Internationally, the importance of reflective clothing is becoming increasingly prominent. A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the United States found that although reflective clothing can assist pedestrians in being detected by drivers at night, for automatic emergency braking (AEB) systems equipped with pedestrian recognition functions, some reflective clothing, such as those with dynamic reflective strips, can cause the system to misjudge, resulting in delayed or even ineffective emergency braking. This also prompts car manufacturers to optimize relevant systems to work in conjunction with reflective clothing to ensure safety.
Meanwhile, in some countries, the regulations for the use of reflective clothing are constantly being improved. For example, although the UK currently does not require drivers to wear reflective vests, Italy and Spain have stipulated that drivers must wear high visibility reflective vests when getting off certain roads, and Portugal and France have also followed suit. There is data indicating that wearing reflective vests can allow drivers to detect pedestrians 3 seconds in advance in the dark. At a speed of 30 miles per hour, this means detecting pedestrians 42 meters in advance, greatly reducing the risk of accidents.
In addition, the reflective clothing market is also constantly developing. The Technavio report shows that the global reflective sportswear market is expected to grow by $333.51 million from 2022 to 2027, with a compound annual growth rate of 4.3%. Many well-known brands such as Adidas and Nike have launched related products. In short, reflective clothing is continuing to play a crucial role in traffic safety and the market, ensuring people’s travel safety while also containing enormous commercial potential.
