Hi Visibility clothing

I don't wear it because I don't like the look of it and I don't believe it helps.

I think a brightly coloured (preferably white) helmet and headlights on (use main beam in bright conditions - if they get upset then at least they're aware of you) are far more useful than high-vis clothing.

Assuming anyone sees you is a potentially fatal mistake and as hard as you try, wearing high vis stuff you'll get sucked into thinking "he must be able to see me" instead of "has he seen me?". It's an automatic mental response when you consider that you've already made yourself highly visible; you expect to be seen.

An advanced riding/observation course/system is useful. I spent a year with the IAM and haven't had anyone do anything unexpected in the last year - if you plan for it then you shouldn't need to rely on others seeing you for your safety.

Only sometimes....

High vis vest to work but only so I can tuck my works security pass down between the vest and my jacket.

No one can see the vest anyway on a faired bike - not even from the rear cos I have a ruck sack.

I stopped wearing it on leisure rides because I found I had loads of cars overtaking even when I was on the speed limit down country lanes and it got quite dangerous at times.

I assumed it was because they thought I was a learner. I stop wearing it and the overtaking stopped.

Mrs Mogs is a tiny bit less worried if I wear the Sam Browne, so I do.

Originally Posted by Mogs

Mrs Mogs is a tiny bit less worried if I wear the Sam Browne, so I do.

& the hi-viz braces?

[Stu]

I have worn my Hi Vis coat commuting through the winter and now I find it very difficult to give up now that it's summer for 2 reasons.
When i come up behind cars they pull over to let me past, this is not me assuming they have seen me, but them acting because they have seen me.
When I got stopped by the Police he seemed to appreciate the fact I had Hi Vis on so was perhaps more lenient.
I don't know what I'll do when it gets too hot though because I believe the hi vis sleeves are what's important (faired bike & rucksack) so don't thing a vest is any good - any suggestions?

a random link to the british mediacal journal would help to back how effective hi vis stuff can be to help us bikers be seen....

http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/328/7444/0-b

Originally Posted by linky above

They found that with reflective or fluorescent clothing the risk of a crash injury was reduced by 37%, with a white helmet by 24%, and with headlights by 27%.

So if I have my lights on, wearing high vis, with a white lid, I'm 78% more likely to not have an accident.

Neat.

[STRAMASHER]

NEVER EVER







(but i used to say that about Harleys)

[Stu]

Originally Posted by Baph

So if I have my lights on, wearing high vis, with a white lid, I'm 78% more likely to not have an accident.

Neat.

So that's why you didn't get roundthat corner - no white helmet. So much for your over analysing

[northwind]

Originally Posted by wyntrblue

a random link to the british mediacal journal would help to back how effective hi vis stuff can be to help us bikers be seen....

Self selection... Riders who wear hi-viz are likely to be more safety conscious in the first place. It's not really possible to get useful information from crash statistics unfortunately, too many hygiene factors.