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Reflective vest – when should you wear it and what should you pay attention to?
Reflective vest – when should you wear it and what should you pay attention to?
A reflective vest makes pedestrians much more visible on the road, especially after dark. Do we have to carry it in the car? When is it worth buying a reflective vest and how to choose it?
In what situations is it necessary to wear reflective vests?
Mandatory car equipment in Poland includes only two items:
According to the Road Traffic Law, a reflective element, e.g. a vest, must be worn by pedestrians who travel on roads outside built-up areas after dusk. Pedestrians walking on the left side (front and back) of a column longer than 20 m must also wear a reflective vest or other light-reflecting object. This applies to situations when marching in conditions of insufficient visibility.
We must wear a reflective vest with the letter "L" printed on it during the motorcycle or moped course and exam. The instructor who conducts training while riding a motorcycle must also wear a vest. In this case, of course, with the word "instructor".
Why do you need a reflective vest?
As you can see, both the regulations regarding mandatory car equipment and others rules related to road traffic, rarely oblige us as drivers to use reflective vests.
We must wear a reflective vest when we get out of the car after dark outside built-up areas. This is not only a matter of regulations, but simply common sense. We should be as visible as possible on the road. A reflective vest will make other drivers see us faster not only at night, but also during the day.
Various incidents may occur on the way. It may turn out that we will, for example, have to provide help (we write how to behave in such a case in the article How to correctly report the scene of a car accident?) or our vehicle breaks down (we recommend our guide here Breakdown on the road). We may come in the dark change a tire in a car.
In each of these situations, a reflective vest will be useful, as it is a signal to other road users that they should be careful. Thanks to it, we can be seen from a distance of 130-150 m. After dark and without reflectors, the driver will have much less time to react. The pedestrian will be visible from approximately 30 m.
It is also worth wearing a reflective vest when riding a bicycle or motorcycle. If we are traveling by car, it is best to have a set for all passengers. It may be a good idea to buy reflective vests for children that are adjusted to their height. When traveling or walking with your pet, a separate reflective vest for your dog will also increase safety.
Reflective vest on the road
What should you pay attention to when choosing a reflective vest?
The reflective vest should be of good quality. For example, Moje Auto Virage reflective vest it is made of material resistant to water and UV radiation. Thanks to this, it can be used for many years, and using it in the rain will not cause discomfort.
A good reflective vest should have Velcro or another type of fastening. Thanks to this, it will hold better and will not disturb us, for example, when replacing a wheel.
If we often go for walks after dark or use a vest at work, consider a reflective vest with pockets into which we can put, for example, keys or a phone.
How much does a reflective vest cost?
A reflective vest is not a big expense. The prices of this type of products often range around PLN 10. A set for all car passengers should not cost more than PLN 50. This is a small expense, but the vest may prove invaluable and protect you from danger.
Reflective vest, car breakdown
Which European countries require a reflective vest in your car?
A reflective vest is mandatory car equipment in many European countries. The obligation to have it was introduced, among others: in Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Spain, Netherlands, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Italy and in Hungary.
In some countries, each passenger should have their own reflective vest in case they need to get out of the car after dark or leave the vehicle outside built-up areas. Additionally, there may be a provision requiring to place reflective vests in an easily accessible place. They should be at hand, not hidden at the bottom of the trunk.
According to the Vienna Convention, the car should have equipment that is mandatory for the country of registration of the vehicle. Theoretically, foreign police cannot require us to have reflective vests. In practice, refusing to accept a fine, which can be up to several hundred euros, may result in a court case. We advise you to save yourself unnecessary stress and expenses and simply buy reflective vests before traveling outside Poland.
What's worth having in your car apart from a reflective vest?
Since the list of mandatory equipment is short, it is worth taking care of additional accessories that may prove useful. In addition to the reflective vest, we recommend taking with you, among others: jumper cables and tow rope, and car first aid kit, which we write more about in the text Car first aid kit – what should it contain? Where to put the first aid kit and what else might be useful?.
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