The highest number of pedestrian accidents take place in cities.  On a dark road, a driver driving with low-beam headlights can see a pedestrian not wearing a reflector at a distance of only 160 feet. With high-beam headlights, visibility increases to 490 feet. 

With a reflector, visibility  extends to 1,150 feet with low-beam headlights and to over 2,000 feet with high-beam headlights.

Finland has had rules governing the use of safety reflectors since 1982. In 2003, Finland reinforced these regulations, which has had a substantial effect on road safety in Finland, leading to an over 70% reduction in pedestrian traffic injuries over the course of two decades. The impact on the youth has been even more significant, with injuries decreasing almost by 80%.

Reflectors are a vital component of pedestrian safety standards. Even before 2003, almost 1/3 of the Finnish population regularly used reflectors.

In 2023, almost two thirds of the population uses a reflector regularly, emphasizing their recognized value as an essential asset for pedestrian safety.

*Measurement method revised in 2016 (data gathering points added)