If hi-vis jacket/vests are made compulsory, will you comply?

[sAsLEX]

There was one done in the USA some years ago and that indicated that the drivers only registered things they percieved as threats: cops and Hell's Angels etc.

Some of them can't even manage that, the president of the local 1%ers was T boned by a woman driver so...

Ironically bikes and trains suffer the same problem in that people cannot register them approaching due to their narrowness.

Weave a bit approaching an intersection and they are more likely to see you.

[caseye]

I'm interested to know what MAG-NZ and BRONZ's stance would be if they did try to make them compulsory.

Katman, as per our Mission Statement on our web site for general MAG-NZ members.

http://www.mag-nz.org/

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

We oppose any attempt to make the wearing of safety or conspicuous clothing compulsory.

For the record I said "NEVER", I rely on my wits and treating every other motorist (yes bikes included) as fools and idiots until I'm safely past them.
To ride with good mates who I trust is a treat these days.
Used to be the norm.
Shame.

[tri boy]

If it's raining/dark/miserable, I have a pair of bright orange leggings with reflective strips at the ankles. (same as On Track issues it's rail line workers)
Rainproof, bright as fuck, and Ican't see them unless I look down.
Vests in fine weather are a waste of time.
Vests in general are pain in the arse.
Spent $45, and get the leggings. MHO

[Motu]

My daughter made me a hi viz vest for Xmas,out of some bright material she had left over.It's cut as a suit vest,made of heavy duty denim,satin lining,fob pockets and chains...cool.I haven't worn a denim cutoff for 35 years.It's made so you can see the bright stuff while I wear my Camelback.Not over the top,and the small amount of orange is quite effective.

[Ocean1]

My daughter made me a hi viz vest for Xmas,

Very tasteful. Aren't daughters great?

[DMNTD:Me]

I wear one ever day when commuting in traffic. I am also well aware that it will NOT save me, however I am also well aware that anything that will help be seen by other road users in traffic will not harm my chances of not being run over...again.
I am also aware that the primary benefit from wearing a fluoro vest is actually the reflective 'tape' which obviously only works when it half light or dark.

In saying that...I will not wear one when out for a pleasure ride...ever.

[Gixxer peter]

Have never worn one...
and have had a few close calls hmmmm
as far as being ticketed for not wearing one ....
I guess that would never happen, as you will be completly invisable without one , therefore no chance being caught without one???

[swbarnett]

drivers will simply become numb the sight of it

They already have.

So what is the point of wearing one then?

There isn't one.


Also, there are studies that show that riders that wear Hi-Vis vests have fewer accidents. IMO they DO NOT prove that Hi-Vis vests improve a rider's safety, all they show is that Hi-Vis vest wearing riders are, generally, safer riders to begin with. In short: Correlation does not mean causation!

[mattian]

They already have.[/SIZE]

On the odd occasion, I have had cagers shout out, "WIMP".... and, "PUSSY" "WUSS"
when I have been wearing mine. So yes, they do notice it.

[burden2]

I wear one over my riding jacket most of the time anyway, not that I think it is going to save me from 99% of the retarded buttmonkeys in cars who would claim "I just didnt see the bike" but at least I get a warm glow from the feeling of doing just one small thing to help myself. And being showerproof and easily laundered it will keep the blood off my jacket when I catch up with the arsehole who has just cut me off or run me off the road and smash his face in with the front edge of my helmet (you will never ever get caught when you do that, they are obviously blind so how could they say it was you?)

[BMWST?]

is this hi viz enough?

[Spearfish]

A fluro vest wont even save you on a building site, you have to wear one along with steel cap boots and a hard hat, but if you slip and fall 4-5 stories out a a hole were a window is ment to be, chances are you will die.
In most cases, it is up to you save your own arse by being vigilant.
A FLURO VEST WILL NOT SAVE YOUR LIFE.
Its that simple.
For anyone to suggest otherwise is ludicrous.

That reminds me of a safety seminar I had to go to, the wanker from osh said there were to many injuries from guys falling onto their tool belts so the solution is to empty our tool belts on the way down should we fall, you can just imaging the start of a fall...Hmmm should I try and grab something and save my life or shit where did I put that chisel....ah there it is, biff, now the square, no lent that to, punch?....


I ride with a vest at night, only if its already on my jacket during the day.
Looking around at other riders I've noticed that if a bike has a tallish screen you can only see the helmet, side on they are visible, from the rear they loose effectiveness if there is a big pack either on a rack, or like me a backpack.
Its hard to tell how effective it is because you only know when it hasn't worked how often it has worked is anyone's guess.

[FJRider]

IMO they DO NOT prove that Hi-Vis vests improve a rider's safety, all they show is that Hi-Vis vest wearing riders are, generally, safer riders to begin with. In short: Correlation does not mean causation!

Perhaps you are closer to the truth than you realise ...

IMHO ... Safety Conscious riders stay alive ... longer ... as they give more time in thought as to how unsafe their actions could be (or seen to be) ...

AND ... if you wear a hi vis vest and ride with your headlight ON ...they cant stand up in court and say "I never saw him"

[sAsLEX]

.they cant stand up in court and say "I never saw him"

Yes they can.

And yes they will.

[rustic101]

while researching headlamp modulation.

Motorcycles in the United States since 1978 have been wired so as to operate the low-beam headlamp whenever the engine is running. This is not required by any federal regulation but rather is a matter of voluntary industry policy.

However, as increasing numbers of vehicles are equipped with daytime running lights, there is concern that the daytime-illuminated motorcycle headlamp may no longer provide a significant conspicuity benefit.

Some motorcyclists install headlamp modulators in the belief they increase motorcycle conspicuity in traffic.