How high-visibility took over Britain
..the ubiquity of high-visibility clothing means that it surely symbolises the Britain of 2010s in the same way that miniskirts summed up the 1960s.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
How high-visibility took over Britain
(4 posts)-
Posted 12 years ago #
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imho hi viz only makes you more conspicuous in good conditions if other road users momentarily mistake you for an emergncy service rider. Any bright or unusual clothing will be just as effective IF the other party is taking a proper look.
If (as is so often the case) the driver/rider/ped is either not looking at all, just looking for cars, or half asleep it will do you no good at all.
(I say this with confidence having had to emergency stop a bright pink LWB diesel Landrover(don't ask!) in broad daylight on Morningside Road because a pedestrian "didn't see" me coming and stepped out in front of me!)
Retro-reflective items however, though pointless in the daytime, are amazingly effective at night.:)But nothing beats treating all other road users as homicidal maniacs who are just waiting for the opportunity to "accidentally" kill you. It's better than any other safety aid available ;-)
Posted 12 years ago # -
Battengerg markings have some science behind their application apparently.
There's a defined system of colours depending on what the vehicle is being used for.
If they are effective, perhaps all cars should be compelled to have them?
Posted 12 years ago # -
I certainly have retro-reflective chevrons on the back of my panniers on the motorbike, (after once finding myself at the side of a motorway in the dark on a dark coloured bike with complete electrical failure...shudder). It's technically illegal under the lighting regs but it seems most Police either don't know or don't care and are quite happy that people ar making themselves more conspicuous.
I have been known to ride wearing a First Aid hi-viz waistcoat in the standard pattern and at night when in company with a friend in a similar pattern waistcoat it's astonishing how many car drivers spot you immediately when otherwise they would find me invisible. I'm convinced it's nothing to do with my conspicuity and everything to do with their brain saying "that looks like it might be Police, better wake up and pay attention".
I should point out that I do not and am not impersonating a Policeman and there are many and significant differences in the kit type and colours, it's just a happy coincidence that a lazy quick glance might cause one to look again to be sure....
Certainly I can see no reason for cars not to have retro-reflective panels, anyone who's come up behind trucks with the red trailer outline on a manky night on the motorway will need no convincing as to their effectiveness :)
Posted 12 years ago #
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