Ahead of the clocks going back this weekend, Carlow company Bodylite has launched a reflective LED vest designed to allow users to safely walk, run or cycle at night with visibility of up to 500 metres for oncoming vehicles.

The thin, lightweight vest was designed with pedestrian safety in mind with eco-friendly rechargeable batteries providing up to 12 hours of light, and a stripe of green light across the front and two red stripes at the back for further assurance of visibility.

Padraic George founded Bodylite after finding his safety being impeded during dark evenings exercising in rural Carlow without street lighting, often resorting to using hand torches and phone light to maintain visibility to traffic.

Bodylite now has a wide range of products purpose-built for pedestrian safety, including an LED belt, reflective headbands and dog leads.

RSA figures show that of the 313 pedestrian fatalities between 2008 and 2015, 98% were not wearing high visibility clothing. There were just 19 pedestrian deaths in 2021, the lowest total in the 25 years since records began.

In Association with

“As the clocks go back this coming weekend, we will really see the return of dark mornings and evenings, with this the danger posed to vulnerable road users increases," George said.

"We are committed to supporting the safety of pedestrians and we believe that everyone should feel safe and visible on public roads, estates, and footpaths in both rural and urban settings.

“Pedestrian fatalities are on the decrease in recent years, but to ensure this remains the case we can put the safety into the hands of pedestrians and ensure maximum visibility on Irish roads. We want to continue to help to provide the public with the tools to hopefully lower the possibility of accidents occurring,” he concluded.

Cheetah Electronics Ltd, the company wholly owned by George, reported a profit of €136,750 in 2021, down from the €456,000 recorded in 2020 while still bolstering the firm's net assets to more than €1.5m.

The company employs 17, including 13 factory staff and three sales and administrative staff, and director remuneration last year more than quadrupled from €58,712 in 2020 to €243,660 as the company more or less paid off the €146,000 owed to its founder.

Photo: The Carlow Ramblers walking group with Padraic George (centre).