A pedestrian without reflectors means a driver who does not have the ability to react quickly. It's a real nightmare on the roads, especially this time of year. Under such conditions, it is often a miracle to see a person wearing dark clothing. Fortunately, nothing bad happened near Olsztyn, but it was really close.
A dream on the road is like a nightmare – a pedestrian in Olsztyn cheated fate. – Not only did he not have reflective elements, but he was driving on the wrong side of the road. It was only a second before the accident happened, which could have fatal consequences – explained Antony Rzeczkowski from the Road Traffic Department at the police station.
– I don't know why everyone goes out wearing black clothes.
On the road near Olsztyn, signs mainly warn of animals that enter the road from the forest and fields. Only the driver's reflexes saved the pedestrian. – He behaved like a professional rally driver. He just reacted intuitively. Michal Kosciuszko, the driver of the rally, says that few people can have such an attitude.
– I don't know why all the pedestrians walk in black clothes. I don't know, is this some kind of game? – asks driving instructor Adam Vota.
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When walking on the side of the road, which is often unavoidable, you have a responsibility to be visible. This law has been in place outside of developed areas for years.
– A very clever recipe. The legislature did not invent it for anyone to wear colorful, pink, orange, or yellow clothes. Just because it might save someone's life. Rules, as they sometimes exist in mental Poland, should not be broken. They are there so that we can live together healthily and safely, says Zbigniew Korytnicki, former head of the traffic department in Gdańsk.
With reflectors, pedestrians can be seen four times farther
A year ago, 171 pedestrians died in places where it was mandatory to wear reflectors. Tragedies have their time – autumn and winter. Perhaps many of them could have been avoided.
Accidents involving pedestrians outside the residential buildings of the police headquarters
“Citizens generally know the law, but only to the extent that it is convenient for them,” says driving instructor Stefan Rzonza.
Without reflectors, the driver can only see pedestrians from a distance of 40 meters. With reflectors, pedestrians can be seen four times farther. Meters to the cost of life.
– When the driver is about 40 meters away from us, he can mostly see our shoes. The braking distance is 40 meters, sometimes the braking distance is longer, says the driving instructor Leszek Plaviak.
He got behind the wheel with one and a half pro miles. Why? Because my friend had two and a half permil Dariusz Lapinski/TVN Facts
Permanent appeals and mass work – in front of many police stations, for example, in Białystok, special points with reflectors were available immediately and free of charge.
– In our opinion, people have not learned to wear reflectors. The police call all the time. Unfortunately, we do not notice that there are many of them, – admits the sergeant. personnel. Agnieszka Ulman from the Bialystok Municipal Police Headquarters.
– Only 20 percent of pedestrians who walk on the roads outside the developed neighborhoods use reflective elements. “Older people rarely work,” says Anna Zielinska from the Institute of Motor Transport.
Failure to do so may result in a fine of PLN 500. Money that does not go on foot. – Let's do everything to make ourselves visible. Let's turn on the phone, light up the screen or turn on this light. Let's inform us that we are here and not leave the situation alone, – appeals Michal Kosciuszko.
Main photo source: TVN24
