Are pedestrians required to wear reflective clothing?

HomeArticlesReflectors for pedestrians: desire or obligation?

The roadway is a place of increased danger, despite the installation of road signs. Therefore, all road users must observe the necessary safety measures. Statistics show that every second emergency situation on city roads is a collision with pedestrians. Since a greater number of such incidents occur in conditions of insufficient lighting, the presence of reflective elements is mandatory, which is enshrined in the law of the Russian Federation dated July 1, 2015.

Reflective elements (RE) are capable of refracting light fluxes incident on them. This feature of the SE allows the driver to improve the view of the road and respond in a timely manner to an obstacle on it. When the light flux hits the solar cell, the reflected beam is directed to the headlights of the vehicle and ensures the visibility of the pedestrian even in unfavorable conditions (darkness, fog, rain).

When using clothing with reflective materials or other elements with such properties, the risk of accidents involving pedestrians is significantly reduced. Thus, the use of SE allows the driver to notice people walking along the roadway (and sometimes pets) already at a distance of 200 meters with low beam headlights, and at a distance of 350 meters with high beam headlights. This will allow you to reduce your speed and safely avoid an emergency. Also, in the dark, noticeable LED road signs and reflectors have a positive effect on the situation on the road.

Types of reflective elements

Depending on the reflection angle, SEs can be:

• Wide angle (more efficient).
• Narrow angle.

For solar cells to perform their function, light must fall on them at an optimal angle of incidence (40 degrees) or close to it. To increase the likelihood of effective operation of SEs, it is necessary to distribute them over different parts of the body (arms, back, legs) so that they are as clearly visible to the driver as possible.

The shape of reflective elements is available in the form:

• Stripes (sewn onto clothes or glued with an iron).
• Key rings and pendants (hang on backpacks, satchels, bags).
• Thermal stickers or adhesive stickers.
• Badges (attached to clothing).

Stickers, patches and other similar elements should be applied to visible places so that they are anatomically located on parts of the body.

If you do not have similar options for reflective accessories and clothing with sewn-in reflectors on hand, you can provide protection by applying spray paint with a light reflection effect.

Special glass lenses or reflective surfaces in the manufacture of SCs increase their efficiency due to guaranteed good refractive properties.

You can wear bright yellow vests with sewn reflectors. The presence of such vests is especially important for drivers. When going out on the highway at night, they also become pedestrians and are at risk.

The best colors for reflective stripes and other devices used for these purposes are: white, light gray and bright yellow-green (lemon). Outerwear in light colors will also increase a person's visibility on the roadway.

There are elements with built-in LEDs or light bulbs. They glow on their own, without the need for light rays to hit them. There are also options with special coatings (for example, phosphorus-containing), which allows them to be used for signal in the dark.

In the absence of alternative solutions, battery-powered flashlights can be used to ensure pedestrian safety. They should be carried in such a way that they are clearly visible to the driver, but they do not blind him.

Attention! Laser elements are strictly prohibited, as they can blind the driver and cause a traffic accident.

GOST R 12.4.219-99 regulates the quality of materials for reflectors.

Maximum efficiency

As the police say, the use of reflective elements in the form of stripes on the sleeves must be correct: it is necessary to ensure that these elements are visible when moving and are not obscured by folds, backpack straps or other parts of clothing. Otherwise, there will be no sense from the reflector.

They note that the most effective option is to purchase clothing that is already protected with a special tape with reflective properties. The manufacturer places such elements in accordance with the recommendations of the traffic police, taking into account the design features of the item and the resulting folds. This means that the driver is guaranteed to see a pedestrian wearing such clothes on the road on time. The police also advise placing reflectors on both the right and left. This ensures maximum safety when crossing an unlit highway at night.

How many reflectors should there be and their location

There are standards for the number of SEs. GOST R 51835-2001 regulates their locations.

Elements that reflect light are arranged as follows:

• On the legs (legs) horizontally in the lower or middle part, or vertically on the outside.
• On the arms (sleeves) along the outer line of the shoulder and/or forearm, across the upper or lower third.
• On the back horizontally along the lower and upper parts, or along the shoulder line down parallel to each other or in a V-shape.
• In front along the chest line or under it, or vertically from the shoulder line to the bottom.
• On the body in the form of suspenders.

It is advisable that SEs be on hats, bags, backpacks, knapsacks, gloves, and shoes. It’s good when there are several elements in different places. If there is only one reflector, then it must be of sufficient size (at least a quarter of square meters according to GOST) and located on the headdress or chest. This will increase the likelihood that the driver will notice a person on the road. But it is better to have two or more reflective elements. Such protection turns out to be reliable in practice, capable of identifying a pedestrian.

Bicycles, scooters, strollers, and wheelbarrows must also be equipped with an electric vehicle. Adhesive tape with a reflective coating is suitable for this. It is necessary to paste it over the pedestrian’s vehicle so that its dimensions are clear. Persons riding a bicycle or scooter on a road, its edge or shoulder should wear appropriate reflective equipment. Or you need to use any available methods of applying SE to clothing (in the form of patches or stickers), and also use flickers (for example, bracelets, key chains). You can wear a vest with SE.

If appropriate special sleeves are used as reflective elements, they should be worn so that they are clearly visible to vehicle drivers, provided the headlights are on, at a distance of up to four hundred meters.

When moving along the roadway with a pet (this is especially true when a pedestrian is walking with a dog or cat), you need to put on a leash, harness, overalls or any possible cape with reflectors.

Basic legal requirements

After the Law on the use of reflective elements for pedestrians came into force, the traffic police launched a wide advertising campaign to inform the population about changes in regulatory documentation and the benefits of using ESR. Federal and municipal media, local activists and organizations have been involved in this work, explaining to people in what situations they are required to put on and wear protective equipment, and what responsibility follows for violating these standards. As part of ensuring easy access to the purchase of protective devices with ESR, the sale of these products has been established in post offices of each region.

Note! From March 18, 2021, an amendment to the Law dated July 1, 2015 comes into force, according to which drivers must also have vests or cape jackets with ESR. You can purchase them or make them yourself at home.

However, the amendments regulate the requirements for such devices, according to which:

1. The product must contain at least 2 or 1 strips of fluorescent material that is orange, yellow or red.
2. These elements must be located in a horizontal direction, and the lower part of the outermost element must be no lower than 50 mm from the edge of the jacket or vest.
3. These elements should also be located at a distance of 50 mm from each other.

Note! Most often, ESR strips cover the driver’s torso and are connected by straps across the shoulders, which allows for retention of the structure.

When explaining whether a driver or pedestrian is required to wear protective devices with ESR within the city, experts note that in relation to them, the rules of the law are advisory in nature. Simply put, if these products and accessories are not on clothing, a pedestrian will not be punished when moving along poorly lit city streets. However, traffic police officers in this case cannot guarantee, albeit relative safety on the road. In this situation, as in the proverb, taking care of your “salvation” is in the interests of the “drowning” person.

Children on the road

The safety of children should be given special attention. Introducing children to the rules of the road is the direct responsibility of adults. It is necessary to ensure the protection of the child in all available ways.

For children, you should purchase clothes, backpacks and satchels with sewn-in solar cells. If they are not available, you must use tape, bracelets, stickers, key rings and other devices with reflective coatings. Especially popular among kids and teenagers are bracelets (they look like a fashion accessory) and badges (any design can be applied to them).

It is necessary to instruct the child about the rules of behavior on the roadway. Children's educational institutions usually conduct classes on this topic.

For schoolchildren, GOST regulates certain sizes of reflective tape. It must be at least 5 centimeters wide and a total length of two meters.

Reflective options for pedestrians and drivers.

Many people are embarrassed to wear clothes with reflective elements or are afraid to look strange in them, but the elements are different, many of them can be easily put away in a handbag if necessary. Let's figure out what kind of reflectors there are.

Reflective vest.

Every driver should have one. In car stores it is sold for a symbolic price of 100-200 rubles, which will not hit the family budget. A reflective vest is indispensable for drivers who often go out onto the roadway in poor visibility conditions, for example, truck drivers, road workers.

This cheap and affordable vest has a drawback - its unpresentable appearance, which is why many drivers do not want to purchase it, despite its ease of use and low cost. In this case, you can consider the following reflector option.

When reflectors are required

According to amendments to the traffic rules dated July 1, 2015, reflective elements are mandatory for pedestrians in conditions of insufficient lighting (darkness) and poor visibility (fog, rain) when crossing and/or driving along the roadway, its edge or shoulder outside populated areas.

As for the movement of pedestrians in the dark along the road zone of populated areas, wearing clothing and items with reflectors is recommended.

There is no specific time period corresponding to the concept of “darkness”. But it is believed that this is the period from sunset to sunrise.

In terms of requirements, movement during fog and other weather conditions when visibility is insufficient is equal to this.

Posters about pedestrians wearing reflectors

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Fines for violation of requirements

If a pedestrian does not comply with the indicated rules and does not use reflective elements during periods of insufficient visibility (darkness and fog) outside the territories of populated areas, a fine for violation of the requirements is imposed in the amount of 500 rubles. The same fine is imposed on the driver if he had to get out of the vehicle in poor visibility conditions.

Sometimes things that seem insignificant at first glance can save lives. This is exactly what reflective elements are. By following simple rules and basic requirements, you can ensure protection and minimize the risk of accidents on the roads.

Is it possible to pay a fine for the lack of reflective elements at a discount?

In 2021, Article 32.2 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation was supplemented with an addition that allows you to pay fines under some articles of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation at a discount. It must be said that such an indulgence also applies to the fine under Article 12.29 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. That is, if a pedestrian was issued a fine for the absence of reflective elements on his clothing, then this fine can be paid at a discount. The most important thing in this case is to pay the fine within the period when such a fine appears in the traffic police database, and no later than 20 days from the date of the decision.