Safety vests

**Neon** · 17th October 2009, 21:26

Course I wanted to rip the fucken thing off today riding North into the wind. The buffetting/fluttering effect was driving me nuts, and mine's modified to fit snug and not hang off like a cape.

**Dodger** · 18th October 2009, 16:47

I've always seen the vests as a warning to other road users that the rider is over the age of 40

**Ypawa** · 18th October 2009, 18:40

Originally Posted by Dodger

I've always seen the vests as a warning to other road users that the rider is over the age of 40

too busy site seeing huh

..

**mstriumph** · 18th October 2009, 18:48

Originally Posted by Ypawa

.............. Some say .. a vest makes them more secure in knowing they can be seen on the road. I may think hard about this one!.................

yeah yeah yeah ........... in the same way that Riders felt more secure by having their headlights hard-wired-on as it 'made them more visible to other road users'

it will probably have exactly the same measure of sucess, too ..... ie ZERO

there's an old saying that may be applicable here (changes to south-of-england accent) "There's none so blind as them that will not see"

your BEST defence, as always, is to treat other road users like the *expletive deleted* potential killers and morons they are and BE READY FOR WHATEVER IDIOTIC THING THEY MAY DO NEXT.

**jackie** · 19th October 2009, 01:14

No construction work happening on my ride...

**Zuki lover** · 19th October 2009, 06:13

My feeling is that when I see a vest on a bike, they are generally worn by older folk. If you have a colourful bike, its easier to be seen - this is a vest in disguise

**jim.cox** · 19th October 2009, 08:29

Vests give drivers something to aim at

**NordieBoy** · 19th October 2009, 09:25

I love my vest sometimes.

Boy racer sees a big dirt bike with a vested rider and nails it coming into a 100kph zone from a 50....
And sloooowly catches up and passes (has to pass - must pass....) doing 120kph or more.

Even better with a cop up ahead

**Cynos** · 19th October 2009, 16:49

Originally Posted by Ender EnZed

I realise this is a very old thread but the Indoctrination video told me not to start new ones that already exist.

I read all 10 pages and I couldn't identify any distinction between the merits of being seen and being recognised as a valid road user. I'm suggesting there are two parts to your typical "Car at a Give Way" situation. i.e. You're approaching an intersection when a car pulls up, driver turns their head and looks straight at you. They must then:

(1) Determine that there is physically an object there.
(2) Decide whether or not it affects their ability to carry on their intended route to an extent that they need to respond differently to how they would otherwise.

The "Car at a Give Way" situation isn't an ideal example for fluoro vests as there's not a lot to be seen of them behind a fairing and a headlight. A better one would be when you're stopping for a late orange/red light and there's a cage behind you.

I could be wrong of course but I don't think anyone really believes that a fluoro has zero chance of improving things for part (1). I'm trying to promote a bit of discussion on part (2) and to that end I'll raise this bit of reasearch some of you might have seen.

It's not a recent study but the relevent bit is this

Anyone see any parallels there with attitudes toward the motorised variety of cycles? I'm not suggesting for a second we should take off our helmets but I am suggesting that drivers who see a rider wearing a fluoro jacket will be making different assumptions about how that rider will react to those they would be making if the rider was naked. I'm sure this is true of motorcyclists themselves as well. I'll assume there to be a difference between the rider of a big white faired bike wearing full gear, a white helmet and a fluoro vest and a guy in jeans and a T shirt on a scraped up streetfighter.

I've forgotten what I was saying at the start of this post it was so long ago but I think my point was: Do you think cagers might take less care around a fluoro vested rider assuming him (or her) to be less likely to crash?

I've noticed that people notice me more when I'm wearing my safety vest than when I'm not. Might help if I had brightly coloured riding gear though. Ditto the headlight. Someone mentioned riding like they haven't seen you anyway - well, yeah, but why not stack the odds in your favour as much as possible?

**duckonin** · 20th October 2009, 09:39

Originally Posted by Dodger

I've always seen the vests as a warning to other road users that the rider is over the age of 40

You may be a reason ACC is down on those that ride bikes

, those over forty should get free Rego for wearing clothing that can be seen.

**hobbes** · 10th November 2009, 21:31

I hate the vests and have only ever worn them when marshalling etc, as I hate the way they flap and move and can be a danger in their own right.
However, when I changed out my ancient blue&grey jacket, I upgraded to the Teknic Freeway (great jacket by the way) and at zero cost choose the Fluro yellow version (http://www.teknicgear.com/freeway-jacket).

The immediate change in cage drivers around me was very noticable; most certainly see me earlier and less f'wits pull out in front of me. ... some even get out of the way when I pull up !
Ok, so it helps I ride a tall blue/white enduro these days, have a whitish helmet and ride my space... Heck even my wife thought I was a

when I rocked up first time, and she knew the bike!

Yeah, i get a few comments from you old school boys out there.... but no matter how much we pay the titwits at ACC, I prefer to minimise my chances to need 'm because some twit "didn't see me".

Still: Ride like all are out to get you... most are... they just don't know it !

**phred** · 10th November 2009, 22:11

I wouldn't wear a helmet in case it messed my hair up and I don't wear leather as I'm a vegetarian. I am also not sure about killing a cordura as they are endangered so I ride in jandals and a tee shirt.

And WTF you gonna iron the protest transfer onto if'n ya don have a hivis???

**I GS 1** · 11th November 2009, 00:13

Originally Posted by fenry

I wouldn't wear a helmet in case it messed my hair up and I don't wear leather as I'm a vegetarian. I am also not sure about killing a cordura as they are endangered so I ride in jandals and a tee shirt.

And WTF you gonna iron the protest transfer onto if'n ya don have a hivis???

Yeah - I like that

I find riding to work in the city, motorists are more likely to actually register that they have seen you - definitely there is less looking at you and then pulling out in front of you. On the open road I'm not sure if they work. The most noticeable difference is how other motorcyclists react to you - they definitely see you, a lot less actually wave at you, and if you pass them their indicator tends to come on and they let a large gap build up rather than try and follow you. (I suppose I don't really care because yes I'm well over 40 and if I come off my bones won't heal as quick)

**LBD** · 11th November 2009, 04:00

I wear mine in Dull/wet weather and at night time....Have it with me most the time.

Biker specific, but don't recall the brand

Elastic sides no flapping...tested at naughty speeds

**YellowDog** · 11th November 2009, 05:23

I just don't like them at all. Your bike is a an illuminated vehicle on the road. I'd rather my brake lights be more visible than my vest and distracting the car drivers with a 'Can't be missed' vest is not the best way of doing this.

Police is should have to wear them so we are able to see them sooner and then slow down before the ticket.

I have to wear one for work or I'd get fired, but then I am already illuminated like a Christmas tree.

The only time I think tht the vests help is when viewed from the side.