ACC Survey

[MacD]

I agree that the multi coloured jackets are not very good for standing out in the cluttered environment, but comparing them to high - vis is like comparing apples and orangutans. (One is cool and expensive, one is 'ghey' lol)

I didn't actually compare them to high-vis jackets, I compared black gear to multi-coloured gear, not solid-coloured gear such as a high-vis jacket, but nevermind that. Even with high-vis jackets, the contrast is more important than the colour, the yellow-green jackets appear brightest and so stand out the most.

What I was trying to point out is that the situation is much more complex than the black is bad, colour is good argument.

Also, why are orangutans "ghey"!?

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

I had a friend who use to be a cop, and he saw many "accidents" but one suck in his mind, showing how blind cage drivers actually are....

When he turned up to the scene, a middle age lady had somehow run into the path of a truck I don't know the details here... "I didn't see the truck officer... I just didn't see it..." I was thinking pickup truck when he told me this...?!?!! or a small utility truck.

His reply was... "Lady, how the hell can you not see a 18 wheeler Kenworth truck and trailer...???"


I myself have only had one accident in 15 years of riding... and I put that to being young dumb and and full of cum... I have full saftey gear, but not fluro, would I wear it... probably not.... ummm its soooooo ghey, the last one I tried flapped like a sex crazed monkey in heat and on the open road actually became annoying to the point I took it off...

My jacket has a few fluro strips but I doubt they can be seen from behind due to my packrack and pack... and I doubt from the front cause of my fairing and riding position, and I doubt from the side cause if you pull along side me you better you already know I am there and you better be looking ahead and your surroundings...

However i would never hassle anyone wearing one, if they believe it makes them feel safer... safe feeling means you will have a better sence of confidence... good on them... personal choice.

[Lucy]

.
What I was trying to point out is that the situation is much more complex than the black is bad, colour is good argument.

Also, why are orangutans "ghey"!?

Yes, it is complex. And I would never make it law, everyone is entitled to wear whatever they want, and to have their own opinion, as others have said, some people don't see trucks, let alone different coloured jackets. To me though, it seemed that some people were trying to say that black, coloured, white skin, are as visible as a flouro yellow vest, when to me that is incorrect. Whether people WANT to wear them is up to them, but I know what my eyes tell me.

Did I really say that about Orangutans? How rude! I meant orange...

[The Big J]

Can you do a 'novelty' fluoro vest? If you could do one with abs and muscly arms I would consider it.
too late at night I know

[Squeak the Rat]

For the record, while I have doubts that a high vis is always the best choice, it comes down to this. If you want to have the highest average chance of being seen and you only have one item of clothing make it high vis.

If you want to sacrifice your safety because of fashion reasons then more fool you.

And the bestest option is to ride like the fuckers can't see you anyway, because sooner or later some one won't.

[23226]

For the record, while I have doubts that a high vis is always the best choice, it comes down to this. If you want to have the highest average chance of being seen and you only have one item of clothing make it high vis.

I disagree, I don't believe high vis is 'always the best choice'.

At night high vis is way less effective than scotchlite or similar reflective materials.

[Ixion]

But I would normally assume that "hi vis" was a vest with fluro fabric and reflective stripes. Which covers both. That's what mine is like, and the cop ones. I sort of assumed that was the norm

[ajturbo]

is it just me??
or have you also noticed that.
when you come up to road works, when thee are lots of those hi-vis cones that stand higher than shuan harris does....
that the workers (cough cough) BLEND IN and are hard to pick out?

i also remember this one time, on the way to ....... get something, there were some civil defence call out (high winds/flooding, just the usal tauranga stuff) they were blocking off the road ... well that is what i found out when i finaly got to them,
there they were, orange lights flashing, pointy lights waving, ... and it was only by the time i got close VERY close that in the darkenss ( i was being blinded by all the head lights and flashing lights of the trucks) that i realised there was someone standing in the middle of the road waving me down!!!!!! yes they were wearing a Hi vis jacket... that was usless!! so i told them to dip th elights of the trucks so people could see them!!!! or they WILL be HIT!!!
i even told them to walk back the way i had come and just see for them selves!!!!... on returning i had the same problem.. but this time i was expecting some one there... but i still could not SEE them till i was almost on top... and i wasn't speeding!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HONEST...

[Flyingpony]

Noticed any "Lookout for Bikes" signs ...

I've seen quite a few in Chch on spare wheel covers on 4wd's.

[23226]

But I would normally assume that "hi vis" was a vest with fluro fabric and reflective stripes. Which covers both. That's what mine is like, and the cop ones. I sort of assumed that was the norm

The next question I have is ; which is the best background colour for the scotchlite to be attached for it to have its maximum impact in the dark ?

flouro or non-flouro ( lets say black ) ?

[Lucy]

The next question I have is ; which is the best background colour for the scotchlite to be attached for it to have its maximum impact in the dark ?

flouro or non-flouro ( lets say black ) ?

Sounds like you are trying to get someone to say that the reflective strips stand out more against black. If I say it will you be happy? Ok,

Reflective strips stand out more against black.

No-one is trying to force anyone to wear anything they don't want. We all make our own choices as to what we want to wear to get the most out of our lives and our motorcycling. A High vis vest with reflective tape is not a Superman safety device that will save the wearer from ever coming to grief. As someone else pointed out, at night with trucks and flashing lights he nearly collected someone who was wearing one.

I wear one because in MY opinion it helps me be noticed more. You don't have to. No-one is trying to make you. I may be wrong, but it's not going to stop me wearing one.

[23226]

I'm not trying to persuade or dissuade anyone else using fluoro.

Just my personal opinion.

However with that said I don't feel I am any 'safer' with compulsory headlights on either.

[Squeak the Rat]

The point I was uneloquently trying to make earlier was this:

• If you are concerned about your safety and want to be seen by car drivers, then wear hi-vis clothing.
  
• If you understand the rationale behind the arguments for not wearing it sometimes AND you agree with it AND it's not just an excuse to not wear it THEN make up your own mind

There may be situations where it's not the best. But the majority of times it probably is, and the times that it isn't it's probably still not bad.

If you are going to argue against it (as I have done on occassions) consider that new riders may be influenced by your posts....... I would hate for my rhetoric to influence a riders choice on safety.

[Whynot]

someone should come up with a hi-vis made of bubble wrap
that would be awesome and we would be ultimately saved from any kind of injury at all

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Its like advertising in the newspaper... if all the adverts on the paper looked the same (which they generally do) they become a blur and people are de-sensitised to it... if you invert three or four of the adverts on the page then they all start to stand out more...

In our case of motorcycling its have look at me... see me... and don't pull out in front of me... and with the clutter of city life the Hi Vis Vest just may become a blur... I guess it wouldn't really matter what you wear... ??? But the vest would stand out more on the open roads.

The main thing is the gear you do choose to ride in should be able to protect you in possibility of a accident whether your fault or not...

Helmet that fits properly, boots, riding tro and jacket either leather or the new fandangle stuff... if you can afford make sure the jacket has a built in back proctector... Most of these new jackets come with fluro stripes here and there which help for night riding

As I stated before on my bike with the fairing and riding position you probably wouldn't see the vest and from behind all you can see is a pack... but thats just me and my bike and riding style.