Panic around reflective vests is useless. The Ministry of Transport responds to the information that motorists will have to change old vests for new ones. "Motorists do not have to change their vests in mandatory equipment," says the Department of Transportation. Panic triggered an amendment to the Decree, which implements road traffic rules. It has been delayed for several years by a valid standard specifying the form of reflective elements.
"From January 1, 2016, a warning vest according to ČSN EN ISO 20471: 2013 is valid in the Czech Republic as part of the mandatory equipment for cars," says Denel from D.A.S. Shelf, which produces car kits and car accessories. The amended Decree thus adopted a standard that has been in force in the Czech Republic for three years. "The standard ČSN EN ISO 20471: 2013, which is harmonized by Government Decree 21/2003 Coll., Replaced EN 471 standard on October 1, 2013," says Jami. "The standard specifies high visibility clothing, sets out test methods and requirements."
The previous version of the decree, valid until the end of last year, required vests according to an already invalid standard. The amendment introduced delays in compliance with the Decree and the applicable standard. Kristina from Leman Marketing, which produces reflective elements, says that vests and other products are manufactured according to the applicable standard ČSN EN ISO 20471 from 2013 onwards. The original form of the Demean standard recognized three levels of quality and luminance of the reflective elements. "Differences between levels are really striking," says Denel. With the new standard, the individual stages were abolished and the parameters of material quality and reflectivity are precisely specified.
"There is no obligation to change vests from the Decree," says the Ministry of Transport. "The protective properties of vests, which conformed to the former European Standard EN 471, are sufficient for safety and correspond to the technical requirements," says Tomas from the Ministry's press department. "It is valid that the vest that is part of the mandatory equipment has to comply with the European Standard EN 471 or EN ISO 20471. However, it does not show that older vests complying with this standard are not right and people cannot use them," he adds.
The standard of the reflex vest is easy to find from the label that is sewn on the vest. "Manufacturers are still required to affix the CE marking to the product, which expresses compliance with the essential requirements of the Government Order and the Directive," says Tomas. However, according to the Ministry, the alert vest does not belong to those protective clothing, which according to the standard must also indicate the number (four digit code) of the notified (authorized) person assessing the compliance of the product with the regulations. "This concerns other, specialized, protective equipment," explains Jerold. According to one of the retailers who do not want to be named, these products are usually tested in Germany. The Czech market has products with reflective elements of Chinese origin, which have a much lower ability to reflect light.
2024 ©