Has hi-vis had its day?

[psmiffy]

It is one thing I really liked when they tightened up The PTS (personal track safety) on Network Rail that because I was hard of hearing I failed the medical - no more Saturday and Sunday nights - something quite superior to be able to do my technical supervision from a nice warm bed and a loud telephone

 

[rustychisel]

*****

 

[Captain]

I don't think that Hi-vis is out (I like having my Orange jacket on) but I think I'll have to get hold of some reflective material aswell as that stuff is amazing, Reflective piping is brilliant.
Although it has been said before though, I think road positioning and signalling has a lot to do with being visible though. My tactic is just to pretend I'm a motorbike in heavy traffic - so taking up a lane rather than riding to the left, moving to the right and signalling when I don't want people to overtake, and keep doing the Lifesavers look I learnt on my CBT, and such.
I haven't actually had any traffic problems so far but it's early yet.

 

[BentMikey]

HiViz isn't just fluo clothing, it's the combination of fluo clothing with reflectives, with the fluo being there to enhance daylight, and the reflectives night time visibility. Both have limitations and don't always work.

 

[summerdays]

HiViz isn't just fluo clothing, it's the combination of fluo clothing with reflectives, with the fluo being there to enhance daylight, and the reflectives night time visibility. Both have limitations and don't always work.

Surely that's true of most things relating to keeping us safe ... lights, positioning etc - its an aid.

 

[BentMikey]

I'm having a hard time imagining decent lights not being visible in the way hiviz can so easily be missed.

 

[summerdays]

Cyclists have still not been seen by a motorist when they are lit up like the Blackpool illuminations - if they don't look, they won't see. Lights can be hidden by a car (more particularly large vehicle) in front, and the car coming the opposite way just sees a potential gap to turn into.

I'm not suggesting not using lights - just saying you can't rely on any of these measures keeping you safe - you have to keep your wits about you.

 

[BentMikey]

That's missing the point that hiviz can often be in plain sight and yet still be invisible, which is very rarely the case with active lighting.

 

[magnatom]

I'm having a hard time imagining decent lights not being visible in the way hiviz can so easily be missed.

At night, no question, lights are king. In twilight and full light, I don't think it is as clear cut. It will depend on lots of factors, traffic volume (the more traffic, the more likely that lights will blend in with the plethora of other lights), the angle of traffic approach to you, the prevailing background colours etc.

In general all visual aids help with visibility, and their effectiveness will vary from situation to situation.

I should add, though, in the summer I won't be using lights, and won't have traditional hi-viz on. I tend to go for contrasting colours, i.e. bright top, dark shorts etc. Solid colour is your biggest enemy IMO.

 

[Bman]

As I set out for my ride yesterday, I turned on my garmin, and waited for gps coverage.

I looked up in front and spotted my reflection in a neighbours window. I could see my lights but the thing that drew my attention to my reflection, was my hiviz.

 

[HJ]

Telling cyclist that they should wear HI Viz is blaming the victim, driver don't see cyclist because they don't look for them, not because of what they wear. It is a bit like telling young women that they should wear mini skirts because they encourage rape. Maybe all cyclist should be made to ride in Burqas! Stop blaming the victims and stop behaving like victims and you can stop being victims! The revolution will not be motorised!!

 

[magnatom]

Telling cyclist that they should wear HI Viz is blaming the victim, driver don't see cyclist because they don't look for them, not because of what they wear. It is a bit like telling young women that they should wear mini skirts because they encourage rape. Maybe all cyclist should be made to ride in Burqas! Stop blaming the victims and stop behaving like victims and you can stop being victims! The revolution will not be motorised!!

Then why do you keep your lights on in daylight? Surely your being a victim....

 

[shunter]

A lot of motorists say that they didn't see us because they would appear as complete imbeciles if they said ' well I did notice the cyclist but I thought I had given him enough space when I passed him' or '............ but I totally misjudged the cyclist's speed' or ' ............. but he should have been on the pavement' or ' .................... but I have more right to be on the road'.

On an aside - do you think it easier for a car driver to judge the oncoming speed of a cyclist if he is wearing more hi-vis clothing?

 

[psmiffy]

Telling cyclist that they should wear HI Viz is blaming the victim, driver don't see cyclist because they don't look for them, not because of what they wear. It is a bit like telling young women that they should wear mini skirts because they encourage rape. Maybe all cyclist should be made to ride in Burqas! Stop blaming the victims and stop behaving like victims and you can stop being victims! The revolution will not be motorised!!

It is nothing to do with being a victim - It is about not being a victim

 

[Rhythm Thief]

I should add, though, in the summer I won't be using lights, and won't have traditional hi-viz on. I tend to go for contrasting colours, i.e. bright top, dark shorts etc. Solid colour is your biggest enemy IMO.

As it happens, absolutely the opposite is true. As I said in an earlier post, the whole art of camouflage lies in breaking up shapes which are easily recognisable to the eye. Large blocks of solid colour in recognisable shapes such as a T shirt or a pair of shorts help motorists to recognise what they see as a cyclist.