Nine of the ten reflective tapes checked this year by the Czech Trade Inspection Authority did not meet the regulations. The tapes most often did not meet the photometric requirements and did not have a CE mark.
Inspectors of the Czech Trade Inspection (CTI) have reviewed 37 types of reflective tapes and found out about 33 of them. The Inspectorate imposed 27 fines in the amount of CZK 317,000.
In the controlled purchase, they were interested in reflective tapes designed to protect consumers in low-visibility on the roadside or on the edge of the road in a place not illuminated by public lighting.
On the basis of the results, CTI has recommended consumers who use low-visibility reflective tapes to obtain tapes with the necessary data, such as CE marking and manufacturer and product identifiers. Controls showed that products meeting these statutory obligations at the same time had good reflexive properties. The CE marking is a declaration that the product complies with all applicable regulations and has undergone all appropriate assessment procedures.
The huge differences in the ability to reflect light revealed two years ago a joint test of 26 MF DNES and BESIP reflective tapes. At first glance, tapes look like the same - light green, plastic, self-winding. In fact, it is not the color of the ribbon but the amount and density of the special glass mass that provides the reflection of light in the ribbon. The test showed that the ability to reflect light is the best of them over the last sixty times. Complete the test results HERE.
"At present, the regulation stipulates that a pedestrian moving outside the village in a low visibility at the edge of the road must wear reflective vest to make it more visible to the driver. The area of such a design should correspond at least to the dimensions of the reflective tape, "recalls Eva, spokeswoman for UNIQA Insurance.
"It is best to place the tape on the moving parts of the body, that is, the wrists of the hand and the ankles of the foot closer to the center of the road, because motorists will notice better," advises and warns that a pedestrian who does not have reflective materials on the reduced visibility equipment can get a fine CZK 2,000.
"In the dark, there are even three times higher risks of killing in an accident than during the day. Of course, the biggest risk is for pedestrians, two-thirds of them die on the road in the dark, "concludes Eva.
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