Under the amended Road Traffic Act, every pedestrian travelling after dark on a road outside a built-up area is required to use reflective elements. It should be remembered that, in a collision with a vehicle, a pedestrian is always at a disadvantage. After all, they are not protected by a bumper, a car bonnet or an airbag.
A person wearing clothing in subdued, dark colours without reflective elements is visible from a distance of only about 40 metres. Pedestrians wearing reflectors, on the other hand, become visible even from more than 150 metres away.
Those additional metres allow the driver to brake and safely pass the pedestrian. Certainly, in autumn and winter, when darkness falls early and weather conditions deteriorate, pedestrians on the roads become difficult to see, so the likelihood of their being hit by a vehicle increases significantly.
REMEMBER: being safe = being visible. Using reflective elements in various forms (pendants, bands, vests or shopping bags with reflective elements) increases a pedestrian’s chance of avoiding being hit.
Properly worn reflectors should be placed so that they are within the range of car headlights and noticeable to drivers approaching from both directions.
The obligation for all pedestrians travelling after dark outside built-up areas to wear reflective elements came into force on 31 August 2014. Failure to wear a reflective element is punishable by a fine of up to PLN 100.