Reflectors and your visibility in the darkness
During the dark time in Finland, your life could be endangered when you cross motorist roads or walk nearby. Without reflective elements of your clothing or using only dark garments, you might end up badly, finding yourself very dead at the end of the day. Vehicle drivers might not see you in the darkness.
A motorist will see you:
- using high-beam lights with reflectors: ~600 meters
- using low-beam lights with reflectors: ~350 meters
- using high-beam lights without reflectors: ~150 meters
- using low-beam lights without reflectors: ~50 meters
Explanation: your visibility in the darkness. Picture by Liikenneturva.
If you think 50 meters is enough to stop, we have some bad news for you. When the road is slippery, braking takes longer. Driving 80 km/h on a dry asphalt road requires almost 50 m and about four seconds to stop. On a snowy road, stopping takes twice as much distance and time. On an icy road, the braking distance with the same speed can be over 180 meters.
Instructions: how to wear a reflector. Picture by Liikenneturva.
Example: kids wearing their reflectors. Picture by Liikenneturva.
Please stay alive and buy your reflective equipment. When the season is approaching, it is widely available in most Finnish shops or grocery stores.