More than 100 pedestrians die on Czech roads every year

Prague, Nov 19 (CTK) – A total of 113 pedestrians died during Czech road accidents last year, and 101 the year before, the Vision O group, associating organisations dealing with road traffic safety, told journalists today.

The pedestrians face a danger especially at night, when most road accidents occur.

The biggest danger threatens pedestrians during the winter months when there is darkness more often. Between 2006 and 2016, 54 percent of the annual number of fatalities occurred between November and March.

Outside municipalities, pedestrians must use reflective elements on their clothes under the law. If they fail to do so, they may be fined or face problems with insurance companies.

Experts say the reflective parts of the clothing are vital not only at night, but also on daylight when visibility is reduced.

The drivers react to the fluorescent points on moving parts of pedestrians’ clothes three times sooner than to static elements.

A pedestrian with a high-visibility clothing can be seen from the distance of 200 metres, but if the clothes are blue, the distance is only 18 metres.

If a pedestrian does not wear any reflective element, the fine may be up to 2,000 crowns.

According to statistics, 1,970 pedestrians died on Czech roads between 2005 and last year. Over 58 percent of the accidents occurred at night.