A walker between villages, in dark clothing and sometimes socially tired and staggering along the road and ditch, is a nightmare for all drivers. Against "invisible" pedestrians should act a law, which will probably apply from spring next year, they will face a fine of several thousand. However, according to Aktualne.cz police officers should first warn travelers, they should also distribute reflective tapes or bags.
Light, reflective vests, belts or other visible garments are likely to be a prerequisite for walking on an unlit road from spring next year. It will be true whether it is a clear night, fog or snow.
If you fail to comply with the regulation, you may be fined. But police have agreed with Transport Minister Dan Tok that they will start with prevention. Reflective elements will be given out in the early days of the law and will advise disobedient pedestrians.
"We will be distributing reflective tapes and at the same time we have received about fifty thousand reflective bags with reflective fabric for seniors," said the Police Presidium spokesman Jozef Bocán. When police officers move to harsh penalties, "invisible" pedestrians will face a two-and-a-half fine.
"But the law was not written so that the police could bully people and impose further fines. We want pedestrians to realize that if they are not visible, they are mainly threatening themselves," said Tok.
One hundred thousand tapes have already been distributed by the police
During the "See You?" The campaign in October, police handed out a hundred thousand reflective straps that could be wrapped around their wrists, ankles, or attached to a backpack. "Since 2000, 1166 pedestrians died between October and December. Even with the change in time, it is a time when it gets dark in the afternoon, ie when people go home from school or work," commented the traffic police chief Tomas Lerch.
The money went from a fund to which the MTPL insurance companies are obliged to contribute.
The Senate has yet to decide, and the President's signature is missing
The government passed an amendment to the Road Act already in March, but the norm passed through the Chamber but at the end of the year. Therefore, the new rules could no longer apply as of 1 January.
Estonians may already have the results of introducing similar regulations. In 1999, 47 pedestrians died on their roads. Five years ago, only seven. BESIP chief Martin Farrar says that it is also due to the obligation to wear reflective elements.
"Since 2011, they have been obliged in Estonia to wear reflective elements even when moving in poor visibility in the municipality. However, Estonia is not the only one in Europe. For example, pedestrians in Scandinavian countries, Spain and our neighbors in Slovakia have this obligation," added Farrar.
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