Being Bright
Look round any busy town centre or large event and you will be able to spot people wearing bright yellow or orange jackets as they go about their work; police officers, builders, lorry drivers, postal workers, supermarket trolley collectors, football marshals and so on. High visibility clothing is becoming part of our culture and one way to help protect ourselves against increasing traffic.
More and more cyclists, runners, horseriders and bikers are getting kitted out in neon colours with reflective bands so they can be more easily seen by drivers whatever the conditions and whatever the time of day.
In many European countries including France and Spain it is now a legal requirement to carry a high visibility waistcoat for every occupant in your vehicle in case of breakdown.
In contrast, in the UK many children wear very dark uniforms and dark coats, as they make their way to and from school every day. Whether they are walking cycling or just crossing the road after being dropped off in a car, it can be hard to see our darkly clad children especially on misty, rainy mornings and again when daylight is fading. Some coats, bags or shoes may feature reflective trims which help with visibility after dark but are not enough for daytime and twilight visibility.
Many adults have preconceptions that being 'seen' is just about a yellow armband or jacket; BrightKidz is here to offer more ideas!
At BrightKidz we are here to help you understand:
- Being seen can help save lives
- It can be done in many ways with many products.... bags, hats, umbrellas, stickers and badges.
- There are different vibrant colours to choose from: pink, green, yellow and orange.
- Fluorescent colours help you to be seen in daytime and near dusk (especially when the weather's not so good).
- Reflective materials help you to be seen after dark, when light shines on them
- We would like you to see who else is being bright so you can get more ideas.
We have lots of classroom activities and ideas to help you learn about being bright.
Combined with good road safety training, making children brighter and more visible when out and about will hopefully make parents more willing to let their children walk or cycle... and fitter, healthier children means better, longer lives.
