Cyclist as security blanket?

[Vigilies]

It was moderately foggy/misty on Tuesday evening, visibility varied between fifty and two hundred yards and I noticed a lot more close passes than the normal one or two. Do motorists need to cuddle up when the weather is "scary"? Has anyone else noticed this strange behaviour from our fellow road users?

 

[gaz]

What where you wearing and how bright where your lights?
In fog fluorescent clothing makes a huge difference to your visibility and very bright lights as help.

 

[Vigilies]

I wear a hi-viz (road construction standard) waistcoat. I have a rear light on my helmet. a 1/2 watt LED light (flashing) on the seatpost and a 1 watt "laser beam of death" light (flashing) on the rear rack plus one supplementary light on each pannier and as much reflective stuff as possible. I must admit I have had the odd complaint about the brightness.

 

[growingvegetables]

Fog seems to addle drivers' brains.

 

[Bicycle]

Fog and mist can make things 'close right up on you' when driving. Your usual 'landmarks' are no longer available, so all distances and your ability to perceive them become distorted.

Although a driver can see well enough to 'drive safely' in fog, he or she will often not know where a lot of the usual cues are: lamp posts, hedges, buildings etc.

This can combine to make distance and depth perception slightly wobbly.

I don't know how heavy this fog of yours was, but the idea that drivers will 'hug' anything that is visible seems entirely credible.

This may not be unsafe per se, but it is likely that it will feel so to the cyclist who is being passed.

 

[col]

Iv noticed most tend to get closer to the edge of the road, I guess to see better where the road is maybe?

 

[fossyant]

That's good lights Mr OP. So you aren't wrong.

My Magicshine 818's project a red beam of death in the fog though !

Most folk don't adapt to conditions outside the climate controlled car. End of !