As they did last year, colleagues from the Traffic Directorate, Traffic Accident Prevention/ Victim Protection Unit (VUP/ O), informed senior citizens at the "Zentrum plus" in Unterbilk about how to stay safe on the roads during the darker months of the year. Such prevention measures are necessary because senior citizens are often victims of accidents with serious consequences.

In front of around 25 guests, PHK Joachim Tabath gave an overview of the current traffic accident statistics, according to which 27% of all road traffic accidents occur in the dark. He also made it clear how much the ability to perceive changes as soon as it gets dark - especially in old age. For example, the risk of accidents for pedestrians increases threefold in the dark, as they are often not seen at all or are seen too late. Using various visual examples, PHK Tabath explained how important it is to wear the right clothing in such situations. While a pedestrian or cyclist wearing reflective clothing can be seen from 140 m away, a person wearing light-colored clothing can only be seen from 40 m away and a person wearing dark clothing can only be seen from 25 m away, meaning that drivers are often unable to stop in time.

Finally, PHK Uwe Weidmann and PHK Joachim Tabath presented the senior citizens with various retro-reflective items that contribute to better visibility in the dark. These included jackets, vests, an umbrella with an integrated flashlight, bicycle helmets and a luminous thread that can be sewn into clothing. In addition, all guests received reflective shopping bags and tags that they can attach to their handbags, for example, so that they can draw attention to themselves at dusk and in the dark.