A test conducted by European automobile clubs shows that more than half of the children’s safety vests sold online do not meet visibility standards. This is a serious warning, especially with the winter season approaching.
The safety of young children in traffic is a key concern, especially during the dark winter months or in poor visibility conditions. Children wearing dark clothing are often noticed too late, if at all. A simple but extremely effective measure is to wear safety vests: they make children visible much earlier and can thus save lives.
By way of comparison, a child wearing a good safety vest is four times more visible than one wearing only light-coloured clothing. In detail:
- A child wearing dark clothing is only visible in the headlights of a car from a distance of about 25 metres.
- With light-coloured clothing, the visibility increases to 40 metres.
- A safety vest with reflective strips, on the other hand, makes a child visible from up to 150 metres away.
As a reminder: a car travelling at 50 km/h needs over 28 metres to brake in an emergency. This difference can be crucial in giving drivers more reaction time and preventing accidents.
Standard EN 17353: A new benchmark for child safety
There can be no compromises when it comes to the safety of children in road traffic. And yet not all safety vests are the same. Since June 2013, standard EN ISO 20471 has been the benchmark for high-visibility clothing in the professional sector. It replaces the outdated standard DIN EN 471 for new products. But what about children’s vests?
As children’s vests are smaller, they cannot meet the minimum surface area requirements of EN ISO 20471. That is why they are subject to their own standard: EN 17353. This defines precise criteria to ensure optimum visibility day and night in medium-risk environments.
Among other things, the standard stipulates:
- 360° visibility,
- A recognisable human silhouette,
- Enclosure of the upper body,
- And an appropriate amount of reflective material depending on the size of the child.
Unlike a simple reflective surface, a retroreflective surface reflects light back to its source. For this effect to work, the light source and the driver’s eye must be close to each other. The EN 17353 standard also allows for a wider range of colours than previous standards, including yellow-green, orange-red, pink and others.
13 out of 25 vests do not comply with the EN 17353 standard
To test the actual effectiveness of the vests available on the market, European automobile clubs, including the ADAC, conducted a comprehensive study. A total of 25 models were tested according to the criteria of the EN 17353 standard. The products were purchased anonymously: 20 online (Amazon, AliExpress) and 5 in brick-and-mortar stores (ATU, Bauhaus, OBI, etc.).
Two test procedures were used:
- a quick test with a visual 3M test kit,
- and a certified photometric laboratory test that measured the reflectivity values from different angles.
The results are clear: 13 of the 25 vests tested did not meet the standard. All non-compliant models were purchased online and manufactured in China.
In contrast, all five vests purchased in brick-and-mortar shops passed the tests without any problems.
A high price is no guarantee
Contrary to popular belief, vests that comply with the standard are not necessarily more expensive. The average price for compliant vests is €4.71, compared to €3.24 for non-compliant models. The average total price is €3.94, and vests from brick-and-mortar shops cost an average of €3.85, often less than those offered online.
In view of these results, it is recommended to check the reflectivity of existing vests, to prefer brick-and-mortar shops when purchasing, to look for a sewn-in label referring to the EN 17353 standard, and to test the retroreflection with a lamp or the flash of a smartphone.
This test highlights a worrying reality: more than half of the children’s vests sold online offer inadequate protection. With winter approaching, choosing reliable products is crucial. Brick-and-mortar shops prove to be a reliable choice – both in terms of quality and price. When it comes to safety, it is better to be safe than sorry – and better to be visible than invisible.
What about the EN 1150 standard?
Safety vests that comply with the EN 1150 standard are still available in shops. This is an outdated standard that has been replaced by EN 17353. The latter is more up to date, more clearly defined and better suited to modern requirements. It offers improved visibility in various situations – without distinguishing between work and everyday clothing. For children’s safety vests, the following therefore clearly applies today: EN 17353 is the new standard.
