Commuting - Vest - visability footage

I've notice that some safety vests use Silver Hi-Gloss 3M stripes while others use a yellow 3M Stripe. Both are glass--bead. But which stripe reflects at a greater distance? What's the best color stripe for nighttime rain, fog, snow?

Here are the vests I"m considering...maybe your vest does a better job than these! These two vests use different striping. For nighttime riding, which vest is visible from a greater distance (during night time riding - not standing around).

http://www.tasco-safety.com/high_visibility_products/custom/class3changes.jpg
http://www.tasco-safety.com/high_visibility_products/3261l-sz-front.jpg

I'm not sure about those two vests but the one I have is like the bottom piece only its got L.E.D.'s and its about as bright as I have seen. I've had guys tell me they can literally see those lights flash a mile away.

I have a vest with LEDs. It looks similar to the third vest above. I've also had people comment on how visible it makes me. I do think I'm going to upgrade to the Nathan LED cyclist specific vest this year, if only for the longer tail design.

I use one of two LED lighted Japanese road worker vests that my Mother-in-Law sent. One is black mesh/big, wide silver (reflects white) reflective strips with flashing red LEDs. The other is yellow/yellow/red. The black/silver one matches my black (CF) and silver (natural aluminum) road bike, but I think that was just coincidence, since she's never seen that bike.

vrkelley,
Where are the sources for those you have pictured?

I have a couple of vests with the yellow tape. And the light belts I have also use the yellow tape. So do the lighted ankle straps like yours.

I just bought Bailey a vest with some silver 3M tape on it. I think most of my panniers, bags, shoes etc. have the silver 3M tape. It's better. Get the vest with the silver tape. The silver 3M looks brighter to me.
Unless the vests with the yellow say it actually has 3M tape on it, I would have to assume it does not. Otherwise it would be mentioned as selling point.

I can try some side by side comparison photos.

I see all forms of reflective material on my commutes. It's all better than nothing and none of it is as good as the weakest blinking light.

My observations are:
1). The silver reflective material like 3M is the brightest.
2). More is better.
3). Always attracts more attention combine with even the cheapest blinkies.

I have also put lots of reflective tape on my commuter bike on the frame, fenders etc. Reflective tape is relatively cheap and doesn't add time to the daily grind.

Those are TASCO vests
http://www.tasco-safety.com/construction-safety-vests.html


vrkelley,
Where are the sources for those you have pictured?

Have got a tiny, 1-led blinkie which I hang from the zipper on my top so that it flashes onto the refelctive strip. Highly effective for such a small light

From the day I made the helmet light videos. I think the white is the best, but not by a huge margin over the yellow. It seems to be a lot better from an angle. (less directional)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/1102/hpim7813eq5.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/7728/hpim7812lb2.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6406/hpim7810dq2.jpg
http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/9130/hpim7809fl6.jpg\

My touring bike with the lights off. The silver tape came on the panniers like that from the shop.

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8903/touringbikelightsoffkb2.jpg

The white looks brighter. I bought the white 3-M tape and will try to retro-fit the jacket esp. in the front. The backpack cover has a single band of YWY (2 yellow 1 white) across the pack cover and is VERY visible. Bailey sure knows how to start a trend....I copy everything he wears ;)



I just bought Bailey a vest with some silver 3M tape on it.... Get the vest with the silver tape. The silver 3M looks brighter to me.

Found the footage ratings. Here they are!
Car stopping Footage
Footage: Principles of Operation
A driver traveling at 45 mph needs at least 645 feet to detect and recognize a hazard and perform a successful evasive maneuver. High visibility personal protective apparel makes people more visible so that drivers have more time to respond.
MSA Safety (http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:GjBU5JVIZgMJ:www.hechinger.com/hardware/tools/10024-msa-safety-works-high-visibility-safety-vest-818040.html+safety+vest+feet&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=6&gl=us&client=firefox-a)


Visibility ratings on vests They list class 1 and 2's also

Class III – Class III garments offer the highest level of visibility and have sleeves that provide protection to the arms as well as the torso. These vests are intended for situations where the worker has a high task load and is exposed to high speeds and/or limited sight distances. A Class III safety vest provides visibility through the full range of body motions from a distance of at least 1280 feet. Emergency responders, road construction workers and survey crews are some of the individuals that require Class III safety clothing.

http://reviews.ebay.com/Safety-Vests-What-do-Classes-Mean_W0QQugidZ10000000002728209

Bailey sure knows how to start a trend....I copy everything he wears ;)


:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:


for you, from Bailey........

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8582/hpim8749gv2.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/262/hpim8748vs4.jpg

White will be brighter, but I would likely go with yellow. Still pretty bright and more ingrained as a caution color I believe.

White usually portrays things to use as a general guide (same direction lane separation, speed limits) yellow conveys something needing a bit more attention (specific warning signs, oncoming traffic lane separation, warning/caution lights).

I have both. My vest and pants have white reflective piping, My saddle bag has a strip of white and I have a yellow triangle on my camelbak. This is in addition to the bits of red reflective tape on the bike itself.

I have a feeling either will be within a couple percent effectiveness as the other though (however you measure that...). And both will be leaps and bounds over none at all.

By car, the thin white piping on the PI tights doesn't seem visible at distances over 40' maybe more ... so I added a vertical strip of Yellow 3-M band to the back of the tights (from the Calf to ankle). Several people have commented about good vis. Wish it could have been added to the side or front of the leg.


I see all forms of reflective material on my commutes. It's all better than nothing and none of it is as good as the weakest blinking light.

My observations are:
1). The silver reflective material like 3M is the brightest.
2). More is better.
3). Always attracts more attention combine with even the cheapest blinkies.

As far as vest color, go with the Hi-Vis (Yellow Green). This will give you maximum visability for low light conditions. The orange tends to look darker with low light. I have one of the vests from AlertShirt, and it is VERY bright and makes me stand out very clearly. Once it gets dark the wide bands of stripes accross the shoulders, and two around the mid section make you very visable. The tiny 1/4" beads that they tend to put on athletic clothing are almost useless. You need something wide to make you visable. I also added some 3M Solas tape to my rear fender (last 10 inches), around the front fork, and along lower rear horizontal frame member. I also added some tape to the back of my helmet as per my wife's suggestion. My wife was following me home one night from her Dad's house and was very pleased with how I lit up. I also have active lighting with a Plant Bike Super Flash and a cheapy 5 LED Pyramid unit at the rear, and a Trek 5 LED front light and B&M LED light powered by Shimano hub generator. Now I can see the road and I can be seen from quite a way off. I always wear bright yellow shirts and my wind breaker is also bright yellow, but as soon as the lighting condition get a bit low I put on my high-vis vest.

Happy riding,
André

One thing I've always thought was that us "non-car" vehicles should have a safety triangle on the back like the horses and buggys and other slower than the surrounding traffic vehicles ahve. After a search I found not a sigle safety vest with this pre-equipped. Well hmmm, why not DIY?

BEHOLD
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bicycle-Reflective-Safety-Triangle_W0QQitemZ280174233294QQihZ018QQcategoryZ7295QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Perfect for the DIYer in everyone. You don't even have to know how to sew, just a couple of safety pins would work. Where I live traffic isn't that heavy but horses are common so people are aware that this means slower vehicle ahead.

Just my .02

Back from traveling...will get going on this over the weekend. Thanks Bailey ;)

:roflmao::roflmao::roflmao:


for you, from Bailey........

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/8582/hpim8749gv2.jpg
http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/262/hpim8748vs4.jpg

I did business with 3M a ways back and they sent me samples of all their reflective materials in many colors. The bright silver (white) tape/sheeting has the highest reflective value over a tight viewing angle. As you are using the stuff on a curved surface viewing angle does not matter so much. Go with bright silver. They make a cloth tape that is easy to sew on. If you are worried about rain leaking through the needle holes test a tiny patch of the iron-on material first. I had some old performance tights with reflective beads fused to the surface. It washed off after several trips through the laundry.

White reflects more light back to it's source than any other color. The HiVis ANSI Lime vest with the white stripe is best. Also, it's the last color to fade to gray at low light. ANSI Orange and Yellow are very close. The worst colors to wear are black (obviously), gray, red, blue and conventional green hues. To humans, these all fade to gray first.

Back from traveling...will get going on this over the weekend. Thanks Bailey ;)

woof ! :)