Why Reflectors Matter
THOUSANDS DIE EVERY YEAR IN AVOIDABLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS
In North America, around 5000 pedestrians die in fatal traffic collisions each year and more than 70,000 are injured. Whether you are walking, pushing your child in a stroller, jogging or cycling, quality reflectors are as important as the shoes you put on your feet!
MOST ACCIDENTS HAPPEN AT NIGHT
The majority of pedestrian-related crashes occur at night when a driver's visibility is severely reduced. In fact, according to the US National Safety Council, the chances of being struck and killed as a pedestrian increase by 1100% once the sun goes down.
But, it's not just nighttime that reduces a driver's visibility. Rain, snow, fog, the limited light of dusk or dawn, or the lights from other vehicles–all of these elements also make it extremely difficult for drivers to see what's on the road ahead of them.
URBAN ENVIRONMENTS POSE BIGGEST RISK
Contrary to what you might think, pedestrians are most at risk in urban environments. In fact, traffic collision statistics clearly show that a higher percentage of pedestrian injuries and fatalities occur on well-lit city streets.
Street lights don’t always mean drivers can see you. Weather conditions such as fog and rain can drastically reduce visibility on the road. Slick roads make it harder for drivers to stop their vehicles quickly, increasing the distance they need to avoid hitting a pedestrian by two to four times.
TRAFFIC ACCIDENT STATISTICS
NEARLY 2000 FATALITIES, AND 8,000 SERIOUS INJURIES RESULTED FROM TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
15.2% of these were pedestrian fatalities, and 13.4% were serious injuries to pedestrians. Bicyclist fatalities were 2.9%, and 5% were serious injuries.
[Source:Transport Canada's 2020 Statistics]
Pedestrians Account for
17% of people killed and 7% of people seriously injured in collisions
Distracted driving is the most prevalent factor in these deaths.
[Source:2020 Traffic Collision Statistics Report]
CHILDREN YOUNGER THAN 10 YEARS OF AGE AND ADULTS AGED 65 AND OLDER
Are the age groups that have the highest percentage of pedestrian fatalities.
Cyclists fatalities have the highest share among children between 6 and 14 years of age.
More children between the ages 0-14 die as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle
than from any other cause, natural or accidental.
The chances of being struck and killed as a pedestrian increase by 1100% after dark.
[Source: US National Safety Council]
71% of fatal adult pedestrian crashes occurred at dusk or dawn
or in areas where visibility of the person was restricted.
[Source: AAA Foundation For Traffic Safety]
Halloween is the most dangerous day of the year for pedestrian injuries and deaths among children.
Children are walking at night and in costumes which may impede their vision and create tripping hazards.
[Source: JAMA Pediactrics]
Left: Reflectors in natural daylight. Right: Reflectors with camera flash. These images have not been photoshopped.
Stay Safe, Stay Seen
The good news is, as a pedestrian, there is a simple thing you can do to significantly reduce your chances of being involved in a motor vehicle collision. By simply making yourself and your family MORE VISIBLE when you are out walking.
The simplest and most cost-effective way to do this is to wear a highly reflective dangler or slap wrap so that drivers can easily see you at a distance and have plenty of time to react to your presence. Reflective tape is not recommended as its reflective properties degrade over time. A damaged or scratched reflector should be replaced with a new one.