Road Safety - Be Careful, Be Seen

Pedestrians are among the most vulnerable road users and those most at risk. The biggest threat to them is represented by drivers of motor vehicles, who cause approximately 70% of road accidents. The key to greater pedestrian safety is strict observance of the speed limit and proper attention on the part of every driver.

Visibility is safety! For greater safety in the dark, at twilight and in cases of reduced visibility or fog, good visibility is essential for pedestrians. To ensure that they are visible, pedestrians should wear light-coloured and reflective clothing and use reflectors (reflective strips, pendants, reflective panels on clothes or footwear) and torches. They should walk where they can be seen and should always face oncoming traffic. Pendants should be hung from a belt or pocket where they can swing freely, since only in this way can they reflect the light from car headlights. A car driver driving at 40 km/h can only see a pedestrian who is wearing dark clothes and is not illuminated up to a distance of 26 metres. A pedestrian wearing light-coloured clothes is visible to up to 38 metres, while a pedestrian actively using reflective bodies is visible up to a distance of 136 metres.

First- and second-year primary school students must wear a yellow scarf around their necks, as well as a reflector, when walking to and from school. Adults accompanying children along a road should hold them by the hand in such a way that the children are on the side further from the roadway. Active use of reflective bodies in the dark or twilight can save a pedestrian’s life.