Hi-viz, does it make a difference in rider visibility?

[Road kill]

Mmmmm. Makes it a lot easier for them to stem the flow of bleeding from having half your face scraped off.

Oh yeah,that's happened every single bloody time I've come off on the road over the last 40 years,,,

[duckonin]

I think it works well when it's one biker wearing it but if it was every biker I believe it would lose most of it's effectivness.

Either way I'm going to take my chances just like I always have.

You take your chances, I shall wear my Hi-vis.

[tamarillo]

I've noticed that there are mixed opinions out there on this matter. Personally I have Hi-Viz gear, and I am more likely to notice motorcyclists who are wearing it when I'm going around town in the car.
Apparently there was a test study done on the matter back in 2004, it states in its conculsion that "Drivers wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk of crash related injury than those who were not wearing such materials." http://www.bmj.com/highwire/filestre..._article_pdf/0

Do you think Hi-Viz makes much of a difference in rider visibility?
How many of you guys here wear Hi-Viz?

OF COURSE! Why do we need a survey to pint out the obvious? If we are are seen easier and more then we are safer. Do you pull out in front of trucks because you did not see it?

[swbarnett]

OF COURSE! Why do we need a survey to pint out the obvious? If we are are seen easier and more then we are safer.

Yes, a hi-viz MIGHT make you easier to see IF the eyes and brain of the observer are directed at you. However, the problem with not being seen is with people not looking in the first place. For this region, hi-viz will not reduce your chances of being involved in a SMIDSY.

Do you pull out in front of trucks because you did not see it?

People pull out in front of (and block) fire engines with lights and sirens blazing. They don't see what they don't expect.

[awa355]

Last night in the twilight, I was driving through Hamilton. A white sports bike came towards me with white led lights on the hand guards. It was in a line of oncoming cars, all with their lights on. Those led lights really stood out. They were far more noticible than all the headlights.

Or maybe it was because the set up was new and different?

[scumdog]

Last night in the twilight, I was driving through Hamilton. A white sports bike came towards me with white led lights on the hand guards. It was in a line of oncoming cars, all with their lights on. Those led lights really stood out. They were far more noticible than all the headlights.

Or maybe it was because the set up was new and different?

Hence the spot-lights on my bike - even about 45 degrees off to the side they're visible.

[Maha]

This vest is not to bad...

[Owl]

This vest is not to bad...

If you like ghey!

[ruaphu]

I commute via bike most days year round in rain/hail/shine for the last four or so years. Over this time I've changed a few things on my bikes to be seen by the clots in tin tops.
1. Dedicated extra brake light, so it sticks out like a sore thumb when i brake. Has reduced near misses to almost nothing, used to experience one near miss a week.
2. extra spot lights set on an angle so I can be seen by R'ses at intersections, prior to fitting, at lest ten times having to avoid 'pull out's
3. now wear reflective gear, not just fluro but reflective to cover bad light, twilight etc, works well, been using it for two years now.

The biggest change I made was an advanced riding course, it opens your eyes to dangers, teaches ya how to throw your bike around and ride to survive.

Importantly none of this 'stuff' works if you ride like a dick, as so many do. I'm not adverse to anyone having a blast, we all do, it's apart of the fun.

Reflective gear is only part of the solution, the bulk it comes down to you, the rider.

Besides, if that clot Andy Slack-rse-sted from LTSA has his way we will all either get banned or shrink wrapped in bubble wrap "for our own safety" of course.

Cheers all, stay shiney side up an rubber side down

[Erelyes]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/9154...relives-terror

Selected quotes;

A Toyota Estima people mover was seen approaching the intersection of Lake and Dawson roads, near Taupiri, about 4.25pm.

It slowed down and the girls thought the driver had seen them, but he continued past the give way sign and the six riders ploughed into the side door.

"At this stage there's no fault on behalf of the cyclists. They were all riding as a group; they had reflective vests on."

Not a good proof of concept really. Lucky noone was killed.

[n3Xro]

Not a good proof of concept really. Lucky noone was killed.

Agreed, I've been through the intersection that the crash occurred at many many times through the give ways at rather high speeds(given I have to be prepared to stop) but its also totally clear left and right of the intersecting road for at least 100-200 meters which to me means the cager had a lot of time to look for any movement...

https://www.google.co.nz/maps/previe...1!4f13.1&fid=5

On the whole hi viz thing, biggest change to me was when I took off the high vis, riding a black bike, wearing a black helmet, black leathers all weather conditions and I've not had any issues, when I first got my bike I was wearing a blinding bright yellow reflective vest I had constant issues with pull outs from side roads, merging onto me etc. etc. still dont know why but wont be going hi viz again soon.

[caseye]

When you took off the hi viz and returned to BLACK, you instantly became a THREAT! Only nasty old motorcycle gang types wear all black, so we'd better make sure we don't piss em off aye?
Same as when you ride an all WHITE motorcycle with a wind deflector/shield, again , you are the po Po and we couldn't possibly annoy them now could we, they see you people , they just don't give a big enough fuck if you are not a gangy or a po po.

[swbarnett]

When you took off the hi viz and returned to BLACK, you instantly became a THREAT! Only nasty old motorcycle gang types wear all black, so we'd better make sure we don't piss em off aye?
Same as when you ride an all WHITE motorcycle with a wind deflector/shield, again , you are the po Po and we couldn't possibly annoy them now could we, they see you people , they just don't give a big enough fuck if you are not a gangy or a po po.

So then the ideal is a black bike with hazard lights. When I'm lane splitting people think I'm a cop and when I'm not I have the all black threat thing in my favour. Oh, and the loud pipe doesn't hurt either.

[RDJ]

On the whole hi viz thing, biggest change to me was when I took off the high vis, riding a black bike, wearing a black helmet, black leathers all weather conditions and I've not had any issues, when I first got my bike I was wearing a blinding bright yellow reflective vest I had constant issues with pull outs from side roads, merging onto me etc. etc. still dont know why but wont be going hi viz again soon.

Same. Wore orange Hi-Vis vest and bumblebee yellow helmet in an urban commute environment for 2 years. Rear-ended once, and almost once more. Many instances of getting-pulled-out-in-front-of. Saw a thread on visordown.uk which suggested better to be a a dark worry than a bright hippie. Changed gear, not riding style. Major change in road users' approach. The plural of anecdote is not data - but the switch worked for me. At night bike, helmet and I all show a lot of reflective strips but daytime, all dark.

[Erelyes]

http://nz.news.yahoo.com/video/watch...raffic-warden/

Fucking hi-viz's...