A pedestrian without a reflector means a driver without a chance to react quickly. It's a real nightmare on the roads, especially at this time of year. Seeing a person wearing dark clothes in such conditions is often a miracle. Miraculously, nothing bad happened near Olsztyn, but it was really close.
An apparition on the road like from a nightmare – a pedestrian in Olsztyn cheated fate. – Not only did it have no reflective elements, but it was also driving on the wrong side of the road. There was only a fraction of a second before an accident occurred, probably with fatal consequences – comments comm. Antoni Rzeczkowski from the Road Traffic Office of the Police Headquarters.
“I don't know why everyone dresses in dark clothes and goes out on the road.”
On the road near Olsztyn, signs mainly warn against animals that may enter the road from forests and fields. Only the driver's reflexes saved the pedestrian. – He behaved like a professional rally or racing driver. He simply reacted intuitively. Few people can react like that, says Michał Kościuszko, a rally driver.
– I don't know why all pedestrians wear dark clothes and go out on the road. I don't know, is this some kind of game? – asks Adam Wota, driving instructor.
When walking on the side of the road, which is often unavoidable, you have an obligation to be visible. This law outside built-up areas has been in force for years.
– A very clever recipe. The legislator did not invent it so that someone would wear colorful clothes, pink, orange or yellow. Just so it could save someone's life. Rules, as is sometimes the case in mental Poland, are not there to be broken. They are there so that we can coexist together healthily and safely – says Zbigniew Korytnicki, former head of the road traffic department in Gdańsk.
With reflectors, pedestrians are visible four times further
A year ago, 171 pedestrians died where it was mandatory to wear reflectors. Tragedies have their time – it's autumn and winter. Many of them probably could have been avoided.
Accidents involving pedestrians outside built-up areasPolice Headquarters
– Citizens generally seem to know the law, but only to the extent that is convenient for them – notes Stefan Rzońca, a driving instructor.
Without reflectors, the driver can only see a pedestrian from a distance of 40 meters. With reflectors, pedestrians are visible four times further. Meters at the cost of life.
– When the driver is about 40 meters away from us, he can basically see our shoes. The braking distance is 40 meters, sometimes the braking distance is longer – says Leszek Pławiak, driving instructor.
He got behind the wheel with one and a half per mille of alcohol. Why? Because my friend had two and a half permille Dariusz Łapiński/Fakty TVN
Constant appeals and grassroots work – in front of many police stations, such as in Białystok, there are special points with reflectors available immediately and for free.
– It seems to us that people have not learned to wear reflectors. The police are calling all the time. Unfortunately, we don't notice that there are more of them – admits Sgt. staff. Agnieszka Ulman from the Municipal Police Headquarters in Białystok.
– Only 20 percent of pedestrians who travel on roads outside built-up areas use reflective elements. Very rarely, older people – points out Anna Zielińska from the Motor Transport Institute.
Failure to do so may result in a fine of PLN 500. An amount that doesn't go away on foot. – Let's do anything to make ourselves visible. Let's turn on the phone, brighten the screen, or turn on this flashlight. Let's let us know that we are here, and let's not leave the situation to itself – appeals Michał Kościuszko.
Main photo source: TVN24