Bright heads can be seen even in the dark
At twilight and night, but also in fog or rain, colors and details are less visible. Darkly dressed people as pedestrians as well as bicycles and cars with missing or insufficient light are therefore often overlooked. Bright heads are not.
© BFU/MADE VISIBLE
At night and during rain and Snow visibility is severely restricted. By far the largest proportion of information in traffic is absorbed via the eye. Therefore the Accident risk at dusk and night is three times higher than in daylight, and ten times higher in fog or snow. According to the Swiss Council for Accident Prevention (bfu), a particularly large number of accidents occur between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. after work. This is precisely the time when it is currently already dark.
In the winter months is usually dark clothes which can be dangerous for so-called vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists. Car drivers can only see pedestrians and cyclists in the light of their headlights from a distance of around 25 meters. If they wear light-colored clothing, the distance increases to 40 meters, and with light-reflecting materials even to 140 meters. There are plenty of suitable accessories: luminous vests, arm or ankle bands, luminous material for caps and school bags make it possible to be seen from all sides at an early stage. Cyclists should also make sure that their lights are intact, preferably with parking lights. For their part, motorists should be doubly careful, have their twilight vision checked regularly and ensure that their car headlights are working properly.
The most important tips at a glance:
For pedestrians
Wear light-colored clothes with light-reflecting materials that are visible all around. Reflective materials on moving parts of the body are particularly effective, e.g. bands on the ankles and wrists.
For cyclists
On the bike are lighting and Reflectors front, rear and pedals are required by law (this does not include racing pedals, safety pedals and the like). It is best to use permanently mounted lighting and additional lights on the body. Check their functionality regularly. Spoke reflectors or reflective tires provide lateral visibility.
For drivers
Make sure your lights are working properly. Adapt your driving style to visibility and weather conditions. Also ensure clear visibility all around by keeping the front and rear windows clean. Snow and ice have no place there. When buying a car, also make sure that the vehicle is equipped with cornering lights.
About MADE VISIBLE
Every day, dangerous situations occur on Swiss roads because road users are overlooked. TCS and bfu want to counter this danger with MADE VISIBLE with solutions that can be fashionably integrated into any outfit. The prevention campaign, which is scheduled to run for three years, includes helpful tips as well as advice on appropriate items of clothing and accessories that can save lives in an emergency.
Overall responsibility for the campaign lies with the Touring Club Switzerland TCS. Partner is the bfu - Advisory Council for Accident Prevention. Funding is provided by the Fund for Traffic Safety FVS.
