Until now, the law required reflective elements to be worn only by people under 15. Now, lawmakers have extended this requirement to everyone, regardless of age, who travels after dark outside a built-up area.
The regulations provide for an exception: after dark, a pedestrian may travel outside a built-up area without reflective elements if they are on a road intended exclusively for pedestrians or on a pavement. The new provision will not apply in a residential zone—in such zones, pedestrians may use the entire width of the road and have priority over vehicles.
Co sądzisz o obowiązku noszenia elementów odblaskowych
Reflective elements may include items attached to clothing, such as bands, vests and lanyards. Their placement is important: reflectors are recommended at knee and hand height, as well as around the centre of the chest and on the back—this ensures that they are clearly visible to other road users.
It is worth remembering that after dark, a pedestrian wearing dark clothing is visible to a vehicle driver from a distance of about 40 metres. A pedestrian wearing reflective elements, however, can be seen from as far away as 150 metres. These additional metres allow the driver to brake and safely pass the pedestrian.
The justification for the draft amendment to road traffic law emphasised that the cost of reflective elements is negligible, while the cost of treating accident victims, not counting material losses, is significantly higher and difficult to estimate. The new provision does not place a burden on the state budget, but it may save the lives of many road users.
Komenda Główna Policji/ii