First of all the better news: the number of deaths in traffic accidents is generally rather decreasing. Worse: the deaths of pedestrians are still not significantly reduced. 545 people died in accidents last year (at least since 1961), of which 111 were pedestrians. And the culprit? In 90 cases it was a driver, pedestrian in 21 cases.
This year 59 people died from January to August, the worst was June when 15 people died (nobody last year). Police and traffic experts are now wary — most pedestrians die in the “dark months of the year,” from October to February. For example, last October was the worst month, when 62 people died on the roads.
Also, seniors are the most vulnerable group of pedestrians: While three pedestrians died under the age of 24, there were 66 at the age of 55, 59 percent of all victims in their ranks.
The most common tragic misconduct of pedestrians is sudden entering the road or underestimating the speed of an approaching vehicle. For drivers, this is excessive speed and lack of attention to driving.
Pedestrians most often die at night from all groups of road users. Last year it was 59.5 percent of all victims in their ranks. With the introduction of mandatory reflective elements from February 2016, however, we can see a slight shift for the better at least during the day: under reduced visibility last year, three people died, last year (after the regulation of the reflective elements) none.
For more than a year, pedestrians in the Czech Republic have been obliged to wear reflective elements, especially when visibility is poor outside or in a municipality where there is insufficient lighting. In practice, people are always forgetting or trying to “shine” on their cell phones — heading for the road to see for themselves. But the car doesn’t see them. As Roman Budský says reflective materials are irreplaceable in autumn and winter.
Outside, it has already shrunk, more often drizzle, the first fog appears. How to properly use reflective material elements so that the pedestrian can be seen?
Reflective straps should be placed over the right ankle and also over the right wrist. The road should be walked on the left, so it is necessary to place reflective accessories as close as possible to the road so that drivers will notice pedestrians as soon as possible. It is only necessary to add that pedestrians are obliged to mark reflexes as reduced visibility when they go outside the village along the shoulder or on the edge of the road in a place not illuminated by public lighting.
People sometimes sin by shining their cell phones on the road, although the police have repeatedly argued that they will not recognize such “lighting” and risk a fine of up to 2,500 on the spot. In your opinion, can your mobile phone replace a real reflective material (waistcoat, tape)?
A glowing cell phone does not replace the reflective tape. High-quality reflective tape ensures visibility of the pedestrian from the front, side, and rear, ie from all sides, where the motor vehicle can come. On the other hand, the mobile screen only emits light in a narrow cone, which is quite inadequate.
Pedestrians — mainly outside the village — walk on different sides of the road. How is it correct?
The pedestrian must use primarily the pavement or pedestrian paths. Only if he carries an object that could endanger traffic on the pavement, is he obliged to walk on the right shoulder or the right edge of the road. Where there is no sidewalk, or if it is impassable, walk on the left shoulder. In general, pedestrians are allowed to walk along the side of the road or at the edge of the road no more than two side by side. However, with reduced visibility, increased traffic on roads or in dangerous and confusing sections, they can walk the only one after another.
How many people are in the “group” and can they walk right, in the same direction as the cars?
In the case of a group of pedestrians, the Road Traffic Act states that they are, for example, members of the armed forces, school youth or a parade. The number of people in the group is not defined. Such an organized formation shall move at the right edge of the road. However, the law allows him to move on the sidewalk, then the individual must go at most in two steps and at the right edge. I consider this solution to be the safest with reduced visibility.
You are not immortal, a new campaign appeals to people
Sudden entry into the roadway from sidewalk or shoulder or poor estimation of vehicle distance and speed. This is the two most common reasons why pedestrians end up under car or tram wheels. And it is pedestrians (and the most common mistakes of drivers) that is focused on the new nationwide campaign “You can do it” launched by the Lifebuoy Association these days. People will gradually come across the campaign on TV, radio, the press, and social networks.