Get illuminated to road safety
Pedestrians and cyclists are being warned to lighten up to be safe when out and about on or near Warwickshire’s roads as British Summertime officially ends this weekend.
Road safety officers at Warwickshire County Council are supporting the Government’s ‘THINK!’ campaign by encouraging people to be switched on to road safety as the clocks go back on Sunday morning.
Every autumn when the clocks go back, statistics show that road casualties and the casualty rate rises. Even when streets are well lit, it can still sometimes be difficult for drivers to see other road users.
Stan Milewski, Senior Road Safety Officer with Warwickshire County Council, said: “With darker mornings and evenings, there is an increased risk to all road users. Every year in Britain people are being killed or seriously injured simply because they could not be seen by drivers.”
As a pedestrian, being visible is not expensive and the following options could help to save your life:
o Wear light coloured coats and outer clothing
o Add fluorescent or reflective strips or accessories to clothing and bags
o Carry a white or light coloured shopping bag
If you ride a bike, make sure you correctly fit lights and check they work properly every time you go out.
And it’s not just adults who need to be safe and seen. Parents should make sure that children who go out in the dark are properly dressed in bright and reflective clothing. Road Safety Officers are sending out posters to all primary schools to encourage pupils to lighten up and giving the following advice:
o Make sure you can be easily seen, especially at night, on dark days and in bad weather.
o Bright or fluorescent clothes show up best by day, especially in dull or misty weather.
o By night, reflective material is best and shows up in car headlights - fluorescent clothing doesn’t work after dark. Reflective tape can be put on clothing, school bags and equipment.
o It is an offence to cycle at night without a white front light, a red back light and a red reflector at the back, so make sure all bikes are properly equipped and working.
o Cross the road at the safest place possible. e.g. zebra, pelican, puffin and patrolled crossings.
o Use the Green Cross Code: Stop, Look, Listen, Live.
o If you are out at night, choose routes that are well-lit by streetlights and cross at well-lit places.