Safety reflector

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A safety reflector is a wearable retroreflector intended for pedestrians. It is similar to reflective stripes that can be found on safety vests and clothing worn by road workers and rescue workers.

A safety reflector helps to make a pedestrian visible to vehicles on the road up to three times further away than without a reflector, since it reflects the light from the headlights of an oncoming vehicle. Safety reflectors are especially useful in rural areas where there are no street lights.

Unlike reflective stripes that are permanently fixed to clothing, the safety reflector is a stand-alone device that can be attached to any clothing as needed, often using a safety pin and some string.The reflector is claimed to be an absolutely Finnish creation, invented by a Finnish farmer from Pertteli, a small township in Western Finland. Interestingly enough, the inventor did not consider pedestrian safety when creating the first reflectors: he simply wished to protect his horse carts and carriages. Reflectors were introduced to Finns in 1960. Nowadays you can find reflectors of all possible models and colours, as design and fashion industries have turned their faces towards this diminutive gadget. Special 'clip-on' reflectors for bicycles and other human-powered vehicles are also common.