Does high viz make you safer?

[winjim]

Not really, and may even increase your chances of being involved in a crash, according to this guy's PhD thesis.

http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/12855/



(At the time of posting, I myself have only skim read the study, so personally can make no claims as to its validity)

 

[GrasB]

In my unscientific study of 1 person's riding -
Hi-viz + helmet = experience cyclist = someone can be passed more closely = more likely for a minor problem to escalate into a collision


Do enough to be clearly visible if being looked for e.g. two decent lights at night (incase one gives up) front & rear, large blocks of colour & no replica team kit. Ride on the road a decent distance out from the kerb.

 

[Drago]

What does it define as a 'conspicuity aid'? Have they been used appropriately in all the cases considered? What user data was sought from both groups? Interesting, but possibly incomplete.

 

[voyager]

Unfortunately NOTHING will protect you from the motorist that is texting or talking on his mobile phone ,

Winter months just increase the chances of becoming that idiots victim

Staying safe and using Cycle paths help where possible and twin lights front and rear give the illusion of a vehicle from a distance

regards emma

 

[Drago]

The father of a friend of mine was killed while cycling on a cycle path. Where the evidence that they're any safer per mile than a road?

 

[Origamist]

What does it define as a 'conspicuity aid'? Have they been used appropriately in all the cases considered? What user data was sought from both groups? Interesting, but possibly incomplete.

"....any item of fluorescent or reflective materials on their clothing or equipment (excluding bicycle mounted reflectors"

 

[Origamist]

V interesting - I'd recommend reading at least the abstract.

I'll tackle the 300 page thesis at the w/e.

 

[ufkacbln]

In my unscientific study of 1 person's riding -
Hi-viz + helmet = experience cyclist = someone can be passed more closely = more likely for a minor problem to escalate into a collision


Do enough to be clearly visible if being looked for e.g. two decent lights at night (incase one gives up), large blocks of colour & no replica team kit. Ride on the road a decent distance out from the kerb.

But backed up my the DfT who came to the same conclusion

 

[Drago]

That's not terribly clear though, is it? I've got 'fluorescent' T shirts that just happen to be the same shade and colour, but aren't intended as such aids. Would they be.considered?

And the other point. What if someone is wearing a florrie but shoves a rucksack over it. They're still wearing it but have effectively negated and usefulness from the rear view, yet there is no mention of how correctly or appropriately such aids were deployed in the cases considered for the research.

 

[voyager]

The father of a friend of mine was killed while cycling on a cycle path. Where the evidence that they're any safer per mile than a road?

where is the evidence they are not !111

Cyclists are vulnerable where ever they ride , and what ever they ride
.............................................

regards emma

 

[Drago]

You're the person urging us to use cycle paths as a safer alternative, so the moral duty is incumbent upon you to provide the evidence when queried, not me.

It's a tarmac equivalent of a pro helmet urging.

 

[Origamist]

That's not terribly clear though, is it? I've got 'fluorescent' T shirts that just happen to be the same shade and colour, but aren't intended as such aids. Would they be.considered?

And the other point. What if someone is wearing a florrie but shoves a rucksack over it. They're still wearing it but have effectively negated and usefulness from the rear view, yet there is no mention of how correctly or appropriately such aids were deployed in the cases considered for the research.

Yes. They are fluorescent T-shirts!

Also the thesis is clear that it does not rate the relative performance of conspicuity aids.

 

[gaz]

This one is a good read regarding reflective and hi-viz
Cyclist visibility at night : perceptions of visibility do not necessarily match reality

 

[winjim]

Unfortunately NOTHING will protect you from the motorist that is texting or talking on his mobile phone ,

Something might. That's why you need to do studies. Not all drivers are texting all the time you know.

Staying safe and using Cycle paths help where possible and twin lights front and rear give the illusion of a vehicle from a distance

My bike is a vehicle. I don't want to disguise it, I just want people to be aware of it. And I don't really agree about cycle paths, at least not the one next to the dual carriageway on which I commute.

 

[voyager]

Accidents Happen ,We KNOW the risks are greater at night in the winter , What ever you do helps , I am not saying just use cycle paths or stay off main roads

I personally ride where I find it safer , Studies don't stop accidents , I personally don't need to do any studies .
With over 50 years as a road user I know the risks .. Teaching awareness to road users helps

Common sense makes the difference and many cyclists and motorist lack it sometimes , i am a motorist and cyclist and all road users are sometimes guilty of doing silly things .

I ride a trike and I use 2 front and rear lights at the outside of the trike both at the front and rear it looks like a "solid " vehicle

Sadly Cyclists will always be vulnerable unless they ride on a magic carpet