BbqRider
Wannabie Member
I think your headlights make much more of a difference than a high-vis vest. HID's are especially visible to me personally. I'll see a bike from it's headlight long before the rider is close enough to see if he's wearing high-vis or not. That being said, I would probably still wear one if I was commuting through heavy traffic. Every little bit helps
SighBored
@thesighbored
HID, if not OEM fitted for bike, will generally blind oncoming traffic, and same reason you'll notice them in your mirrors when they approach from the rear, HID doesn't get you more noticed if a vehicle is coming up to you from behind.
Some will argue that they'd rather blind other road users for the sake of being seen/noticed, but people get irritated with your blinding light and might sometimes do something dangerous like brake-check you or purposely squeeze you in.
Wearing a high vis jacket with reflectors doesn't blind people, and definitely is a plus especially at night.
Take care.
Some will argue that they'd rather blind other road users for the sake of being seen/noticed, but people get irritated with your blinding light and might sometimes do something dangerous like brake-check you or purposely squeeze you in.
Wearing a high vis jacket with reflectors doesn't blind people, and definitely is a plus especially at night.
Take care.
Shifty
Motovlogger
A major risk factor has nothing to do with visibility, its the ability for humans to judge the distance and speed of small objects. The brain can infer that a small object (in relation to a car) is much further away. The brain can uses the relative size change of an object as an indicator of speed. That is why even if you dress as a neon clown, if you don't slow down at junctions you may come acropper - Sorry mate I didn't see you, you were travelling so fast !
BbqRider
Wannabie Member
You're right. I don't condone blinding road users or riding with your high-beams on. HID's are tricky but can be done properly. Just go to a reputable person. If you're riding at night, a high-vis vest is a definite must
RoadSprock
Original Vlogs
To be fair, I don't wear one in the daytime as I've got daylight running lights.. but mine only comes out on long journeys - I use a harness rather than the full vest. There's a video on YouTube that shows the differences in daylight/night, no power to link mind but won't be hard to find.
RoadSprock
Original Vlogs
Shifty
Motovlogger
I repeat, Hi_VIZ may give you a feeling of safety that may put you at more risk, in many cases its less safe than black wear. TFL research has proved that HI-VIZ is not the answer!!! Just because its 'intuitive' to you that HI VIZ must make you more visible, it doesn't make it so.... look past your own pre-conceptions and look at the evidence. Thats why it is not mandatory to wear.
Ride like your vulnerable...... and you will be safer. If you think that Hi-VIZ is helping you.... you may be at more risk of an accident.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22062342
The TRL's report says:
The results are interesting in that they show the previously held assertion that a bright reflective jacket will improve rider conspicuity may not always be true ...
[T]he message seems to be that the most conspicuous outfit will be dictated by the lighting conditions and local environment at the time, which may be extremely variable within the confines of even a fairly short ride.
In the conclusion they add:
Given that environments may differ over even fairly small changes in time or location, there is not likely to be a one-size-fits-all solution, meaning that motorcyclists need to be aware of the limitations of whichever interventions they use.
Ride like your vulnerable...... and you will be safer. If you think that Hi-VIZ is helping you.... you may be at more risk of an accident.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22062342
The TRL's report says:
The results are interesting in that they show the previously held assertion that a bright reflective jacket will improve rider conspicuity may not always be true ...
[T]he message seems to be that the most conspicuous outfit will be dictated by the lighting conditions and local environment at the time, which may be extremely variable within the confines of even a fairly short ride.
In the conclusion they add:
Given that environments may differ over even fairly small changes in time or location, there is not likely to be a one-size-fits-all solution, meaning that motorcyclists need to be aware of the limitations of whichever interventions they use.
SighBored
@thesighbored
I guess the hi-vis concept can be somewhat related to the "loud pipes saves lives" idea.. For both, having it doesn't mean it will save your life. You still need to have the same level of alertness and assume everyone is still out to kill you. Wearing a hi-vis jacket or having a loud exhaust doesn't make you safe, it just slightly increases the probability of other road users being somewhat aware of your presence.
Nothing is a guarantee, apart from death and taxes, that is.
Nothing is a guarantee, apart from death and taxes, that is.
Shifty
Motovlogger
I agree, I would wear hi-viz at night , I think that if you were Hi-Viz during the day "orange" might be better as its a high contrast and agrees with the science. Worth also having those extra lights too according to the science too. But the science also said that a percentage of drivers just don't look!
Reize
2 Wheeled Islander
I think there was a paper written once about how Hi-Viz has little to no impact on safety and accident figures during the day, in fact, it was a better idea to wear black or dark blue to contrast the day time.
Night time was where Hi-Viz was better, but it was still pretty marginal in the absence of a light source to reflect off.
HappyBiker
Wannabie Member
I used to wear a Hi Vis over jacket thingy. Got hit by a lady not checking her blind spot but luckily managed to keep the bike up and not falling. Long story short, her Mercedes had a long gash from the rear door up to where my handle bars hit her broken mirror (which my handle bars hit) as I open throttle to get away from her aggressive move into my lane.
She only noticed me when the handle bars hit the mirror. Keep in mind I'm always riding with my high beams turned on too.
After we stopped the first thing she said was " I did not see you." Fact is they don't friggen look. Hi Vis might help and can't hurt wearing it right? Just in this case she did not check or indicate before doing a Formula 1 over take move into my lane.
However, I do use a bright yellow rain suit when it's raining to be more visible (hopefully) to the cars behind me.
She only noticed me when the handle bars hit the mirror. Keep in mind I'm always riding with my high beams turned on too.
After we stopped the first thing she said was " I did not see you." Fact is they don't friggen look. Hi Vis might help and can't hurt wearing it right? Just in this case she did not check or indicate before doing a Formula 1 over take move into my lane.
However, I do use a bright yellow rain suit when it's raining to be more visible (hopefully) to the cars behind me.
SighBored
@thesighbored
For myself, I don't hope, assume, or rely on drivers to notice. What I do is - I assume nobody knows I'm there, so I'll be having the mindset to always be on the defensive. It doesn't matter from which direction, front, back, or sides, I just assume they don't know I'm there, and check it, anticipate them to do something stupid. Not just checking your six, but twelve, three, and nine, too.
I don't in any way guarantee that I won't ever get caught up in a bad situation but I feel being defensive gives you the best chance, if nothing else. Hi viz, loud pipes, HID, running lights, etc.. They are more of an add-on to being defensive, in my book.
I don't in any way guarantee that I won't ever get caught up in a bad situation but I feel being defensive gives you the best chance, if nothing else. Hi viz, loud pipes, HID, running lights, etc.. They are more of an add-on to being defensive, in my book.
Aleks
Wannabie Member
Thanks for the reply! I am on a slow bike, but when I filter I always put my main beams on.If you're not on a speedy bike and cars either stay with you and/or often overtake you, then yes, be as visible as you can be.
If the tables are turned and you're the one doing lots of overtaking then the only way to improve your visibility is to use high-beams
Aleks
Wannabie Member
Thanks for the reply! I am looking for the video now, and I might also invest in a harness as well.
Aleks
Wannabie Member
Thanks for the reply and take care too
Aleks
Wannabie Member
Thanks!
Aleks
Wannabie Member
I generally ride with my headlight on but my high beams off just in case I provoke anyone in front unintentionally, however when I am filtering the high beams do come on. Thanks for the reply!
Aleks
Wannabie Member
I always do my best to anticipate what people might do, but sometimes (to me) its not possible to anticipate some morons on the road because every now and then they will do something ridiculous. Also, my moped is a loud 2 stroke with the stock pipe so thankfully most people know I'm there. Thanks for the reply!
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