Reflective little ones

Are children briskly marching in reflective vests with reflective materials? It is no wonder in Żywiec. From the beginning of September preschoolers and the youngest elementary school students participate in the "Safety of children on the road" campaign.

From the beginning of the school year, the representatives of the agency's office in Żywiec and the Police Headquarters, its spokesperson, Mirosław Gruszka, the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund, its head Włodzimierz Lis and students of the police class ZS, along with the mascot of the Silesian Police, they visit the youngest road users. Children watch the movie "Sznupek advises how to be safe on the road", then they talk about this with invited guests. "We ask children, do they know how to move on the road, schoolgirls teach them how to behave when they see an accident; children also remember phone emergency numbers: 999 and 112. I suspect that after such classes they have more practical skills than many adults," adds Józef Stopka. An additional attraction is ARiMR gifts - reflective vests sew on reflective tape, wristbands, elements attached to backpacks. At the end of the meeting, the children take an oath that they will move carefully along the way, obeying the rules of the road. "We want the children to be safe," emphasizes Józef Stopka. "Both on the way to school and in places where they play. From August 31, regulations are in force, so that after dark, moving outside the built-up area, have a visible reflective element on them. We give away reflections, not only to children but also to adults." Józef Stopka became convinced about how such an element helps both pedestrians and drivers. For years, he has been in the team guiding traffic and securing walking pilgrimages to Jasna Góra. "Reflective vests that we always wear, perfectly fulfill our role - we are visible. If we save one or more human lives through such lessons, it is worth carrying out a million such actions," he sums up.

Police officers with the mayor gave away their reflective vests again

Officers of the Poviat Police Headquarters on Wednesday (8 May) once again this year carried out the campaign "Safe bicycle season 2019." These were joint road and city authorities' activities in favor of cyclists' safety, consisting of giving the cyclists their reflective vests.

On Wednesday morning, policemen from the road club focused their activities in this area, where many cyclists appear.

The aim of the activities was to improve safety on the roads of unprotected road users by increasing their visibility. On that day, cyclists came to receive reflective vests funded for residents by the city authorities. It was handed by the mayor Krzysztof Kaliński and the head of the traffic section Mariusz Kajewski. In total, 50 reflective vests were distributed.

The police are encouraged to wear reflective vests not only in the evening but also during the day. Vests significantly improve the visibility of the cyclist and thus increase its safety on the road.

It should be remembered that the reflective vest with reflective tape does not release from the obligation of proper lighting and bicycle equipment.

"In addition, we would like to remind you that in connection with the beginning of the cycling season, the popularity of this means of locomotion in the city and the thefts of two-wheelers appearing during this period, we continue the campaign of marking bikes last year," adds the policewoman.

Police officers from the Poviat Police Headquarters can mark a bicycle with any interested person. Engraving and a durable sticker, as well as creating a database of these two-wheelers will certainly scare away bicycle thieves.

"Nordic Cycling" conquers the sports world

Münster is again in the lead, this time with the topic of sports trends. Nordic Cycling is the name of the sporty mixture of Nordic Walking and cycling, developed by students of the tenth year of the Erna-de-Vries-Realschule. "This is a sport for young and old, for all ages," explains Victor David Sendas, a teacher at the school in the Geistviertel.

A great advantage for the teacher is obvious: "Many paths, especially here on the Aasee, are not allowed for cyclists. Nordic cycling gives you the feeling of being on the road without violating traffic regulations. " His colleague Iris Leube also sees great advantages over cycling in this new trend sport: "All you need is a bicycle handlebar, helmet, and protective reflective vest, and safety comes first".

The fact that Nordic Cycling will very quickly build up a large fan base is indisputable for the two educators: "The boom will pick up speed quickly and will not be limited to Münster!" With Nordic Cycling, the sports equipment can be perfectly adapted to the fitness of the user.

Inexperienced start with Hollandrad handlebars, professionals, however, use a mountain bike or road bike handlebars. The weight of the handlebars, which is kept at chest level during running as when cycling, trains the arm muscles and promotes the cardiovascular system, as experts confirm. A bell increases the safety aspect, especially if walkers or slower Nordic Cyclists are overtaken.

As a typical crossover sport, Nordic Cycling can be used both at the Münsterland Giro and the Münster Marathon, so dedicated athletes no longer have to decide between one of the two major sports events. The sports equipment is cheap and can be found in many crafting corners. If you do not have an old bicycle handlebar in the basement, you can ask the bike dealer in the neighborhood for used parts. With the expected boom, however, it is advisable to be quick, the retail sector is already starting from supply shortages.

Safe through the dark season: Reflectors protect pedestrians and cyclists

Autumn makes special demands on the road: the days are getting shorter, the weather is getting worse and the overall visibility is getting worse. Adverse weather conditions, slippery roads and short periods of daylight give pedestrians and cyclists a greater risk of being overlooked by motorists. It is highly recommended to wear light clothing in rain, fog, and darkness. "Reflectors, which are already perceived at distances of up to 150 meters by motorists, ensure sufficient reaction time and thus stopping distance," says Ralf Diekmann, TÜV Rheinland expert for product safety. In comparison: A bright cap or jacket is only seen up to 90 meters, dark jackets can hardly perceive motorists or at a distance of about 30 meters.

Pay attention to test marks

"When buying reflective products, consumers should pay attention to corresponding standards, license plates, and test seals," Diekmann says. Reflectors should comply with DIN standard EN 13356 and bear the CE mark. "If the GS mark is appropriate for tested safety, the product and the manufacturer are also monitored regularly." For safety vests the standard EN 20471 applies - this check number should be present on the label of the safety vest. Reflective belts for joggers with incorporated prisms also ensure good re-radiation behavior. By the way: warning clothing is divided into three classes depending on the proportion of fluorescent and retro-reflective materials, with class 3 offering the best visibility. "Fluorescent materials or colors are particularly noticeable during foggy and rainy weather during the day, and retro-reflective material ensures very good visibility at night, for example, when it is illuminated by car headlights," says Diekmann. If uncertainties arise with regard to the retro-reflective behavior when purchasing, the TÜV Rheinland expert recommends taking a mobile phone photo with a flashlight from the reflection surface a few meters away. Good retro-reflective behavior is then directly visible on the display.

Chicken now also equips with safety vest

Chicken Polly from farmer Clemens Keßmann from Dielingen made already headlines: The farmer had put on the animal a safety vest. Now also the weathercock on the roof carries the bright neon green.

In the animal paradise, even a small chicken with reflective safety vest causes a sensation: Polly büxt regularly from the enclosure on the busy B51 and brings it in mortal danger. For safety reasons, the holder of his laying hen put on a special chicken warning vest, which he had found on the Internet. "That did not appeal to the rooftop rooster at all; he also demanded a safety vest," says farmer Keßmann.

"So that the rooster stays in the mood"

"What should I do there," says Keßmann, laughing. "So that the rooster stays in the mood and continues to take care of my chickens, I have also missed him such a vest." For a few days, the rooster on the roof now also signal colors and is therefore probably the first (weather) cock with a safety vest.

Lighting for cyclists and e-scooters vital

Road traffic regulations also apply to electric scooters. A violation can be expensive.

The dark season means bad visibility conditions and increased accident risk for all road users. In November and December 2017, around 32 percent of traffic accidents involving personal injury occurred during the dark hours - the highest level during the year.

Cyclists, in particular, are required: damp foliage and wet, smooth tram rails increase the risk of falling, fog and twilight obscure the view. "Cyclists should definitely pay attention to functioning lighting and good visibility," says ÖAMTC lawyer Nikolaus Authried.

Equally, on duty, he sees the handlebars of e-scooters: For the battery-powered scooters, the same rules apply as for cyclists - because if they do not exceed a maximum output of 600 watts and a maximum speed of 25 km/h, they are considered e-bikes.

Check lighting regularly - "lack of light" costs up to 726 euros

According to the regulation, bicycles must have a white reflector in the front and a red reflector in the back. The reflectors must be mounted individually or integrated into the headlamp. Forward and rearward reflectors are a must on the pedals.

"Also mandatory is yellow or white cat's eyes or reflective tapes on the wheels," says the ÖAMTC lawyer. "Alternatively, tires with reflective borders are possible." For electric scooters, the lighting regulations also apply according to their design. The expert recommends: "The condition and optimal function of the lighting should be checked regularly."

"In principle, drivers of bicycles and e-bikes, including e-scooters, are not obliged to use headlamps or red taillights in daylight and good visibility - but in the case of obstruction and darkness," says lawyer Authried.

"Those who do not abide by the rules risk not only the safety of themselves and others but for badly equipped and unlit bicycles can be up to a penalty of 726 € imposed." If one causes an accident with personal injury due to poor or lacking lighting, compensation claims and a judicial criminal procedure must also be expected.

Helmet and reflectors are must-haves for handlebars

Rules for the equipment of the driver itself does not exist. "Although a helmet is not mandatory for adults in Austria, it protects against serious head injuries in the event of an accident and should be part of the basic equipment - even more so in the dark season," advises the ÖAMTC expert.

If a cyclist "crashes" under helmet conditions without a helmet and suffers skull injuries, he may even be guilty of contributory negligence.

To be even more visible, it is essential to attach reflective materials to clothing or wear a safety vest. "Every supplemental aid, be it through headlamps or LED lights, makes sense, but it should be noted that this does not dazzle oncoming traffic," says the expert.

Reflective stickers for clothing and safety vests, for example, can be found at all Mobility Club bases - there are plenty of other "little helpers" for more visibility, such as armband and leg straps and reflective pendants.

When chickens wear safety vests

However, it is not an April fool's joke that some chickens roam around in Weibenbrunn.

When chickens wear safety vests, one almost inevitably thinks of an April Fool's joke. But that is far from Weibenbrunn.

The chickens by Günter Marr were recently found in bright yellow and red vests - also on the roadside.

These chickens turn garbage into eggs

Although the chickens have to cross a street on their way from the stable to the meadow, those who now believe that the safety vests have something to do with road safety are wrong.

The actual reason for wearing the reflective robes is completely different - and not least to look in the animal world.