Is it worth buying Hi viz

[andrew-the-tortoise]

I always wear hi-viz, along with decent lights at night.

Still, have had a couple near misses at junctions & roundabouts - but I feel this could be worse if I were to ditch the hi-viz.

If a nasty incident did occur, then the drivers 'SMIDSY' excuse would sound foolish if I stood out like a Christmas tree.

 

[marinyork]

Well let's not hope for serious incidents, there have been enough of them on this forum this year. Hypothetically speaking if a serious incident did occur and a cyclist were knocked unconscious with how people drive off I don't think it's too far in the mindset of some to remove and hide a high viz bib and a set of lights in their car and then say sorry guv I didn't see the ninja. Doubt it'd make any difference to the police.

 

[John the Monkey]

Both my offs this year happened because of the impatience and stupidity of drivers - not what I was wearing. In the case of the broad daylight off, I was sporting a rucksack with a "hump" hi-viz cover and a "Lion of Flanders" jersey (mostly yellow) - it doesn't matter if the bus driver is too impatient to wait until it's safe to overtake).

When I was hit in the dark, I had reflectives on my arms, hi-viz gilet with reflectives, 3 front lights (one of which spills light to the sides) and two back lights (both of which spill light to the sides). None of it helps if the driver doesn't wait for you to pass them before pulling out.

I still wear hi-viz, whether you do is up to you, but bear in mind that you're hugely dependent on the road users around you not being complete f*cking idiots - within reason, NEVER assume they will do something sensible, if they've even bothered to acknowledge your presence.

in his opinion cyclists are fair game if they have no hi viz.

Had the same line of twattery from the bus driver who hit me, fair game because I wasn't on the the cyclepath through Whitworth park (I'm assuming this made it okay to tailgate me and then try to beat me around a parked van). In my opinion, there's always some excuse for these impatient cretins. Hi-viz is just one out of the grab bag, as blaming someone else is far easier than actually reading the road, taking pride in being a *good* driver and acting like you're in charge of something that is inherently dangerous to other people, instead of as though you're in some kind of mobile version of your living room.

 

[simoncc]

Hi viz and a helmet are essential now. If you get knocked off then the first thing the insurers ask is what you were wearing. No hi viz and/or helmet and your payout will be reduced even if you were cycling on a beautiful sunny day and didn't hit your head in the spill.

It's all about ticking boxes like everything else these days.

 

[BentMikey]

Hi viz and a helmet are essential now. If you get knocked off then the first thing the insurers ask is what you were wearing. No hi viz and/or helmet and your payout will be reduced even if you were cycling on a beautiful sunny day and didn't hit your head in the spill.

It's all about ticking boxes like everything else these days.

This is bollocks (tm), at least on the helemunt issue. Insurance companies have been taught by the CTC not to try that any more.

 

[BentMikey]

No, I'd go for the all black stealth/ninja look and then ride in the middle of the road.
Drivers will see you more when they are about to hit you.

Funnily enough you're many times more likely to be seen due to good road positioning than due to wearing hiviz, all else being the same. I'm of course assuming a road-legal bike.

 

[Blue]

I suspect Blue's drop in incidents was coupled to his/her riding in primary, and not to the hiviz.

I have no doubt that position is the most effective safety factor. However, I believe that safety is increased further when coupled with hi-viz. At this time of year I notice how difficult it is to distinguish oncoming cyclists when in blue/black/grey as compared to hi-viz tops - if I, who am clued in to cyclists, have trouble then so do car drivers.

However, a lot comes down to ones own position and level of attention when cycling. I have know of cyclists who were lit up like christmas trees and were still hit by cars.

 

[BentMikey]

If it's dark enough to make seeing cyclists difficult, then lights are in order. If it's not dark enough to need lights, then I've never had a problem seeing cyclists, and only a blind driver or one that doesn't look won't see a cyclist. Actually, that's not quite true, it's possible with a very low sun in direct line, but then neither lights nor hiviz will help in that situation.

 

[zacklaws]

Watched another cyclist a few nights ago dressed identical to myself in a very well illuminated area and was impressed at how far away I could see him with his yellow hi viz Mondane Featherlite top in the glow of the orange lights, about 400 yds away.

The following night whilst at work on patrol, driving along the same length of road, excellent conditions I nearly bowled over a jogger dressed in complete black from head to toe on my side of the road with two small reflective patches on his shoulder I presume which were useless, never saw him till I was on top of him. Read somewhere that black is better in orange street lights somewhere as you are sillouetted better than a Hi viz jacket will stand out but I now know otherwise

 

[BentMikey]

You mean hiviz, at night, like this?

 

[HLaB]

I've found another use for Hi viz, its an extra layer in these baltic conditions

 

[marinyork]

Watched another cyclist a few nights ago dressed identical to myself in a very well illuminated area and was impressed at how far away I could see him with his yellow hi viz Mondane Featherlite top in the glow of the orange lights, about 400 yds away.

The following night whilst at work on patrol, driving along the same length of road, excellent conditions I nearly bowled over a jogger dressed in complete black from head to toe on my side of the road with two small reflective patches on his shoulder I presume which were useless, never saw him till I was on top of him. Read somewhere that black is better in orange street lights somewhere as you are sillouetted better than a Hi viz jacket will stand out but I now know otherwise

No. It really is true. If the light is very unclean hi-viz is not that useful and ninjas become more, not less visible. It's not something someone made up, it really is true. The lighting conditions you were in were obviously fairly clean.

 

[alecstilleyedye]

good lights, reflectives (and reflectors) and proper positioning are far more effective imho. flashing lights are very good as an addition, as they are more salient and can catch the eye of the motorist more easily.

 

[country joe]

you can buy a high viz waistcoat at Poundstretchers cheap as chips.

 

[De Sisti]

Hi viz and a helmet are essential now. If you get knocked off then the first thing the insurers ask is what you were wearing. No hi viz and/or helmet and your payout will be reduced even if you were cycling on a beautiful sunny day and didn't hit your head in the spill.

It's all about ticking boxes like everything else these days.

Not ture. In two instances where I had to claim form a driver's insurance company, those questions weren't asked. The driver in the first instance wasn't looking in my direction, and in the other occasion, a car door was opened as I cycled past the vehicle. I think positioning, lighting, reflectives and confidence are very important for cyclists on the road. (I just don't understand some cyclists going out in the dark with just one light. Especially when it's batteries are on the wane).