High visibilty reflective vests and jackets for driving in Europe 

NB - After 12 months of trying to interest a company which is involved in the production/sale of high vis clothing to carry in vehicles we have finally been approached by Vispack, and we are most happy to promote their products and business.

My family thought I had left my senses when I mentioned writing a page in a camping and mobile home holiday site for high visibility reflective safety clothing in general and vests or jackets in particular, but it just goes to show what they know!

This has been cooking for some time but last Summer, 1st July 2008 to be exact, the French brought in a new traffic law to emulate that of Spain and some other European countries which effectively means that you now need to have one of those ghastly high visibility orange or yellow high visibility vests or jackets in the car if you are driving through France. In fact you'd better make that a plural because the passengers need one each too. The driver's vest or jacket needs to be situated so that he or she can actually put it on before getting out of the car.

Though the law was introduced in July it didn't actually come into effect until October 2008 when the zealots in the French traffic department started to hassle drivers and issue on the spot fines of 90 Euros for non compliance - a great start to your holidays if you are stopped and asked to produce, and we understand that the cops have been having a ball handing out tickets since the inception of this law. The vests/jackets are in addition to the reflective triangle which has to be carried in your car at all times as well by the way

All this is to do with saftey of course and in some ways I guess it makes sense because there is nothing more dangerous than exiting a broken down car on a busy road with all the hazards that passing traffic brings. At least if you wear high visibility clothing you are going to be seen, and your last words can be recorded for posterity when you are squashed by a massive Volvo truck, "Well I was wearing a vest....."

There is an upside to all this though and that is that high visibility reflective vests and jackets are very affordable - we are talking of only a few pounds to kit out a family - and in general the more you buy the cheaper they become, so if you are the careful type it could pay you to join up with friends/neighbours who travel abroad and buy a bulk load at one foul swoop.

Buying these high visibility vests might be a pain and just another drain on the wallet at a time when most of us are trying to cut back, but look at it this way: Your high visibility clothing should last you for years, or for someone of my age for life, and also it is entirely possible that the UK will follow suit in the near future and make the carrying of this equipment mandatory, but as the police don't seem able to stop people using mobile phones whilst at the wheel, an obviously visible offence, I don't think they will have much joy enforcing a law like this.