In the dark season, such simple means as flickers (reflectors) on clothing increase the visibility of pedestrians on the road and can save lives. The most effective places to wear them are the moving parts of the body - limbs, joints, torso, writes UNN.
UNICEF reports that, according to a survey by the Rating sociological group, only one in 10 Ukrainians regularly uses reflective elements on their clothing or accessories to increase their visibility on the road at night.
Short daylight hours, poor visibility and slippery roads significantly increase the risk of injury. According to the National Police, during the winter period of 2023/2024, 23,642 road accidents with fatalities and/or injuries were registered on Ukrainian roads, including 3,964 accidents involving children. Even simple measures such as flickers (reflectors) on clothing that increase the visibility of pedestrians can save lives.
What are the different types of flyers and how much do they cost
In general, there are reflective bracelets that can be purchased for about 129 UAH for three pieces, or even cheaper from 26 to 79 UAH. A signal vest can be purchased for up to 150 UAH.
If you don't like bracelets and vests, you can buy a flicker in the form of an armband, sticky tape, funny stickers, or key chains. All of these products cost little.
Thus, for a small amount of money, you can save your life and take care of your safety.
Safety tips for pedestrians
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, together with the State Emergency Service, the National Police, and UNICEF Ukraine, gave advice on how to stay safe on and near the roads this winter:
- Choose light outerwear.
- Wear flickers (reflective elements). Also attach them to your pet's collar.
- Carry a charged flashlight and phone with you.
- Cross the road only on pedestrian crossings and, if possible, in a group of people.
Choose flickers with a size of 15 cm² or more in white or lemon yellow, as they are the most visible.
Among the tips, too:
Stick the flickers at the driver's eye level - on the backpack, hat and clothes on both sides, on the moving parts of the body: forearms, wrists, ankles, etc. Combine removable and non-removable reflective elements.
First Deputy Head of the Patrol Police Department of Ukraine Oleksiy Biloshytskyi noted that the most effective places to wear reflectors are the moving parts of the human body - limbs, joints, and torso
"The accuracy of drivers' reaction to pedestrians is 80%, with reflectors on the legs and torso 64%, only on the torso 53%, only on the legs 50%. The accuracy of the reaction to people in ordinary clothes is 33%," Biloshytsky wrote.
He explained that the point is that in order to adequately assess the situation on the road, a driver needs not only to notice the reflective element, but also to understand that it is a pedestrian and determine the direction of his or her movement. These conclusions were reached based on the results of research at the School of Optometry and Vision at the University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.
In the dark, dark clothing without reflective elements is visible at 18 meters, light clothing at 55 meters, and light clothing with reflective elements at 130 meters.