Police urge motorcyclists to... blah blah blah

[James Deuce]

Here's a couple of links that kinda prove the point...

The only point those links prove is that when researchers are looking for hi-vis vests and jackets in traffic they'll see them.

Similarly your girlfriend has a vested interest in seeing you too.

A motorcyclist's biggest enemy is motion camouflage. It isn't that they can't see you, it's that they don't register you as a threat until you appear to be approaching very rapidly, from a very close proximity.

The hi-vis vest isn't helping you to be seen, it is helping your peace of mind, which is a bad thing. Don your safety gear and relax. Wrong. Don your safety gear and work twice as hard to avoid incidents.

[scumdog]

The hi-vis vest isn't helping you to be seen, it is helping your peace of mind, which is a bad thing. Don your safety gear and relax. Wrong. Don your safety gear and work twice as hard to avoid incidents.

Can't agree with you completely Jim2 - after all, I wear gloves, helmet and leathers yet do not feel 1 jot safer than if I did not have them.

I don't wear hi-vis but have my headlight on plus two glaring-as small spots - I KNOW they have made me more visible.

On the hi-vis topic, - the ironic thing is that they are at there best on a bright day - when you're most likely to be noticed anyway!

[James Deuce]

Heaven help us all, there's one policeman out there LESS cynical than me.

[more_fasterer]

It never ceases to amaze me how many drivers in our fair city fail to see police cars (with lights blaring) coming up behind them, or coming into an intersection they are blindly travelling through.

If cops can't be seen in a car lit up like a christmas tree, what difference would a hi-vis vest make for a bike?

[Squeak the Rat]

ACC, the government and the cops can stick their high vis vests up their arses. Bikers are not invisible.

Does anyone have statistics on how many patched gang members have crashed into cars that have not given way?

I doubt many drivers would miss seeing a mongrel mob rider hanging off the ape-hangers on a chopped up harley, but they don't wear high vis.

[Edit:] i'm not saying don't wear it because at times it probably does make it easier for drivers to see you, but don't make me wear it.

[Hitcher]

I have been frantically scouring the net for a report I read a few years ago that demonstrated that the most visible vehicle on the road was a policeman on a police motorcycle. All help in locating this would be greatly appreciated.

[Deano]

I wear gloves, helmet and leathers yet do not feel 1 jot safer than if I did not have them.

I feel much safer all leathered up - I wear jeans most of the time to slow myself down.

[James Deuce]

I don't feel safe. Ever. Which no doubt explains the twitches.

[paulj]

The only point those links prove is that when researchers are looking for hi-vis vests and jackets in traffic they'll see them.

Similarly your girlfriend has a vested interest in seeing you too.

A motorcyclist's biggest enemy is motion camouflage. It isn't that they can't see you, it's that they don't register you as a threat until you appear to be approaching very rapidly, from a very close proximity.

The hi-vis vest isn't helping you to be seen, it is helping your peace of mind, which is a bad thing. Don your safety gear and relax. Wrong. Don your safety gear and work twice as hard to avoid incidents.

No - I can't agree - there's no perfect solution except not riding and then one's arteries clog up so that don't work either! And a hi-vis vest will help me to be seen, certainly more so than black blending in with the countryside.

The research seems to say otherwise Jim2 - but I guess we could argue forever - here's a nice report on the psychology of sight with some good ideas for one to learn.

There's a whole bunch of factors as you allude to, sorry but I'm going with those who have studied this stuff - rightly or wrongly. It won't stop me copping it but it will reduce the chances.

[James Deuce]

No - I can't agree - there's no perfect solution except not riding and then one's arteries clog up so that don't work either! And a hi-vis vest will help me to be seen, certainly more so than black blending in with the countryside.

The research seems to say otherwise Jim2 - but I guess we could argue forever - here's a nice report on the psychology of sight with some good ideas for one to learn.

There's a whole bunch of factors as you allude to, sorry but I'm going with those who have studied this stuff - rightly or wrongly. It won't stop me copping it but it will reduce the chances.

Who pays for the research? Universities are funded by corporations, not governments.

If 3M commissions a study saying hi-vis vests make you more visible it is in their interest, isn't it? ALWAYS ask or find who funded the study and THEN make a decision on the validity of the research. There is no longer any such thing as independent research. I've been a research bitch and all published modern research is based on a pre-determined result. Ask, ask, ask. Question, question, question.

You have to take full responsibility for yourself and you need to participate in active safety 100% of the time, not passive, "look at me I have a vest on" safety.

You may think it makes you more visible. It doesn't. Someone will still claim not to see you, and usually they will be sitting at 90 degrees to the traffic flow you are travelling in. The "average" driver poses a "significant" risk to motorcyclists ( and this is from a Monash University study in Victoria, and those people HATE motorcycles) spends 1/10th of second checking in each direction before exiting a side road. Most of the decision making process is made on instinct NOT cognitive decisions.

Your hi-vis vest is not a force field.

[doc]

Yep the site and I quote says ".....So wise up and gear up. That way, you can ride to the max now ................'. So it's official the Police support the site!!

No they support speeding to the MAX bigger bonuses

[doc]

It never ceases to amaze me how many drivers in our fair city fail to see police cars (with lights blaring) coming up behind them, or coming into an intersection they are blindly travelling through.

If cops can't be seen in a car lit up like a christmas tree, what difference would a hi-vis vest make for a bike?

Sort of like Playsation mentality you have to bring out new things all the time because everything gets boring if its the same

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Your hi-vis vest is not a force field.

Awwwe bugger i not buy one then

I know the hi vis vest is obstructed from view on a lot of bikes, ie from behind on my when I have my luggage on, my riding position blocks the side on view. My fairing and riding postion most likely blocks most of the front view. (I do know my last bike the fairing block just about all)

My riding gear has Hi vis strips the reflect well

[Busy]

I got given one (well two) of those vests and have been wearing one at night.
Did a little test the other night ...

You know those portable speed displays they have around the place, without the vest the bike doesn't seem to register on them, with the vest it only flashes "SLOW DOWN", maybe I was going to fast
I only did it a couple of times as the people started to look at me funny (and probably called the cops) so is only a very basic test. Might try it again once the weather clears.

hmm maybe flashing lights might work better ... stick on one my helmet ...

[dmouse]

if most cage users were not on the phone or texting or reading there paper while driving, or even loud music maybe they will have time to look for us, but most drivers go brain dead once they turn on the ignition they dont drive but just go on auto pilot. and i see push bikers more at threat than bikers as they creep through lights and junctions without a thought but i dont see them being made to wear flouro and they out number us !!!