Hi-viz, does it make a difference in rider visibility?

**Erelyes** · 22nd February 2013, 19:02

A little thread necromancy....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/blog...lists-a-target

Raises a thought for consideration, viz. that fluro / hi-vis can actually mean drivers subconsciously steer towards you (as that's where their eyes are drawn)

**Subike** · 22nd February 2013, 19:29

It raises a very good point, as i here we are always talking about that . Look at where you want to go. Target fixation. Always there is a down side to and up side when it comes to most things in life.

**tri boy** · 22nd February 2013, 20:01

Hi Viz works.
But I would die gasping and screaming in a tangled mess of blood n steel, than be seen in a reject uniform from an 80's mardi gra. MHO

**phill-k** · 22nd February 2013, 20:06

Originally Posted by Matariki

I've noticed that there are mixed opinions out there on this matter. Personally I have Hi-Viz gear, and I am more likely to notice motorcyclists who are wearing it when I'm going around town in the car.
Apparently there was a test study done on the matter back in 2004, it states in its conculsion that "Drivers wearing reflective or fluorescent clothing had a 37% lower risk of crash related injury than those who were not wearing such materials." http://www.bmj.com/highwire/filestre..._article_pdf/0

Do you think Hi-Viz makes much of a difference in rider visibility?
How many of you guys here wear Hi-Viz?

I'm late in here but yes if you wear hi-vis you will notice others also looking like stupid fkn tossers believing the gayware will save their souls

**kevie** · 23rd February 2013, 05:36

One problem I see with putting every tom dick and harry into Hi-vis ....... is ..... years ago they had a couple signs up at roadworks ..... then people didn't see them .... so they went brighter signs ... people eventually didn't see them .. so they put out 300,000 cones .... and put the road workers into hi-vis ..... and look how many times you hear EMS and road workers hit by cars ..... The same with signage in general, used to have a smallish sign, people didn't see the warning ... so they got bigger ... then they went brighter .... then fleuro ..... people crash on corners and say "I didn't see the sign"
One comment I made to Land Transport was the high number of signs out there on the roads, I recon the only signs on the roadside should be relevant to the piece of road, there's so many signs tho people just dont read any of them ... including the ones warning of a road condition.

My argument in the submissions re the bikers in fluro was that if you put all these people in fluro too ... then in a short time people wont see fluros and again they will start getting run over ... and with so many in fluro the motorists wont see the roadside workers either.

I recon start teaching people from a young age to live responsibly ..... they have over the years taken away common sense and responsibility and replaced it all with silly PC rules and regulations and then used them as a excuse to impose ridiculous fines.

They were talking about fining that security company for the death (murder) of one of their guards .... sheesh if they are consistent they should charge the police every time an officer is harmed.

**nakedsv** · 23rd February 2013, 10:02

From what I've seen/heard half the time a crash is car vs car the cause is also " I didn't see the other car". I don't think vissibility is the problem so much as shit drivers that don't pay any attention. Will the next step be giant hi viz stripes over all the cars too?

**scumdog** · 23rd February 2013, 11:58

Originally Posted by Erelyes

A little thread necromancy....

http://www.stuff.co.nz/motoring/blog...lists-a-target

Raises a thought for consideration, viz. that fluro / hi-vis can actually mean drivers subconsciously steer towards you (as that's where their eyes are drawn)

So THAT'S why people in cars get hit by trains....

**FJRider** · 23rd February 2013, 13:01

Originally Posted by nakedsv

... Will the next step be giant hi viz stripes over all the cars too?

It wont stop trains hitting them though.

Any excuse is better than no excuse ... so ... "I'm sorry mate, I didn't see you" will continue to be used. And the expected response from TPTB will be (has been) to make everybody more visible.

And still people don't see you. Maybe the penalties for "driving without due care and attention" should be higher ... and added to such case charges ...

**Tagger** · 28th February 2013, 03:38

All i know is that when i am riding with my mates and one is wearing hiviz and one is not and shit goes down (heavy rain, fog,...) i can see my one friend a lot longer and a lot better then the other one. If this is the case for me, i figure it must hold some truth for cars as well ...

Target fixation is only a problem when you're already in an accident, if the car saw you comming from a mile away there is less chanse you will end up in a situation with target fixation in play.

But each to his own on this one, on a sunny day there may not be a point. For me, i have a hiviz rainsuit so when i take it out i'm usually in a situation where i think it makes sense.

**Tarded** · 29th April 2013, 20:56

I cant be arsed with all 11 pages but has anyone mentioned 'passive senses'? ie hearing and peripheral vision?

Peripheral vision being 'passive' in that something catches your eye rather than a conscious decision to actually look where the hell people are driving/riding. They may be too lazy/stupid/arrogant to care but if you are seen its a start.

Thats why I do and will always ride with loud pipes. Ive tried swapping pipes (stock and f'n loud ones I had ) on a bike I had and the difference with the swaps was night and day.

Same thing may well apply to hi vis although I dont ride with it at the mo.

Where does this 'black is the most visible' shit come from too??
Ever tried hiding in dayglo?
FFS.

**FJRider** · 29th April 2013, 21:08

Originally Posted by Tarded

Thats why I do and will always ride with loud pipes. Ive tried swapping pipes (stock and f'n loud ones I had ) on a bike I had and the difference with the swaps was night and day.

I'd have had better results from my lucky undies ... and they aren't as hard on MY ears .. (they are if I pull them off in the wrong direction though)

**GDOBSSOR** · 29th April 2013, 21:39

In my opinion, it probably doesn't make that much of a difference during the day, as you just blend in with all the other busy sights and sounds drivers subconsciously adapt to. If they don't notice a headlight pointing right at them, they won't notice hi-vis gear. On the other hand... at night, hi-vis gear could make a difference, as black gear is harder to spot. Meaning, if you have a dark-coloured bike/helmet, that makes you almost invisible except for this tiny circle of light that drivers get a sudden shock when it appears out of nowhere, and they think, "What the hell is that?" Wearing hi-vis gear in this instance does make you more likely to be seen imo, as does a brightly coloured bike, brightly coloured pack and helmet.

**BMWST?** · 29th April 2013, 22:33

Originally Posted by Matariki

Lol, yes I know what you mean. I agree, I don't think Hi-Viz makes too much of a difference on a fine, sunny day. But on a day with less than desirable weather (rainy or overcast) I've found from driving around town, I am more likely to notice the motorcyclists who are wearing Hi-Viz, same with driving around at dusk, dawn and at night.

the best clothing at night is reflective clothing,high visibility vests are no more conspicuous at night than any other colour

**BMWST?** · 29th April 2013, 22:39

Originally Posted by GDOBSSOR

In my opinion, it probably doesn't make that much of a difference during the day, as you just blend in with all the other busy sights and sounds drivers subconsciously adapt to. If they don't notice a headlight pointing right at them, they won't notice hi-vis gear. On the other hand... at night, hi-vis gear could make a difference, as black gear is harder to spot. Meaning, if you have a dark-coloured bike/helmet, that makes you almost invisible except for this tiny circle of light that drivers get a sudden shock when it appears out of nowhere, and they think, "What the hell is that?" Wearing hi-vis gear in this instance does make you more likely to be seen imo, as does a brightly coloured bike, brightly coloured pack and helmet.

and the same goes for you...at night there arent colours....its reflective stuff that works at night

**Blackbird** · 30th April 2013, 07:41

I don't know whether it works in all circumstances but it definitely works with a combination of factors. I was riding with another rider to an IAM run on Sunday. We were travelling north on the Auckland motorway, both with hi viz on naked bikes and my riding partner had a white helmet. When we dropped our speed to match a couple of 80 km/hr speed restrictions, vehicles following us were definitely reluctant to pass until they could edge up and have a look. Oh, apart from the twat in a sporty looking Audi that passed everything at about 140! Have also noticed a moment's hesitation by car drivers in other circumstances too and sometimes, that's all you need for awareness.