Why missing reflectors can cost lives
Protect yourself. Love you.
The dark season increases the risk of accidents every year. Especially for people who use a rollator. A case from Stiftung Warentest (10/2025) tragically shows how dangerous poor visibility can be: A person was fatally injured while crossing the street. The rollator was hardly visible because it had no reflectors. For motorists, it only became apparent too late.
One reader describes it shocked:
"There are no reflectors attached to almost all rollators."
A problem that is often underestimated in everyday life. With potentially fatal consequences.
Why rollators become invisible in the dark
Rollators are low, often dark and rarely have active lighting. Without reflectors, there is a massive safety risk.
Typical reasons for poor visibility:
- Dark frame color with hardly any light reflection
- Missing or too few reflective stripes
- poor visibility due to fog, rain or backlight
- low height . Rollators are more likely to be overlooked in road traffic
Visibility in comparison:
- Depending on the quality, reflectors can be visible from up to approx. 140 to 150 meters.
- An unreflective rollator is often only noticed from an estimated 10 to 25 meters.
At a speed of 50 km/h, 25 meters are in many cases not enough to brake or swerve in time.
What Stiftung Warentest recommends
Stiftung Warentest confirmed. All tested models had reflectors, but the editors expressly recommend that rollators be additionally equipped. Especially if you're out and about at dusk or in the dark.
Key recommendations:
- Equipping a rollator with additional reflectors
- Retrofit front and rear lights. Ideally battery-operated
- Wear light-colored or reflective clothing and high-visibility vests
- Consciously pay attention to visibility in road traffic
This makes it clear. The basic equipment of many rollators is not sufficient in autumn and winter to be really visible.
Safe on the road: How to make a rollator visible
1. Install additional reflectors
Self-adhesive reflective strips or reflector clips are easy to apply and increase visibility immediately.
Suitable positions:
- Frame
- Side panels
- Basket
- Handles
2. Attach front and rear lights
Battery-powered rollator or bicycle lights are easy to install and offer a double effect. They illuminate the path and make the rollator clearly recognizable to other road users.
3. Use reflective clothing
Especially with dark jackets, additional reflective elements are useful. For example:
- High-visibility vests
- reflective caps
- Wristbands or reflective backpack covers
4. Keep your distance from the road
Rollators have a fixed track width. Even a few centimeters of distance can decide whether a vehicle passes or the rollator is detected. Safe paths, curbs and crossing aids are therefore particularly important.
Demographic change: Visibility is becoming increasingly important
Germany is getting older. The number of people aged 65 and over has risen significantly in recent decades. This also increases the number of those who depend on walkers in everyday life.
More rollators in road traffic. Visibility is becoming a key security factor. Every walking aid should be equipped in such a way that it is detected in time at dusk and darkness. Reflectors, light and reflective clothing help to ensure that freedom of movement does not come at the expense of safety.
Particularly at risk: senior citizens and children
Many older people underestimate the effect of darkness or walk more slowly. This increases the risk of being overlooked in road traffic.
Children who push or accompany a walker of relatives are also at risk. They are smaller and often less visible. The following applies especially to these groups. Visibility is an active protective factor.
Why visibility saves lives
A rollator without reflectors is often only detected at the last moment in road traffic. The reaction time is then often no longer sufficient to brake or swerve in time.
The good news. Visibility can be significantly increased with simple means. Reflectors, light and reflective clothing are cheap, can be retrofitted quickly and, in case of doubt, life-saving.
Conclusion . Protect yourself. Love you.
Visibility in road traffic is not a detail. It decides whether others see you in time or notice you too late. Rollators are part of everyday life for many people. This makes it all the more important to take them just as seriously as bicycles or prams when it comes to road safety.
A few reflectors, a lamp and conscious, high-visibility clothing can save lives. Maybe even your own or that of your loved ones.
Protect yourself. Love you. Make yourself visible.