Cautious behavior is essential
DEKRA’s accident experts are reminding us that vehicle headlamps can generally pick up bright, high-contrast clothing from a distance. On the other hand, if people at the roadside are wearing inconspicuous clothing and visibility is poor, drivers sometimes cannot recognize them until they are around 20 meters away – often too late to prevent an accident. Jessica Künzler, accident expert in lighting technology at DEKRA, explains what to watch out for in poor lighting conditions.
- Gray or beige is a popular color for hiking gear but it is not good if visibility is poor – it acts like camouflage by easily blending into the surroundings. In contrast, retro-reflective materials stand out better against the background.
- If people are at the roadside, the first body part that vehicle headlamps pick up is their legs. For this reason, reflectors on the feet and legs are the most effective. This effect is amplified if the pedestrian is moving as it sends a clear signal to drivers (known as a ‘reaction prompt’): “Watch out – something is moving here. There must be someone there!”
- However, the lighting conditions are sometimes so poor that even retro-reflective materials barely stand out against the surroundings. This may be the case if lots of light objects are near to one another, such as headlamps, street lamps, illuminated advertising signs, and mirror effects on wet roads. “In these types of situations, people should take appropriate care and not become too complacent,” highlights the expert.
- If there is no sidewalk, Künzler also recommends that pedestrians walk on the left-hand side of the road in countries with right-hand traffic and on the right-hand side of the road in countries with left-hand traffic and face the vehicles: “They can then see the traffic coming and jump out of the way if required.” They should also stay at least half a meter from the road, ideally more, and are advised to switch to a different route at the first available opportunity.