An investigation of motorcycle rider use of and attitudes to high visibility gear

[Asher]

whats annoying tho is I had cheap leathers for many years and finally managed to get myself a nice set
My Dainese one piece is pretty bright, in tricolore italian colours. Its more than bright enough in my opinion, to wear any gay hi viz will wreck the awesomeness that I paid for!
I just won't do it, even if its law!
FTP!

I too just got a spidi 2 piece suit; orange, white and black with reflective labels, my black alpinestars jacket also has reflective labels on the arms, back and chest. How exactly are these less visible than a hi vis vest.

Perhaps if they were to come compulsory i will throw away all my leathers, boots and gloves since apparently all i need is my helmet and hi vis vest and i will be immune to crashing.

[GrayWolf]

It is a fact that riders believe X or they believe Y or they think Z. This is what the research project is about. Is that a difficult concept?

Hmmmm reading the survey and having completed it..it it a basic yes/no do you/dont you or quantitative survey.. it doesnt ask why, think or believe.. untill you get to the 'comment' box. So no I do not agree with the above statement....

[Fast Eddie]

I'v already done the survey multiple times saying its gay all round.

what a shite study, I do better shit with the rats at uni

[Usarka]

Everyone seems to be forgetting the part where a member representing (Ali-G stylez) said government client denied all knowledge of any association with the project.

You mean motonz are misleading us?

[rustic101]

Dear Diary,

Today was a little bit of a let down. I went along to the Otago School of Medicine to be interviewed by a group of 4th year medical students who were given a research task to complete as part of their academic study. Turns out their supervisor gave them a topic of ‘An investigation of motorcycle rider use of and attitudes to high visibility gear’ to research. Yes the survey wasn't the best but life's about learning.

They intentionally came to KB thinking this would be the collective font of knowledge and that they would receive a well balanced and mature response..... Boy did they get a great response. Everyone on KB decried and vilified them, how dare they try and get a head with their research study because they raised a topic of rider visibility. After all KB members said they were spies, they were working for the evil MOTO NZ, that Gareth Morgan and his cronies would be hiding under the tables, behind the curtains. Shit worse yet!!! The Govt would pass legislation forcing Harley Riders to wear fluro vests.

But dear diary when I turned up I was met by two professional students. They were well prepared; gosh they even listened to what I had to say around alternatives to Hi-Vis and rider conspicuity (reflexiveness) and that hi-vis was not a safety item to protect riders. They even took notes when I talked about things that were not related to hi-vis but about rider safety and when I talked about a collective approach from all road users towards education, safety and responsibility as well as topics like, looking but not seeing. They were even interested in learning more about motorcyclists (collectively i.e scooters) to support their research project so they could complete a phase of their study to become medical practitioners.

After I settled in I slipped off my tin foil hat. There was no conspiracy, no Dr Morgan jumping out with his abacas or manipulated stats, not even any evil MOTO or ACC Plonkers writing notes behind the curtain to hand to the nasty Govt. KB promise so much mystery around these hippies and wana b spies for the Govt but alas it was not to be.

My dear diary what I did find out was that one individual (no names) from MOTO NZ originally approached the research team at the commencement of the task. Shortly after the ruckas on here MOTO NZ quickly withdrew desperate to back out. The funny thing is that the research project never needed a ‘client’. Never the less it’s great to see MOTO NZ trying to highjack something other than our extra ACC levies. No doubt I bet they would have renamed this work, claimed they completed it, then manipulated the data to suit their cause.

On a positive note. This research project is reported as being one of the most commented on and completed surveys in the history of the Medical Schools existence, with over three hundred respondents to date. That’s not to mention the positive and negative comments on here all of which have provided a small snap shot of some rider’s thoughts and attitude towards hi-vis. More importantly believe it or not these are 'just a group of students' who were given a task to complete their study. In my opinion they have done well and full credit to them to date for taking it on. What a learning experience.

O well dear diary I need to go and have a mug of concrete to harden me up for the pounding I'm about to receive from all the KB disbelievers.

Thank you for listening.

[Bald Eagle]

You lost me at "two professional students." why don't they get real jobs instead of working on degrees which will make them overqualified for slinging burgers at Maccas or hopping on the next plane to Oz. Good for a laugh though.

[Madness]

I believe (can't reveal my source here I'm sorry) that some of the students are smokin' hot. Any pics?

[bogan]

I believe (can't reveal my source here I'm sorry) that some of the students are smokin' hot. Any pics?

Here's one!

[rustic101]

You lost me at "two professional students." why don't they get real jobs instead of working on degrees which will make them overqualified for slinging burgers at Maccas or hopping on the next plane to Oz. Good for a laugh though.

God forbid you get sick or have a crash

[MrKiwi]

Dear Diary,

Today was a little bit of a let down. I went along to the Otago School of Medicine to be interviewed by a group of 4th year medical students who were given a research task to complete as part of their academic study. Turns out their supervisor gave them a topic of ‘An investigation of motorcycle rider use of and attitudes to high visibility gear’ to research. Yes the survey wasn't the best but life's about learning.

They intentionally came to KB thinking this would be the collective font of knowledge and that they would receive a well balanced and mature response..... Boy did they get a great response. Everyone on KB decried and vilified them, how dare they try and get a head with their research study because they raised a topic of rider visibility. After all KB members said they were spies, they were working for the evil MOTO NZ, that Gareth Morgan and his cronies would be hiding under the tables, behind the curtains. Shit worse yet!!! The Govt would pass legislation forcing Harley Riders to wear fluro vests.

But dear diary when I turned up I was met by two professional students. They were well prepared; gosh they even listened to what I had to say around alternatives to Hi-Vis and rider conspicuity (reflexiveness) and that hi-vis was not a safety item to protect riders. They even took notes when I talked about things that were not related to hi-vis but about rider safety and when I talked about a collective approach from all road users towards education, safety and responsibility as well as topics like, looking but not seeing. They were even interested in learning more about motorcyclists (collectively i.e scooters) to support their research project so they could complete a phase of their study to become medical practitioners.

After I settled in I slipped off my tin foil hat. There was no conspiracy, no Dr Morgan jumping out with his abacas or manipulated stats, not even any evil MOTO or ACC Plonkers writing notes behind the curtain to hand to the nasty Govt. KB promise so much mystery around these hippies and wana b spies for the Govt but alas it was not to be.

My dear diary what I did find out was that one individual (no names) from MOTO NZ originally approached the research team at the commencement of the task. Shortly after the ruckas on here MOTO NZ quickly withdrew desperate to back out. The funny thing is that the research project never needed a ‘client’. Never the less it’s great to see MOTO NZ trying to highjack something other than our extra ACC levies. No doubt I bet they would have renamed this work, claimed they completed it, then manipulated the data to suit their cause.

On a positive note. This research project is reported as being one of the most commented on and completed surveys in the history of the Medical Schools existence, with over three hundred respondents to date. That’s not to mention the positive and negative comments on here all of which have provided a small snap shot of some rider’s thoughts and attitude towards hi-vis. More importantly believe it or not these are 'just a group of students' who were given a task to complete their study. In my opinion they have done well and full credit to them to date for taking it on. What a learning experience.

O well dear diary I need to go and have a mug of concrete to harden me up for the pounding I'm about to receive from all the KB disbelievers.

Thank you for listening.

Dear Diary
Thank you for you lucid expose.

On the subject of that horrid evil organisation called MotoNZ I subsequently discovered yesterday afternoon that someone at ACC thought MotoNZ would be happy to be the client for this work. Tis a shame that the views of the proposal subcommittee of MotoNZ were not sought, let alone informed of this. Nevertheless, and as indicated earlier, we remain interested in the views and research of others and have noted the varied and passionate views expressed in this forum.

Your discussion of alternatives is well judged.

[Old Steve]

I'd wear fluoro Barbi pink from head to toe if I thought it'd give me an increase of 0.1% in my survival chances.

Maybe cagers don't look or see us, but I take every chance to increase my visibility - bright orange bike (thank you Suzuki!), fluoro yellow hi-viz vest, white helmet, headlights on high beam during the day. And to those who say high beam annoys other motorists, to be annoyed they have to have seen it.

I'm wondering if something like a lime green fur mohawk across the top of my helmet would help, or is that just my old punk leanings coming out again?

[Madness]

headlights on high beam during the day. And to those who say high beam annoys other motorists, to be annoyed they have to have seen it.

That's not very clever.

[Old Steve]

That's not very clever.

Why isn't it? If it makes me even slightly more visible then I'm ahead in the survival stakes, along with my cautious vigilance of other road users and the conditions.

And if you're thinking some other motorist is going to be so incensed that I've got my headlight on high that they're going to deliberately ram me - then why hasn't that ever happened to someone who's forgotten that their headlights were on high beam, they usually only get a flick of high beam back at them (and I've only had one car flick their high beam at me in two years of riding with my lights on high beam).

[Madness]

Why isn't it?

Beacuse it's a distraction to other road users. From the description of your bike and riding gear I'd hazard to guess you're perfectly visible already, possibly even to a blind person. High beams distract drivers and distracted drivers cause accidents, end of story.

So long as you're alright though, eh?

[Jantar]

Why isn't it? If it makes me even slightly more visible then I'm ahead in the survival stakes, along with my cautious vigilance of other road users and the conditions.....

I wonder if you're the rider I almost had a head-on with because I couldn't see your indicator flashing. If so, I was blinded by your headlight on High beam.