catches you in its headlights most of that light is reflected back to the driver. Reflective material on your clothing w
Be bright smart
When preparing for outdoor activities, make sure everyone understands how to stay safe on the road and how to to be seen NIGHT or DAY
REFLECTIVE FOR NIGHT Reflective materials work at night by bouncing back the REMEMBER: Fluorescent colours don’t light from a source such as show up in the dark or car headlights. ‘glow in the dark’. To be The best reflective materials seen by drivers at night you need something are called ‘retro-reflective’ and reflective are used in road signs. Retro reflective materials bounce light back to where it comes from – so if a car catches you in its headlights most of that light is reflected back to the driver.
High-visibility vests like this reflect light from other sources.
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REMEMBER:
FLUORESCENT FOR DAY
Reflective material on your clothing will not reliably help you to be seen in daytime
Fluorescent colours help you to be seen in the daytime and near dusk. They work really well in dull or rainy weather and when daylight is fading. On a rainy day it’s hard for drivers to see pedestrians and cyclists so wear or carry something fluorescent.
5 TIPS FOR T N IG HT WALKING A S N EAR ROAD
colours and 1. Wear light gear o (reflective reflectors to by a ur visibility increases yo ). factor of five h. rc 2. Carry a to ell lit areas. 3. Walk in w
d vements an 4. Stay on pa ld drivers wou paths where e you. expect to se your 5. Be aware of , don’t be surroundings texting distracted by to music on or listening , which can headphones me r reaction ti decrease you s. n ed situatio to unexpect
Downlo ad full lead ers’ not es and an activity worksh ee scouts.o t at rg.uk /rac
ACTIVITY
Road sign night patrol
around your meeting Take a walk on a pre-planned route tion see that help drivers place. What road signs can your sec s and warnings? and pedestrians understand hazard SUITABLE FOR BEAVERS AND CUBS
Danny says ‘It was fun going on a road sign hunt with torches! The white on the signs is very reflective. I guessed what nearly all of the signs meant.’
YOU WILL NEED
printed streetmap that shows lA an area of two miles around your meeting place. Visit rac.co.uk/routeplanner
l Clipboard and pen l Torches (one per group) opy of the Highway Code or a lC print out of traffic signs and meanings. Visit bit.ly/RACHighwayCode l Hi vis jackets/reflective clothing
INSTRUCTIONS
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Using the map, plan a short circular walk around nearby tly roads (each group can have a sligh
different route). Spend some time explaining the different types of signs, eg triangular signs give a warning, circular signs give orders. Discuss the . importance of being bright and seen into get to Ask your section small groups. When they come to a road sign during the walk they should draw t it on their map and if they know wha n. the sign means write it dow The group can use their torches to shine on some of the signs and see if they are reflective (make sure this is done safely when drivers or
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On their maps they should mark where they can cross the road safely. After the walk, the groups can check the Highway Code to see how many signs they got right.
SAFETY INFORMATION
ired Each group should have the requ ratio of adults or leaders to Cubs. When walking at night remember if that you may be hard to see; even you can see a driver, don’t assume . that they can see you in time to stop e mak to Do what you can yourself visible.
TIME NEEDED
30–40
minutes
BADGE
RAC partner the Cub Road Safety Activity Badge
PARTNER
OUTCOMES
Your section should be able to identify road signs and understand what they mean. They will also learn about the difference between reflective, fluorescent and non-reflective signs, and the importance of wearing reflective clothing at night.
TAKING IT FURTHER
If you are unable to take your section out, try setting up an imaginary road crossing in your meeting place by drawing a line on the floor. Ask them to discuss how they would cross the road safely (stop, look, listen), why they need to wait for the ‘green man’ at traffic lights and what dangers they need to look out for.
MORE INFORMATION
The RAC Road Safety Awareness Charity partners the Cub Road Safety Activity Badge. Visit scouts. org.uk/rac for more information and road safety activities.
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pedestrians won’t be dazzled).
This is Horace, the RAC’s road safety mascot.
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UNDERSTAND RETRO-REFLECTION
At night, retro-reflective clothing can give you much greater visibility – which means drivers see you much sooner
Drivers cannot see dark clothing till they are about 30 metres away
At night, fluorescent clothing isn’t any brighter than dark clothing
White clothing is more reflective and may be seen from 90 metres away
COMPARE THE GLARE Ask your section to bring in different fluorescent, reflective and retro reflective materials to your meeting place and test them under different light conditions: ask three Cubs to wear the different Let us know how outfits and together score you get on. Turn to page 3 for them for visibility in full details lights, low lights and no lights (but with torches).
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Retroreflective clothing reflects the light from a car’s headlamps and can be seen from about 200 metres, which gives drivers more time to slow down or stop
COMPETITION
Design a ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ hoodie and win a prize for your group! To celebrate the RAC Road Safety Awareness Charity’s partnership with The Scout Association, the RAC is offering the chance to win hi vis kit for your Beaver or Cub section. The prize pack includes a Horace kitbag, hi vis jacket, hi vis laces, bike reflectors and reflective slap band. To enter: Draw a hoodie outline or download the template at scouts. org.uk/rac. Ask your section to design a hoodie with the theme of ‘Be Bright Be Seen’. Photograph or scan your entries and email them to
[email protected] or post them to Make.Do.Share (RAC Horace competition), Corporate Partnerships, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW. Closing date 29 February 2016. For full terms and conditions visit: scouts.org.uk/rac
This prize has everything you’ll need to be seen at night
