Moving flashing lights and reflective clothing

[Ming the Merciless]

The two things I see which are highly effective are quality, correctly positioned lights and highly reflective jackets/jerseys.

Highly effective at what?

 

[PaulSB]

Highly effective at what?

Camouflage. What do you think they might be highly effective at?? 🙄

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Camouflage. What do you think they might be highly effective at?? 🙄

You tell us, I am interested to know what they are effective at. For instance a study of high viz and cycling, showed you are more likely to be in a collision wearing hiviz.

 

[Drago]

Some methods make you more conspicuous for sure.

But as the DoT discovered wat back when collating casualty figures for roadnworkers, that conspicuity does not translate to an improved chance of not being augured.

A nice uppie downie motion of reflectives on the ankles, calves or buttocks is eye-catching indeed, but you're none the "safer" for it.

 

[Punkawallah]

‘Those who give up freedom for safety often find themselves with neither’.

 

[PaulSB]

You tell us, I am interested to know what they are effective at. For instance a study of high viz and cycling, showed you are more likely to be in a collision wearing hiviz.

OK. I'll begin with the caveats. Whenever I post on this site, or for that matter any chat forum, I'm expressing an opinion based on my direct, personal experience. I do not spend my life reading research studies, scientific papers etc. I have no evidence or reference to any study on hi viz, lights, bells, horns, whistles or whatever. I completely agree, having direct experience of being hit by a tractor driver in broad daylight, with @Drago that nothing can protect us from poor drivers, errors of judgement etc. OK?

I saw a woman walking her dogs recently. She was appropriately dressed. The dogs' leads and collars were highly reflective and told me immediately what I was seeing. Excellent.

So, in my opinion, based on real life observation, people wearing the reflective jackets/jerseys which "illuminate" when caught in light are the most visible clothing available. These immediately communicate to me this is a cyclist, runner, pedestrian. Likewise when I see quality, well mounted lights I get the same message. I've also observed riders wearing bright yellow or orange overshoes are very visible. I find it difficult to pick out multi-colour clothing - I've noticed riders in black are very difficult to spot. From all of this I conclude the following improve my visibility to others and use:

Strong, single colour jerseys/jackets
Yellow overshoes
High quality lights

I don't ride at night so don't need a reflective top.

Happy? You knew full well what I was talking about before even asking the question.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

So, in my opinion, based on real life observation, people wearing the reflective jackets/jerseys which "illuminate" when caught in light are the most visible clothing available. These immediately communicate to me this is a cyclist, runner, pedestrian. Likewise when I see quality, well mounted lights I get the same message. I've also observed riders wearing bright yellow or orange overshoes are very visible. I find it difficult to pick out multi-colour clothing. I've noticed riders in black are very difficult to spot. From all of this I conclude the following improve my visibility to others and use:

The elephant in the room is that you apparently cannot tell someone is a cyclist without these things. That at night, bike lights are not enough for you. That your observation skills are insufficient based on your direct experience.

 

[classic33]

The elephant in the room is that you apparently cannot tell someone is a cyclist without these things. That at night, bike lights are not enough for you. That your observation skills are insufficient based on your direct experience.

I believe he said, quite clearly, he doesn't ride at night.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I believe he said, quite clearly, he doesn't ride at night.

My response wasn’t about his riding at night but his observation of others doing so. Seems he struggles to recognise a cyclist is there unless the person cycling has both hiviz and lights. That is concerning.

 

[classic33]

My response wasn’t about his riding at night but observation of others doing so. Seems he struggles unless the person cycling has both hiviz and lights.

The piece I put in bold in your post, is quite clear in what it says "That at night, bike lights are not enough for you.", in reply to a post you quoted.
That can only be aimed at the person who's post you quoted, given your wording.

 

[PaulSB]

The elephant in the room is that you apparently cannot tell someone is a cyclist without these things. That at night, bike lights are not enough for you. That your observation skills are insufficient based on your direct experience.

I've met this before. You are attempting to make me appear to be a part of the problem. You know full well I was not saying I need these things to see a cyclist but that I was discussing what sends me the clearest message. I find that rather sad but know who it reflects on. I am not a part of the problem. As a cyclist I am very, very aware of other vulnerable road users. In my view these are pedestrians, runners, cyclists etc. I've described the type of materials which give me a clear and positive message about the potential "hazard."

I've also described the type of materials which make things difficult for me as a road user. This includes anyone dressed in black. As an aside I think riders who wear all black are idiots. Cyclists, pedestrians, runners wearing dark clothing, no lights, no reflectives, are a danger to themselves and other road users. Those who use very poor quality lights, old and dirty hi viz are conning themselves into thinking they are safe.

If you have a point to make you would help your argument if you didn't try to be "clever." Your intentions are really rather transparent.

 

[N0bodyOfTheGoat]

Wasn't there a theory going back 10+ years ago that you were far less likely to be hit by a vehicle while cycling if you didn't wear a helmet, had long hair suggesting you are a woman and had a convincing doll with you suggesting you were travelling with a baby?

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Wasn't there a theory going back 10+ years ago that you were far less likely to be hit by a vehicle while cycling if you didn't wear a helmet, had long hair suggesting you are a woman and had a convincing doll with you suggesting you were travelling with a baby?

Still true, been proven again since that drivers will take more care in these circumstances, leave wider gaps, pass more slowly, pay attention etc.

The other observation was that they tend not to do those things if you are dressed like a traffic cone.