Visibility while driving is of paramount importance for the safety of both motorists and pedestrians.
Visibility while driving is of paramount importance for the safety of both motorists and pedestrians. Many accidents occur because road users are seen late or not at all by each other. The less light there is, the higher the probability of a pedestrian blending in with the roadway or verge. In darkness, human eyes perceive their surroundings much worse than during the day. It is difficult to determine how quickly a car is approaching. During such periods, as well as in bad weather, drivers do not see pedestrians or notice them too late. Speed limits are not a panacea. Very often in reality, a driver notices a pedestrian on the roadway from a distance of no more than 25-30 metres, and even at a speed of 50 km/h, the stopping distance of the vehicle exceeds this distance. In the evening and at night, when streets and courtyards are poorly lit, drivers detect a pedestrian with retroreflective elements from a significantly greater distance. If a car is moving with dipped headlights, the distance increases from 25-40 metres to 130-140 metres. If with main beams, the distance increases to 400 metres. According to research, the distance from which a "marked pedestrian" becomes more visible to the driver increases by 1.5-3 times. This gives the driver additional time to make the most appropriate decision to avoid a potential collision with a pedestrian (thereby reducing the risk of a vehicle hitting a pedestrian by 85%). The braking distance of a car moving at a speed of 80-90 km/h is 35-40 metres. Since a person is constantly moving, light rays fall on them not directly (as on a bicycle), but at different angles. The special composition of retroreflectors allows light to be reflected in the same direction from which it falls. A retroreflective element will always be visible. Rain, fog are not obstacles. The range of retroreflective products is quite diverse. These include flickers (pendants, stickers), retroreflective armbands, webbing, and ready-made clothing with details made of retroreflective materials.In darkness, on average, 50% of the total number of road traffic accidents occur. Driving a car during this time interval is quite difficult in terms of driver performance and selecting a safe driving mode. Night driving
it is always more dangerous because the driver cannot see far ahead and anticipate changes in situations. Thus, a pedestrian, by marking themselves with retroreflective elements, contributes to ensuring road safety.