Who should put on the fluorescent vest?
It is only compulsory for the driver in places where stopping and parking are prohibited on motorways and roads for cars . However, passengers are advised to also use it to ensure better visibility (day and night) in these high-risk areas. Some neighboring countries impose life jackets on all occupants. To Shop Online Safety Products in Dubai visit varskart.com
There is only one other case where use is made of this safety jacket. I am thinking of motorcycle road captains. Obviously, nothing prevents the use of a neon bib in cases other than those listed in the Highway Code. It is also strongly recommended for a pedestrian, a cyclist, a moped … who circulates at night.
The choice of the vest
The Code gives very little information about its shape, color or components. Funny thing, the official term is the word “jacket” when by definition this garment is sleeved. Here, the accessory is compact and can easily be put on over clothing. The fluorescent vest must be retro-reflective, have the CE logo and the aggregation number (EN 1150, EN 1356). It is sold in gas stations, DIY stores, supermarkets, specialty stores like Auto5. Most of the time, we come across fluorescent yellow or orange jackets. The other colors are not excluded. It all depends on the standard being met. For example, the EN 1150 standard allows yellow, green, orange, red, pink, yellow-green, yellow-orange and orange-red.
Neon vests
In 2010, the FPS Economy published a report on the conformity of these jackets (source: “Safety vests”). The results are rather mixed. Out of 56 samples, very few pass validation, whether at administrative (constituent elements) or technical (quality of materials) level.
One can imagine that this fluorescent vest is useful in other conditions. For example, the route captain must wear “retro-reflective clothing” when hiking with the words “route captain” on the back.
Where should the safety vest be stored?
The Code does not specify the location. However,dealing with the conditions in the event of a breakdown on motorways and automobile roads stipulates that the driver must wear his life jacket as soon as he gets out of his vehicle. The retro-reflective jacket must therefore be within reach of the driver: in the glove box, under the seat. Many drivers put the neon bib in the trunk, but that’s a bad idea. Others leave it on the backrest, but it is best to keep it out of the light so as not to degrade the color.
Some aberrations
The different information about the safety jacket is not clear and leaves room for different interpretations or funny situations.
1. Safety jacket; compulsory accessory?
Referring to the Highway Code three accessories are mandatory first of the vehicle: the danger triangle, the extinguisher, and the first aid kit. No trace of a safety jacket can be found anywhere, although the same regulations oblige it to be worn in the event of a breakdown. Even more strongly, stipulates that motor vehicles and their equipment must comply with the Technical Regulations. And in this regard, Article specifies that a retro-reflective jacket must be on board motor vehicles. Beyond the interest for your safety, forgetting the vest in the vehicle will earn you a comment when passing the technical control but also an immediate perception in the event of a police check.
2. Driver is not a repairer
Imagine, I am in the car and my wife is driving. The left tire bursts. I offered my help to change the wheel. According to the regulations, I do not have to put on the life jacket when I am highly exposed to danger.
3. Discomfort does not rhyme with breakdown
I feel unwell and park on the emergency lane. I have no other choice but to cause an accident. Again, this is not a Code case and I am not required to wear the vest. The same goes for the passenger who has a seizure and needs to get some fresh air quickly.
4. Assistance does not mean breakdown
I am driving on the highway. In the distance I can make out a vehicle whose engine has caught fire. I pull over to the emergency lane and call for help. In order to avoid a further accident, I take all the necessary measures to guarantee the safety and fluidity of traffic. I will position the triangle at 100 m. Wearing the chasuble is not compulsory.
5. Exception of bikers
Motorcyclists are not subject to this regulation because article 70bis of the Technical Regulations only requires a safety jacket for “motor vehicles”. She hides behind this category, “any motor vehicle that does not meet the definitions of moped, [motorcycle], tricycle and motor quadricycle”.
6. Foreign license plate
Drivers of a vehicle equipped with a foreign license plate are not subject to this obligation either. As I have already mentioned, the safety jacket is not covered by the Code but in the Technical Regulations. However, the scope of this regulation only applies to drivers of motor vehicles traveling under cover of a Belgian plate.
7. Roads for cars limited to 50 km / h
It is easy to understand the legislator’s desire to impose a fluorescent vest on highways, that is to say in accident-prone places due to the passage of vehicles at high speed. On the other hand, the speed limit on a road for cars varies depending on the location. In built-up areas, it is limited to 50 km / h. And what about the roadways separated by a median where the speed can reach 120 km / h but where the wearing of a jacket is optional?
Some tips
I still do not know why Europe does not impose the safety jacket. This would avoid this confusion between the different countries. But before thinking about regulation, priority must be given to safety. Safety for oneself but also for passengers. It is best to have a safety vest for each seating position. At the price that it costs, it would be wrong to do without. Ideally, you can put them in the glove box, ready to put on. The sun strongly degrades their intrinsic quality, avoid exposing them on the seats. The trunk is not the best place to store it because access is difficult and requires the driver or his occupants to expose themselves without reflective clothing. In the event of a breakdown or accident, put on the jacket as soon as you get out of the vehicle, regardless of the type of road. Finally, don’t lose sight of the curiosity and distraction of other drivers in the event of an accident.
