“In 2010, the most recent Ontario data available [Ontario Road Safety Annual Report], the peak times for serious injuries and fatalities to pedestrians involved in motor vehicle collisions was between 4pm and 9pm”, said Woozageer.
He also points out that, as the days get shorter in the winter months, motor vehicle accidents involving pedestrians increase. “The most dangerous times for pedestrians is during the autumn and winter months”, said Woozageer. “From 2006 to 2010, 40% of serious injuries and 42% of fatalities to pedestrians occurred between October and January.”Many people think streetlights are enough, but this is wrong. When darkness falls, you may see the driver in the car but the driver may not see you. The good news is that you can help prevent accidents from happening by simply wearing a safety reflector.”
The safety reflector was invented in 1960 Finland, allowing kids and adults to be safe when they were out walking and biking. The Finns feel so strongly about wearing reflectors that it is the law for pedestrians to wear safety reflectors when they are out walking in dark conditions.
Safety reflectors are well used by pedestrians and bikers in Scandinavia where children walk home after school in darkness. Thanks to many successful campaigns by schools and traffic authorities in Scandinavia, wearing reflectors and reflective clothing has become a common part of everyday life.
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Status Report on Road Safety, Scandinavian countries have the lowest pedestrian accidents on all accounts in the world. In 2001 the UK launched a nationwide Cat Eyes for Kids campaign where reflectors were distributed to every primary school student. According to Andrew Litchfield Head of Community and Environmental Affairs, UK child pedestrian casualties have fallen by 51% since the program started.
By wearing reflectors you can reduce your risk of being hit by a car by 85%. Without a reflector the driver of a car may only see you after 25-30 metres. Driving at 50kmh (30mph) that gives the driver only 2 seconds to react. A pedestrian’s reflector can be seen shining 140 metres in the headlights, giving the driver a full 10 seconds to react.
Safety on sidewalks and roads is the responsibility of everyone who uses them. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians all need to play their part in being safe. Wearing a reflector is the easiest and cheapest life investment that can insure that drivers (both cars and bikes) can see them. Not only on dark country roads, but especially on the visually complex urban roadscape that is loaded with so many distractions.
Be Safe and Be Seen . ActiveKidsClub.com Safety Reflectors
