Heritage Credit Union and Kootenay Savings Credit Union have partnered with the Winlaw Fire Department’s WHAMS ( Winlaw Highway Accident Management Society) to sponsor the production and distribution of 2,000 highly reflective slap wrist bands.
The purpose of these reflective wrist bands is to raise awareness to pedestrians and hitchhikers that they need to make themselves more visible to motorists, and to give them a tool to do this.
Pedestrians wearing light coloured clothing or something with a reflective material will probably be seen in plenty of time to give them enough space.
To the pedestrian blinded by headlights it might seem obvious that they can be seen, but to the driver, black on black just isn’t seen.
If there are oncoming headlights and a driver switches to low beams, the driver may not see the pedestrian at all until they are passing them.
These slap bands can be kept rolled up in a jacket pocket or wrapped around a backpack strap for whenever someone is out on the roads after dark.
Winlaw Fire Department members are distributing 1,000 bands to the valley school students and staff from the Playmor Junction to New Denver.
An additional 600 bands were distributed this past week through the credit union branches from the junction to New Denver, and 400 bands were distributed through retail outlets throughout the valley.
Reflective wrist bands are also available at the Nelson dollar store, safety supply stores or online.