Safety

Reflectors and the dark: how does my child stay visible on the way to school?

Written by the Kids by Molliora editorial team, based on the sources below. Last updated: 31 October 2026

Short answer

Now that mornings and afternoons are dark, a reflector is one of the simplest ways to help your child be seen. With dipped headlights, a driver sees a pedestrian in dark clothes at only 20–30 metres and in light clothes at about 60 metres, but a reflector at about 125 metres (Trafikverket, NTF). Reflectors work best low down and on parts of the body that move, such as the legs, wrists and ankles (NTF, Trafikverket). They are needed in town too: most pedestrians killed or injured in the dark are hit in built-up areas with the street lights on (Trafikverket). Choose CE- or SIS-marked reflectors and replace them regularly (Trafikverket).

Question	What applies	Source
How far away does a driver see my child on dipped headlights?	Dark clothes: 20–30 metres. Light clothes: about 60 metres. With a reflector: about 125 metres	Trafikverket, NTF
Where should the reflector go?	Low down and on things that move: a dangling reflector, or bands on the arms and legs, wrists and ankles	NTF, Trafikverket
Is a reflective vest enough?	A vest helps. NTF advises reflective bands on the wrists and ankles as well	NTF
Do we need reflectors where there are street lights?	Yes. Most pedestrians killed or injured in the dark are hit in built-up areas with street lights on	Trafikverket
What should I buy?	A CE- or SIS-marked reflector of at least 15 cm². Sold at pharmacies and toy shops, among other places	Trafikverket, NTF
How long does a reflector last?	Normally about three years, less if it gets scratched. NTF suggests replacing reflectors every year	Trafikverket, NTF

Why children are hard to see in the dark

Our eyes are made for daylight. In the dark it is harder to see contrasts, even on lit streets, and a wet road looks darker still (Trafikverket). Street lights help pedestrians see, but they do not make pedestrians visible to drivers (Trafikverket). NTF reports that 40 percent of traffic crashes involving pedestrians happen in the dark (NTF).

Children are shorter than adults and harder to spot. They also find it difficult to judge distance, speed and risks (NTF).

Where reflectors work best

Low and moving: a reflector that dangles on a string, or reflective bands on the arms and legs, is easiest for drivers to notice (NTF). Trafikverket also recommends placing reflectors low on the legs and arms.
Wrists and ankles: combine a reflective vest with bands on the wrists and ankles (NTF).
Small children show up well: they are entirely inside the beam of dipped headlights, so their reflectors light up clearly (NTF).
Busy roads: on roads with heavy traffic, Trafikverket suggests carrying a torch as well.
On the bike: bikes must have reflectors in the dark by law (NTF). Read more in our guide to bike helmets and cycling safety.

A Cochrane review of 39 trials found that reflective materials, lamps and flashing lights help drivers detect pedestrians and cyclists at night, and that reflectors placed on moving joints help drivers recognise that it is a person. No trials measured the effect on actual crashes, so the effect on injuries is still unknown (Kwan and Mapstone, Cochrane).

Choosing, caring for and testing reflectors

Check the marking: choose a CE- or SIS-marked reflector (Trafikverket) of at least 15 cm² (NTF).
Replace regularly: a reflector normally lasts about three years (Trafikverket). NTF suggests replacing them every year, and reflectors sewn into clothes wear out quickly (NTF).
Avoid damage: scratches from keys and coins, heat such as a warm car, and water all weaken a reflector. Wipe off raindrops (NTF).
Do the test: hang an old and a new reflector side by side in a dark room and shine a torch at them from at least 4 metres away. You can also take a photo with the phone flash (NTF).
All year round: NTF suggests keeping a reflector in the jacket pocket all year. The dog needs one too (NTF).

Walking safely to school

Where to walk: use the pavement or the road verge. If you walk on the verge, the road or a shared path, keep to the far left (Transportstyrelsen).
Crossing: use a pedestrian crossing if there is one nearby. Otherwise look carefully and cross straight over, preferably at a junction (Transportstyrelsen).
Practise together: walk to school with your child, look at the traffic together and talk about which route is safest (NTF).
Check the route: before your child walks alone, think about whether they need to cross a road, how busy it is, how fast the traffic goes and whether the view is blocked anywhere (NTF).
Walking alone: there is no exact age. Many children can walk alone in moderately busy traffic around age 9–10, but several traffic skills only develop at 10–12 (NTF).
Walk in a group: a walking school bus, where families take turns walking a group of children to school, is one way to start (NTF).

Try this week

Do the reflector test at home: hang old and new reflectors side by side in a dark room and shine a torch at them from 4 metres away.
Put reflectors low on every jacket and school bag your child uses, and add reflective bands for the wrists or ankles.
Walk the route to school together once when it is dark and look for the places where it is hard to be seen.

When to get help

If your child is hurt in a traffic accident and it is urgent, call 112. If your child has hit their head, read our guide to concussion, and see when to seek care for your child. For medical advice in Sweden, call 1177.