, especially now when it's dark outside in the morning.
- This is a problem for all age groups. Adults make sure the little ones are well marked, but forget about themselves, says Steinar Mikarlsen, bus driver at Vy.
Steinar Mikarlsen has been a professional driver for 40 years, and even when he obtained his truck license in 1981, the focus was on using reflectors. The bus driver and his colleagues are therefore amazed that they are constantly greeted by passengers and pedestrians who do not have a single reflex when traveling in the autumn darkness.
Both he and his colleagues have experienced driving past a stop on several occasions because you cannot see the person standing there.
- They think we can see them, but that is not necessarily the case. Then it can be scary if they are far on the road and we are passing by. It gets even worse when people walk down the street in the dark and maybe even cross the street without looking to see if something is coming. We drivers often sit with our hearts in our throats, says Steinar Mikarlsen.
The statistics confirm what Mikarlsen is referring to. According to data from Trygg Trafikk, only every fourth Norwegian actually uses reflexes in the dark. This is despite the fact that you are only visible from 25-30 meters without glare. While with a reflector you are visible to a car with low beam from a distance of 140 meters. According to Trygg Trafikk, this means that the driver will have ten seconds, not two, to react.
- In other words, it could be the difference between life and death, says Mikarlsen. We do not want to point a finger, but we care for passengers and other road users, as well as for our own safety. That's why we want to ask people to be kind enough to use reflectors. Not only from time to time, but every time they travel in the dark, the bus driver in Moss continues.
According to Mikarlsen, of course, one reflection is better than nothing, but it is best to attach the reflectors in such a way that they are visible from several sides.
- Also remember that everyone you walk or stand with should have reflexes. It doesn't help if someone wears the glare from head to toe, if the accompanying person has nothing, because without glare you can be invisible on the road. Driving by, we will most likely see only a person with reflexes - he points out.
The driver also gives a hint for people who for some reason do not have glare. Namely, he suggests using a flashlight on a mobile phone to show where we are standing or going.
7 tips for the correct use of the reflector
- Include reflectors for all jackets and bags.
- Use reflectors that move while walking seem to be the best.
- Hang a reflector at knee height.
- Use two reflectors to be visible from all sides.
- Check if the reflexes are scratched - then it works worse. Also remember that the reflective effect on the reflective vest is reduced. The vest can last approximately 20 washes before it needs to be replaced. Shine a flashlight on a vest / reflector in a dark room to see if it still reflects light well.
- When buying reflectors, look for the CE mark.
- And finally: have you forgotten the glare? Feel free to use your mobile phone's light to signal where you are.
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Source: vg.no
