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

**swbarnett** · 3rd June 2013, 20:21

Originally Posted by russd7

ya might as well be riding naked

Eureka! I think you've cracked it. This would almost certainly get noticed (until everybody did it of course).

Originally Posted by russd7

putting it simply the idiots need to look not glance

Indeed. But I don't see this ever happen on a population wide basis (drivers being human and all). The only real answer is to look out for yourself. I don't really care if anyone sees me as long as I've seen them.

**Tigadee** · 4th June 2013, 16:02

Is it legal to put one of those flashing/blinking lights on my motorcycle that cyclists use?

I don't care people look at me like I'm a dork, at least they look!

**Zookey** · 5th June 2013, 11:44

Originally Posted by Tigadee

Is it legal to put one of those flashing/blinking lights on my motorcycle that cyclists use?

I don't care people look at me like I'm a dork, at least they look!

You can buy a small amber revolving flasher from Transport supplies,but then perhaps 4 cycle flashers glued to the helmet could start a craze .Got an old helmet to trail them eh!

**Tigadee** · 5th June 2013, 14:13

I used one of those once, but got told off by the lady behind me because she thought I saw saying she was the wide load!

**Ocean1** · 5th June 2013, 20:12

Originally Posted by Zookey

You can buy a small amber revolving flasher from Transport supplies,but then perhaps 4 cycle flashers glued to the helmet could start a craze .Got an old helmet to trail them eh!

Actually, I think all of the rulz is about the vehicle. Not the rider.

You could get as shiny as your battery allowed...

**MIXONE** · 6th June 2013, 01:14

I was talking to a guy tonight who was wearing a dayglo yellow helmet and a vest with bright red led bulbs lit up on it (he could set them to flashing if he wanted).He said that not only has he not had a car pull out on him since getting the vest but an added advantage was the traffic gave him plenty of room while splitting.

**swbarnett** · 6th June 2013, 10:30

Originally Posted by MIXONE

I was talking to a guy tonight who was wearing a dayglo yellow helmet and a vest with bright red led bulbs lit up on it (he could set them to flashing if he wanted).He said that not only has he not had a car pull out on him since getting the vest but an added advantage was the traffic gave him plenty of room while splitting.

As long as he's the only one with this kind of setup it may well work. As soon as it becomes the norm drivers will start to ignore it just as they do standard hi-vis now.

It is also possible that the behaviour of the rider changes depending on what they wear.

I don't wear hi-vis, my bike and ALL my gear is black. I seldom get drivers pulling out on me. I can't remember the last one and I commute 60km each way Tuakau to the Auckland CBD.

**oneofsix** · 6th June 2013, 10:44

Originally Posted by swbarnett

As long as he's the only one with this kind of setup it may well work. As soon as it becomes the norm drivers will start to ignore it just as they do standard hi-vis now.

It is also possible that the behaviour of the rider changes depending on what they wear.

I don't wear hi-vis, my bike and ALL my gear is black. I seldom get drivers pulling out on me. I can't remember the last one and I commute 60km each way Tuakau to the Auckland CBD.

As long as he is easily confused with a

on a bike it will work.

**rastuscat** · 6th June 2013, 18:27

Originally Posted by swbarnett

It is also possible that the behaviour of the rider changes depending on what they wear..

Zackery.

The fact that he chose to wear it means that he has a safety mentality. That alone makes him safer.

You could also call it safety paranoia. Like thinking every driver is a homocidal maniac. I've been told THAT by so many bikers.

Reality is that almost every driver is capable of human error, like failing to see an oncoming bike, or misjudging the approach. Doesn't make them homocidal maniacs, just human.

Just my thoughts.

Donuts.

**Subike** · 6th June 2013, 18:37

Originally Posted by rastuscat

Zackery.

The fact that he chose to wear it means that he has a safety mentality. That alone makes him safer.

You could also call it safety paranoia. Like thinking every driver is a homocidal maniac. I've been told THAT by so many bikers.

Reality is that almost every driver is capable of human error, like failing to see an oncoming bike, or misjudging the approach. Doesn't make them homocidal maniacs, just human.

Just my thoughts.

Donuts.

Have to disagree with this, if you buy a car with all the safety features, does that make you a safer driver?
Adding lights bells whistles etc, and drive like a nutter, are you safer???
Donning a HI Viss vest is not going to make automatically you a safer ride no matter what frame of mind you have when you do it.
Only proper training and learning proper road craft skills will make you a safer rider....

**scumdog** · 6th June 2013, 18:52

Originally Posted by Subike

Have to disagree with this, if you buy a car with all the safety features, does that make you a safer driver?
...

Most don't really think about those items - except for the items that would protect them when they get crashed into by some other 'idiot driver.'

They never think their own poor driving might cause a crash....

**Coolz** · 6th June 2013, 19:47

Originally Posted by Subike

Have to disagree with this, if you buy a car with all the safety features, does that make you a safer driver?
Adding lights bells whistles etc, and drive like a nutter, are you safer???
Donning a HI Viss vest is not going to make automatically you a safer ride no matter what frame of mind you have when you do it.
Only proper training and learning proper road craft skills will make you a safer rider....

I agree that no piece of apparel will make you a safer rider but in some light conditions a hi=viz vest will definatley make you more visable.
There is a vest wearing gn rider I sometimes see on my morning comute and on dull overcast mornings he sticks out like dogs balls.

**swbarnett** · 6th June 2013, 22:26

Originally Posted by Coolz

There is a vest wearing gn rider I sometimes see on my morning comute and on dull overcast mornings he sticks out like dogs balls.

But at the same time those that don't look still won't see them.

**swbarnett** · 6th June 2013, 22:30

Originally Posted by swbarnett

...I don't wear hi-vis, my bike and ALL my gear is black. I seldom get drivers pulling out on me. I can't remember the last one and I commute 60km each way Tuakau to the Auckland CBD.

I remembered today the last time I had someone pull out on me. It was about two weeks ago and I was driving a CAR. All I could see of the driver was the back of their head. I could've been a huge red fire truck with all the lights you can think of, they still wouldn't have seen me.

**JamesTrick** · 12th June 2013, 11:37

I'm not sure if any of you have seen this article. It's about hi-viz and cyclists and the fact it only makes a slight difference. The expert talking agrees with swbarnett, in regards of people who don't see, won't look.
http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/high...expert-5461950

Sorry for bumping a (sort of) dead thread, I thought it was relevant

.