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

[Berries]

During the day approaching riders wearing a high vis stand out over anything else .....

Why did they even need to bother with a survey?

[brp]

You must be a marketing consultants dream customer.

Nah just going on what my eyes see .....

Why did they even need to bother with a survey?

"Beats me" when its so self explanatory

[oneofsix]

Nah just going on what my eyes see .....

What you think your eyes are seeing. I used to do the same until I analysed what I was doing. Turned out I was seeing the bike, then noticing the hi-viz and then noting the hi-viz. The hi-viz wasn't actually helping my see the bike or notice the bike.

[brp]

All I know is when in area's like coastal hill riding and ya look over in the distance the hi vis stands out like dogs bollocks where if the rider was in black good chance they would just blend into the background.

Same on a straight road - its the Hi Vis I'm seeing first not the bike , bike just a skinny narrow dot coming towards me compared to the large surface area of the hi vis vest .....

[Bassmatt]

All I know is when in area's like coastal hill riding and ya look over in the distance the hi vis stands out like dogs bollocks where if the rider was in black good chance they would just blend into the background.

Same on a straight road - its the Hi Vis I'm seeing first not the bike , bike just a skinny narrow dot coming towards me compared to the large surface area of the hi vis vest .....

Of course thats where we are at most danger of being hit.....when we are off in the distance.

[brp]

More like warning that the hi visser will be coming your way at some point and the whole point ......

[Jantar]

More like warning that the hi visser will be coming your way at some point and the whole point ......

You may be right, but like most motorcyclists I would prefer to see changes that WILL make a difference to motorcycle safety. Hi Vis will not.

[SimJen]

You may be right, but like most motorcyclists I would prefer to see changes that WILL make a difference to motorcycle safety. Hi Vis will not.

exactly, like in the UK there is the whole "Look for bikes" campaign on tv and in magazines etc.
I'd prefer to watch ads on actual road safety than stupid "ghost chips" and pointless "mantrol" BS.

[brp]

You may be right, but like most motorcyclists I would prefer to see changes that WILL make a difference to motorcycle safety. Hi Vis will not.

If you can be seen more easily and put precious time between you and another motorist for reactions its got to be safer .... one of many examples is where ya have parked cars and someone is pulling out of a shopping complex and their view is obstructed, you are coming at an angle to them and cause their vision is obstructed the flicker of the day glow can be enough for them to see you instead of just blending into the environment.

"Ask farmers why they use bright orange dazzle on their flock"

[oneofsix]

"Ask farmers why they use bright orange dazzle on their flock"

I must have been in the city too long. Sheep didn't used to have headlights

[SimJen]

If you can be seen more easily and put precious time between you and another motorist for reactions its got to be safer .... one of many examples is where ya have parked cars and someone is pulling out of a shopping complex and their view is obstructed, you are coming at an angle to them and cause their vision is obstructed the flicker of the day glow can be enough for them to see you instead of just blending into the environment.

"Ask farmers why they use bright orange dazzle on their flock"

So if a driver can't see you from 2m away even with hi-viz and he fails to notice you with his window down and even a loud pipe on your bike, then hi-viz alone will cure this.....can't see it sorry. From my experience and many others it just won't do what its said to!
Its not the visual aspect! its the fact that many drivers approach intersections not wanting to stop or expecting a car or a bike etc NOT to be there!
Their lack of immediate co-ordination more times than not, see's them just go anyway!! We've all seen it, been hit by it, expect it!

[Jantar]

If you can be seen more easily and put precious time between you and another motorist for reactions its got to be safer .... one of many examples is where ya have parked cars and someone is pulling out of a shopping complex and their view is obstructed, you are coming at an angle to them and cause their vision is obstructed the flicker of the day glow can be enough for them to see you instead of just blending into the environment.

"Ask farmers why they use bright orange dazzle on their flock"

Its rather hard to look past a headlight and se Hi Vis. The only time I notice riders with Hi Vis is when I'm catching up to them, never from front on.

OK, I've asked myself why I use bright orange dazzle on my sheep? The answer is "I don't!"

Next question?

[Bassmatt]

More like warning that the hi visser will be coming your way at some point and the whole point ......

Yeah right. Many car drivers can't remember to use their indicators, stop at stop signs, stay on their side of the centre line while cornering, etc and you expect them to remember they saw a flash of high vis sometime previously

[brp]

I must have been in the city too long. Sheep didn't used to have headlights

They come close to it in the uk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZjTQjIxhuM


Are you going to be seen less by wearing a hi vis ?

[Jantar]

I believe the myth about Hi Vis and brightly coloured riding gear came about from a clause in a later summary of the 1981 Hurt report.

13. Conspicuity of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents, and accident involvement is significantly reduced by the use of motorcycle headlamps (on in daylight) and the wearing of high visibility yellow, orange or bright red jackets.

However a detailed read of the origional report shows that no such claim was made. What was shown is that the effect of colour could not be determined, and was expected to be insignificant. The same conclusion was reached for both motorcycle colour and rider's clothing. The greatest improvement in safety was to have the headlight on, but by doing so hid any effect of colour of either the motorcycle or riding gear. The actual report replaced the word "and" that I've highlighted with the word "or".