Hi-viz is an idiotic fad

[Conquiztador]

Sorry if this is already in the thread somewhere: There was some research done somewhere re HiViz v. Black gear on bikers and surprisingly... the outcome was that when using black gear the bikers were shown more respect in the traffic. They got more space and tail gating was not as common.

From memory the biggest % of motorbike accidents are solo efforts. Not much a HighViz vest is gonna do there. And I think the most common one where the biker is not at fault is when a car driver pulls out from a side road/drive way/crossing. On a main road the biker will be doing 100k/h when approaching the driver who will pull out. In NZ the bike will today have their lights on. Night time the vest will make no difference here. And daytime if the driver has not seen the headlight approaching at 100k/h then a HiViz vest will have no impact.

Personally I think that the only time a HiViz vest will be seen is from the side on. And if the biker is doing 100k/h that will only be for a split second. You might also see it from behind when following a biker, but I don't think that will have much impact on safety.

Once again I would like to point out that the best option would be to use the method that was in place in the very early days of the first motor vehicles appearing on the roads: Have a man walk in front of the bike waving a red flag!

[GrayWolf]

I work in a heavy industry where its classed 'safety critical'.. people/workers along the rail corridor MUST wear high Viz and reflective clothing.

Orange vs Yellow...
Depending on location, sometimes the Orange can blend in more to the surrounding colours, certain times/places (EG long dry grass or dry grass banks) the yellow blends in more. Time of day, light conditions also effect conspicuity. So either can be more effective/less effective at certain times.

What I have found FAR more effective since fitting them has been 2 X 5watt (CREE led) spotlamps. There is a lot of literature to be read on the effect of yellow Vs blue light.. people use 'blue' headlights as they think they are brighter, they are often less, BUT blue has a greater 'glare effect' on the human eye, yellow/white light is less 'harsh' on the receptors.
I aquired a PHILIPS hi power 'ice blue' main beam bulb, (these are a recognised quality bulb) it looks far brighter to the eye head on, but throws out far LESS effective light than the standard 'projector lamp' bulb, so it's in da bin!
Rather than hi Viz? would be better to fit all bikes with LED bullets/spots or proper day running lights, not the LED 'sidelights' becoming common on cars, they dont have enough 'projection' power to really stand out.

[eelracing]

Rather than hi Viz? would be better to fit all bikes with LED bullets/spots or proper day running lights, not the LED 'sidelights' becoming common on cars, they dont have enough 'projection' power to really stand out.

Problem solved,let's just slap these stickers on all vehicles...

[TheDemonLord]

Problem solved,let's just slap these stickers on all vehicles...

But then no one would be able to drive in NZ...

[James Deuce]

But then no one would be able to drive in NZ...

Cassina's dream solution!

[Naki Rat]

I work in a heavy industry where its classed 'safety critical'.. people/workers along the rail corridor MUST wear high Viz and reflective clothing.

Orange vs Yellow...
Depending on location, sometimes the Orange can blend in more to the surrounding colours, certain times/places (EG long dry grass or dry grass banks) the yellow blends in more. Time of day, light conditions also effect conspicuity. So either can be more effective/less effective at certain times.

What I have found FAR more effective since fitting them has been 2 X 5watt (CREE led) spotlamps. There is a lot of literature to be read on the effect of yellow Vs blue light.. people use 'blue' headlights as they think they are brighter, they are often less, BUT blue has a greater 'glare effect' on the human eye, yellow/white light is less 'harsh' on the receptors.
I aquired a PHILIPS hi power 'ice blue' main beam bulb, (these are a recognised quality bulb) it looks far brighter to the eye head on, but throws out far LESS effective light than the standard 'projector lamp' bulb, so it's in da bin!
Rather than hi Viz? would be better to fit all bikes with LED bullets/spots or proper day running lights, not the LED 'sidelights' becoming common on cars, they dont have enough 'projection' power to really stand out.

Or to put it another way, when all workers, cyclists, bikers and pretty much most of the mobile population obey the Hi-vis safety propaganda the visual effect will be diluted by sheer numbers. At that point we will be 'educated' into all wearing head mounted strobe lights, and when that becomes ineffective ........

Wouldn't it be more effective to educate the growing percentage of the population whose attention is on their Ipod, smartphone, screaming kids, boy racer antics, etc to focus on their primary responsibility - the safety of those around them!

[swbarnett]

Wouldn't it be more effective to educate the growing percentage of the population whose attention is on their Ipod, smartphone, screaming kids, boy racer antics, etc to focus on their primary responsibility - the safety of those around them!

Actually, no.

The only solution that has any chance of saving us is to stop worrying about whether we're being seen and concentrate on seeing.

[Conquiztador]

Actually, no.

The only solution that has any chance of saving us is to stop worrying about whether we're being seen and concentrate on seeing.

As much as I support this approach, it will soon be obsolete together with all other measures like the here debated HigViz clothing, lights on etc. The future (and it is already here...) will have us all jumping in our PTP (Personal Transport Pod) where we, after entering, inform the pod re our destination. We can then safely focus on our communication devices, on music, or even do something that is very seldom seen even today: read a book! In the very near future driving will become something for gladiators we watch participate in this ancient way of moving vehicles forward in an enclosed environment.

The human race is doomed. The main culprit here is our obsession in saving the wekest of us by medicin, by rules and by safety devices. I fully believe that if the weakest/most stupid of us were allowed to die we would, as a race, have a future.

[swbarnett]

As much as I support this approach, it will soon be obsolete together with all other measures like the here debated HigViz clothing, lights on etc. The future (and it is already here...) will have us all jumping in our PTP (Personal Transport Pod) where we, after entering, inform the pod re our destination. We can then safely focus on our communication devices, on music, or even do something that is very seldom seen even today: read a book! In the very near future driving will become something for gladiators we watch participate in this ancient way of moving vehicles forward in an enclosed environment.

Unfortunately, I think you may well be right.

The human race is doomed. The main culprit here is our obsession in saving the wekest of us by medicin, by rules and by safety devices. I fully believe that if the weakest/most stupid of us were allowed to die we would, as a race, have a future.

This is, of course, the main mechanism by which every wild species survives and improves. Something denied to the human race by the human race. Evolutionarily speaking we are already dead.