On a dark December morning at 7 o’clock, an older couple walks to the bus stop without reflective clothing just outside the village. The road is unlit and narrow, and a footpath or cycle path is missing. A car comes to meet them. At the same time, a car is approaching from behind. Drama plays out in a few seconds. The man is hit from behind and dies several hours later from his injuries.
Dark clothes
The investigation showed that the couple wore dark clothes. In addition, the driver who had hit the man could probably see both pedestrians more difficult because the lighting of the oncoming car obstructed his view. The lesson is clear: cyclists, students, people who walk the dog, walkers, especially in the outlying: make sure you stand out in all circumstances. Seeing and being seen in time is of vital importance in traffic.
Reflective vest
Those who notice are seen before. This applies during the day, but especially in the dark, at dusk, fog and in rainy weather. Cyclists and pedestrians are wise to wear striking, preferably fluorescent clothing. A reflective vest does not cost much, but the wearer has to close it because a waving vest is clearly less visible. The visibility of a motorist can also be greatly reduced by low-lying sun, fogged or frozen car windows, or eye abnormalities such as night blindness. This is no excuse in an accident. Who, for whatever reason, has insufficient visibility, should stop driving if necessary.
Low beam
Sometimes road users fall completely behind a traffic sign, an exterior mirror, or a window style of a car. Motorcyclists, moped riders, and light-moped riders can significantly increase their visibility if they not only wear eye-catching clothing, but also drive low-beam lights during the day.
New technology, such as striking daytime running lights, does not relieve the driver of his responsibility to be visible himself. Daytime running light switches on automatically when starting, but is not always sufficient for rain, fog, twilight, in the dark or in a tunnel. Yet cars also regularly drive with only their daytime running lights on. Because the dashboard lights light up, the driver believes that his dipped headlights will also light up, but he does not realize that the rear lights in combination with daytime running lights do not light up. This can lead to a life-threatening situation.
Shooting time
More and more cars are equipped with safety vest automatically switched low beam. However, it is very different by car when the low beam is switched on. Particularly in the case of poor visibility during the day and in the twilight period, the lighting does not start automatically until too late. At dusk, fog or rainfall, the driver can simply turn the switch a click, so that he knows that the low beam is on.