through even toys, mascots, bags and it is more and more visible on the streets. This is also visible among people who actively play sports. We start to take care of our own safety," said Dariusz Piątek.

And tomorrow, the campaign "You are visible, you are safe" will visit Sienna.

The reflector can save your life. A story to caution

"If it had a reflective vest, it probably would not have happened to the tragedy," says the police after a fatal accident in the Lublin region. The 39-year-old was walking along the road when it was already dark. He did not have a mandatory reflection. Reporter of the program "Poland and the World" reached the driver who hit the man. This is a cautionary tale. On Saturday, on one of the roads in the Lublin province, near Łuków, there was a tragedy. The driver who wants to remain anonymous drove along the dark road, where there is no lantern. As the man confessed to the reporter, he is still in shock.

"So far my heart is still squeezing. To make this animal, but it is a human being, "the man was saying, crying. "There was a car coming from the opposite side, I changed the lights for a short time," the driver reported. "And at some point I noticed in front of the car from 10 meters, maybe six walking. Unfortunately, I did not miss it. I hooked him with the right side, "he said. The tragedy occurred outside built-up areas. According to the regulations, after dusk, every pedestrian going along such a stretch of road should have a reflective tape on him. The beleaguered Belarusian did not have it. "If he had flares or something, I would definitely notice him and there would be no tragedy," said the man. "They do not want to, because they are ashamed". After dark, outside of built-up areas, the reflections are obligatory for over three years, but the police still stop people who do not remember or do not want to remember. "These people cannot explain in a logical way. They say they did not buy that they forgot that they have, but they do not want to use it, "Asp explained. Marcin Józwik, the police spokesman. "They do not want to, because they are ashamed," he added. According to the police, there are fewer and fewer people from year to year, because more and more people are walking the road in the dark, wanting to lead by example. "I am the driver myself and often at the last minute, I can see someone who is dressed in dark colors and has no armband. That's why I think it's important to have one, "Marta told reporter TVN24.

The pedestrian, who does not have reflective materials, will notice the driver at a distance of about 40 meters at the earliest. Whoever has something reflecting on him can already be seen from 150 meters. However, experts sensitize reflex reflections not equal.  "90 percent of flares, bands that were tested on the Polish market, did not meet any standards, all these elements cannot protect us on the road," said Zofia Mia-Stromsjo, a security expert. "Unfortunately, I will have to live with this" The accident from Łuków is dealt with by the prosecutor's office. For the police, the matter is obvious. The pedestrian did not have obligatory reflections. "Unfortunately, I will have to live with it," the man confessed. The driver who hit the dead man told us about the accident as a warning, because he knows that this situation can happen to everyone. "I will try not to drive at night. And when I have to, it's slowly," he said.

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.

Bicycle outfit: we choose a T-shirt, pants and bike shoes

Bike outfit - why is it important?

Every lover of this sport should wear a bicycle outfit. A well-chosen sports outfit protects the body against harmful radiation or wind. Important in cycling clothing are reflective fabrics, thanks to which we are more visible to drivers, especially at night.

Suitable bicycle shoes should form part of the outfit. The choice of shoes will depend on the field of cycling. Shoes used for road cycling may differ in hardness from the shoes used by mountain bikers. Perfectly matched bike shoes should protect the foot and not cause painful abrasions or blisters on the feet.

Elements of bicycle outfit

The bicycle outfit consists of several elements. First of all, we should equip ourselves with several sports shirts, which we will put on ourselves during cold mornings. If the temperature during the day increases, we will be able to take them off gradually. A good idea is the use of reflective clothing that drains water vapor and sweat from the skin. Bicycle clothing should adhere to the body so as not to restrict movement, therefore it is not the best idea to choose a wide cotton sweatshirt.

Professional cyclists should wear a sweatshirt and a sports jacket, including a raincoat. When looking for pants for a bike, we will also find different types. From adjoining to thermally active or insulated. In summer, it is worth choosing short fitting shorts. If you travel a long distance on a bike, you should buy at least two pairs. Our feet should be protected not only by footwear but also longer bicycle socks, preferably from air-permeable material.

A protective helmet is sure to come in handy. When planning shopping, you should think about protecting yourself from the cold and stocking yourself with a neck scarf. Regardless of the season, bike gloves will be a good purchase - with stiffened but also flexible material.

Bicycle shoes

Bike shoes, like the outfit, should be skillfully chosen. Buying too big or too small shoes, in the hope that they will break up, is not a good idea. Bicycle shoes should fit, hold your foot and be comfortable. It is not worth saving on them.

Many cycling enthusiasts opt for SPD shoes, which are models adapted to be attached to SPD pedals (the mechanism connecting the shoe with the pedal), which in many cases can also be worn with classic pedals. Professional bicycle shoes have a hard sole that makes the ride easier, but it makes walking difficult, so if you only ride on a bike recreationally, and you want to use your shoes for other purposes, choose a sole with less hardness.

Trekking shoes with a thick, durable sole are good. The upper of the bike shoe should not be too high so as not to obstruct movements or cause abrasions. It is important that the material of the shoe is breathable, eg made of mesh in the front part of the shoe. Reflective materials on footwear will additionally affect our road safety.

Bike outfit - price

The price of a complete bicycle outfit may depend on the brand, material, and systems used in production. In the fall and winter season, we will dress warmer than in the spring and summer season, so we will pay more for the outfit. If we are just starting our adventure with a bike and we do not have a complete outfit, the whole thing can cost us even a thousand zlotys. However, it is not worth saving on individual items.

Elements of cycling outfit made of more durable material will be relatively more expensive, but they will also serve us longer. However, if we do not want to overpay, we can look for additives on stock exchanges or auctions.