High vis waistcoats

[ClichéGuevara]

Rightly or wrongly, I don't tend to wear high vis, preferring (non-team) shorts and tee-shirts, but today looked a bit gloomy so I put one on to be safe. Part of my route was slightly different to my normal one, but on the whole it was the usual short route I do just to spin my legs.

It felt like I got more close passes and less patience than I get when I'm more 'ingogneto'.

Is it my imagination, the perception of a different route is driver attitude different toward high-vis v non-high-vis?

 

[Angelfishsolo]

Rightly or wrongly, I don't tend to wear high vis, preferring (non-team) shorts and tee-shirts, but today looked a bit gloomy so I put one on to be safe. Part of my route was slightly different to my normal one, but on the whole it was the usual short route I do just to spin my legs.

It felt like I got more close passes and less patience than I get when I'm more 'ingogneto'.

Is it my imagination, the perception of a different route is driver attitude different toward high-vis v non-high-vis?

I only ever wore hi-viz when I was leading or tailing a group of clients and thus would ride in primary or a strong secondary. Passes seemed to be ok in most cases but that could well have been because of the group and not the high-viz. I do not wear then at all now as I feel I am pandering to the cycling is dangerous crowd, instead I choose good rear lights and reflectors.

 

[Moodyman]

I wear one during dark winter commutes for it's big reflective strips. I also wear one during foggy / gloomy days the rest of the year.

Don't notice the passes to be any closer though.

 

[John90]

I often wear a sleeveless high viz jacket at night, mainly in the winter, because for some reason (unplanned) most of my kit is black or dark at least.

Intuitively I assume it makes me, well, more highly visible but whether it does or not I can't say. The more I learn the less I know.

 

[Angelfishsolo]

The more I learn the less I know.

Ain't that the truth!

 

[Banjo]

I sometimes wear one at night for the reflective bits. During the day they are no more visible than a bright coloured shirt.

 

[Chris S]

I drove a car for nearly 30 years before I cycled on the road for any considerable amount of time and I know how difficult it is to spot cyclists.

Dark clothes tend to blend into the road, particularly when shadows, reflections and various forms of precipitation play their part.

High viz jackets make people a lot more noticeable a lot sooner so I always wear one.

However I think the OP is right whe he said that car drivers seem to come a lot closer to you - they probably think that people without high viz vests are less experienced cyclists and so need more consideration.

 

[endoman]

My showerproof / windproof is high vis, I do feel a little less vulnerable in gloomy weather when wearing it, and haven't noticed any close passes.

 

[byegad]

Rightly or wrongly, I don't tend to wear high vis, preferring (non-team) shorts and tee-shirts, but today looked a bit gloomy so I put one on to be safe. Part of my route was slightly different to my normal one, but on the whole it was the usual short route I do just to spin my legs.

It felt like I got more close passes and less patience than I get when I'm more 'ingogneto'.

Is it my imagination, the perception of a different route is driver attitude different toward high-vis v non-high-vis?

No it's not your imagination, there's a piece of research (Link appreciated if anyone still has it.) which confirms this. The more 'like a cyclist' you are dressed the closer the average passing distance. Best result for more room was a loose top and a long blond wig.
Alternatively get a recumbent trike and watch drivers cross to the far lane in order to pass. I'm a big lad and my width on the trikes is 2" wider than my width on a DF, yet I get way more room.

 

[Melonfish]

There's a reason i call my luminous windproof and my waterproof, cloaks of invisibility. when wearing them i suffer horrid close passes. otherwise with just my plain jerseys on i tend to get room

 

[HLaB]

Rightly or wrongly, I don't tend to wear high vis, preferring (non-team) shorts and tee-shirts, but today looked a bit gloomy so I put one on to be safe. Part of my route was slightly different to my normal one, but on the whole it was the usual short route I do just to spin my legs.

It felt like I got more close passes and less patience than I get when I'm more 'ingogneto'.

Is it my imagination, the perception of a different route is driver attitude different toward high-vis v non-high-vis?

Its your imagination, if you repeated the test tomorrow you'd get a different result and then a different result again the next and so on. Some clever person in a report could come up with explanation for each type of response from drivers but the truth is its completely random and varies from place to place, time of the day, congestion, season, weather, etc.

 

[ufkacbln]

I have a Hope Enduro Maxx on the front and two Dinottes on the back - if the driver can't see those then HiViz is not going to make any difference whatsoever!

 

[Red Light]

There has been some limited research on visibility - cyclists overestimate how visible it makes them and drivers underestimated. But there has been no research on the effectiveness i.e. do cyclists wearing hi-viz have fewer, the same or more accidents than non-wearing cyclists.

 

[captainhastings]

I guess by wearing one you can at least say you have done every thing possible too be seen. I had an artic pass me soo close this week on the dual carrage way. My bike threw the biggest wobble ever and it took every bit of effort too keep the front wheel straight. He either didn't see me or just didn't make any effort too move over even slightly. So a big yellow high vis would have at least covered the first option maybe

 

[Norm]

There are times when a "hi viz" might be less visible than alternative clothing. In bright-but-murky weather, solid black clothing may make you stand out better against the background, when out and about in May with the rape in full flower then solid red would be better.

IMO, avoid vertical stripes as, whatever colour they are, they blend into the noise of vertical lines in the urban or rural environment. Most tops in solid colours are better than most tops with vertical stripes, IMO.

I also think that flashing lights (night or day, other than bright sunshine) are generally better than coloured tops, as they represent movement which we are conditioned to register as a threat.