An investigation of motorcycle rider use of and attitudes to high visibility gear

[bogan]

Gave them an email...


I got the report forwarded to me. While I hope it is a nice report and gets you decent marks at university; due to one major assumption you have made, it is of no relevance to the real world. In the past I've reviewed the literature with the aim of establishing if high vis is effective; whereas you start from the position that it must be. In fact, if i recall correctly there was no option to indicate we don't wear it because we don't consider it effective? That omission alone skews the results to the point of irrelevance.

Unfortunately it is not a magic bullet fix, there are a number of factors working against it. High vis is most often seen on stationary people, cops, road workers etc, so drivers might subconsciously assume a bike isn't moving due to the high vis, and pull out. There's also threat perception, high vis bikers are not perceived threatening, so drivers don't care enough to look closely, misjudge the speed and pull out anyway. There's a few others but I can't recall them at the moment.

The best the studies show so far is a correlation (and some don't even show this), but I would suggest it is the cautious riders that are more likely to wear high vis, ie., those already less likely to have accidents.

[Ender EnZed]

I'd wear Barby pink from head to toe if I thought it'd increase my chances of survival

I wear a HIViz. It is not infallable, and does not replace the need for eternal vigilance, it's just an add on which I hope increases my visibility.

I'd say there's a decent chance you'd get noticed more wearing a pink suit. It's certainly not going to make you less visible. Worth a try?

[Voltaire]

Riding to work on SH 20 from Dominion Road end past the Hillsborough on ramp.....I hate this bit as the Hillborough on rampees are chomping at the bit to get in the outside lane at the same time the outside lane 100kmph plus drivers in their nice safe boxes are getting across to the Onehunga off ramp.......I'm holding my centre lane........
I try to be either in front or behind cars in other lanes but on the section its three lanes all at different speeds...
This morning a car along side me indicated and pulled into my lane..as the Onehunga off ramps fills up and stops the left lane thats when the cars make their move.....I ride this section with my finger on the horn so indicated my displeasure at his actions...he kept on moving though still had not seen me...he flashed his hazard lights as much as to say " Oh biker Sahiab I did not be seeing you be seeing "...
I had the headlight on and a viz jacket... but good old gut feeling saved the day....
Safety gear may help but don't rely on others seeing it.

[Old Steve]

Oh & FYI riding round with lights on high beam increases the chance of car drivers thinking about swerving for you or slamming on the brakes. FACT!

That's interesting. I've not seen any information on that fact, where did you get the information you've quoted? How many motorists were interviewed, what were the questions put to them, what were the percentages of drivers who would swerve at a motorbike who had its headlights on high beam, and what percentage would slam on their brakes?

Oh, I get it! This was just an assumption, there is no scientific or statistical basis for your claim. You've just made that up. It sounded very authentic though.

Are there any other riders who ride with their headlights on high beam, during the day that is? Have any of you had cars swerve at you or slam on their brakes? The only reaction I've had in 28 months was that one car which flashed its lights at me, and I don't know if they were annoyed or thought I'd left them on high by mistake and were indicating that I had my lights on high beam.

[Madness]

Are there any other riders who ride with their headlights on high beam, during the day that is?

I'm pretty sure you're all on your own here, Old Steve. If not, you're almost certainly part of a very small, ignorant minority.

:facepalm:

[pzkpfw]

That's interesting. I've not seen any information on that fact, where did you get the information you've quoted? How many motorists were interviewed, what were the questions put to them, what were the percentages of drivers who would swerve at a motorbike who had its headlights on high beam, and what percentage would slam on their brakes?

Oh, I get it! This was just an assumption, there is no scientific or statistical basis for your claim. You've just made that up. It sounded very authentic though.

Are there any other riders who ride with their headlights on high beam, during the day that is? Have any of you had cars swerve at you or slam on their brakes? The only reaction I've had in 28 months was that one car which flashed its lights at me, and I don't know if they were annoyed or thought I'd left them on high by mistake and were indicating that I had my lights on high beam.

I'm a car driver and a bike rider, and yes, I want to run you over. Dip your lights, arse.

[Ender EnZed]

I'm pretty sure you're all on your own here, Old Steve. If not, you're almost certainly part of a very small, ignorant minority.

:facepalm:

I'm pretty sure that other, sock-cooking, Steve is a fan of the practice as well.


Are there any other riders who ride with their headlights on high beam, during the day that is?

You're not the only one who does it but it is annoying to many other motorists, which to me far out weighs any potential (miniscule) safety benefit.

[Berries]

Have any of you had cars swerve at you or slam on their brakes? The only reaction I've had in 28 months was that one car which flashed its lights at me, and I don't know if they were annoyed or thought I'd left them on high by mistake and were indicating that I had my lights on high beam.
I wouldn't swerve but I do put my lights on full and think the rider is an arrogant wanker when I see it. No offence.

Mind you this thread is pointless anyway, it is just going to keep going round in circles as they always do.

[Virago]

...Are there any other riders who ride with their headlights on high beam, during the day that is? Have any of you had cars swerve at you or slam on their brakes? The only reaction I've had in 28 months was that one car which flashed its lights at me, and I don't know if they were annoyed or thought I'd left them on high by mistake and were indicating that I had my lights on high beam.

A. - It's illegal;

B. - It's hazardous to other road users;

C. - It's down right ignorant.

Don't be a wanker.

[caspernz]

A. - It's illegal;

B. - It's hazardous to other road users;

C. - It's down right ignorant.

Don't be a wanker.

That's a nice brief summation.

I prefer the hiviz vest and HID headlight option, nowhere near as annoying to other road users, but rather effective it seems.

On the car I went with a set of HELLA daytime running lights, that's a mighty effective approach as well...or I should say, for those that actually look vaguely in my direction anyway.

[rustic101]

LMFAO, I hate being right, in instances like this. Yup this 'research' is already 'skewed' as they were out to PROVE the effectiveness of Hi vis, rather than ASK if it is effective. There's no research into how visible it is with a headlight on from a distance.... This is going to end up in MotoNZ/ACC/TPTB's hands... get ready for a "French style' piece of legislation....

Just one other interesting point, just WHO were these' KEY Informants'?? NOw THAT could be an interesting list to review....

If you read the acknowledgements bit ACC were listed in there.. Arseholes