unterhausen

I was on a rail trail and overtook a hunter (also on a bike) in my safety yellow jacket and white helmet. I am pretty sure from his reaction that he thought I was a cop. I never minded this misapprehension, nothing I can do about it anyway.

As far as hi vis not making people pass safer, there probably is the same paradoxical effect as looking competent seems to have, people are comfortable passing closer. That's why I try to ride in as incompetent manner as possible.

I was driving the other night, and I got a real jolt of adrenaline when I saw some white sneakers running across the road just in front of my car. As I was panic braking, I realized there were actually two jaywalkers, dressed all in dark colors. There are no lights there, so they were practically invisible except the sneakers -- even right in front of my car.

ItsJustMe

It really depends on the situation. If you're in an area where people pass close, they're going to pass close regardless of what you wear.

In my area, almost everyone gives me a TON of room, and the only time I get a close pass I'm pretty sure they just didn't see me. This happens very rarely. It happens never when I'm running all taillights (about 120 lumens worth across 3 lights) and a high-vis vest.

I also think that when I'm wearing a reflective vest, have lots of lights on and am wearing my new helmet, which says "POC" on the side and at a very quick glance looks like it might say "POLICE" - people think I might be a cycle cop and they back way the hell off.

Fynn

I guess it's already been said several times, but I will concur that this seems to be a stupid study as well as a stupid premise. I always wear as much high visibility clothing as possible, not because I think it will change the way a motorist passes me or treats me, but because it will make me more visible.

In order for the study to have merit, I believe it would have to study whether high visibility clothing is actually more visible or not. If they concluded that high vis yellow was no more visible than black, then I might change my thinking.

But they did not. I want to be visible not because someone will treat me different after they see me, but rather that maybe in a given instance they will see me because I am wearing a color that is more visible. On a bicycle around traffic, it is extremely important to be seen. That doesn't guarantee you anything, but it certainly improves your odds over someone who was never seen before it was too late.

etw

Oh great, now someone will get a huge grant to study whether yellow is more visible than black

mstraus

I don't think this study is suggesting its not worth while to wear hi-viz clothing, etc, as that may help a driver see you sooner (or at all). This study seems to be saying what you are wearing does not make drivers who presumably see you give you extra space when they pass you. Drivers who see you will give you the same space no matter what you are wearing, some will give you a wide birth but 1-2% will pass dangerously close - either because they don't realize that its is dangerous or they don't care. You can't do anything about this 1-2% of drivers with what you wear, these drivers need to change THEIR attitude and behavior.

I tend to agree with that, as the drivers who seem to pass me the most dangerously seem to be very aware of my presence and are annoyed I am on the road and pass aggressively.

This doesn't mean I will stop wearing any high vis or reflective material? No, as it still helps people to see me. I just hope this 1-2% that doesn't seem to care about my safety doesn't wind up hitting me one day.

spivonious

From a driver's perspective, I appreciate cyclists who wear hi-viz during the daytime, because I see them much sooner and am able to prepare for an overtake.

When riding, I find that drivers give me more space on average and are less likely to pull out in front of me or left hook me when I wear hi-viz. My only incidents with cars (two near-misses and one collision) were when my hi-viz wasn't visible due to me being in an aero position downhill and in heavy rain when not wearing hi-viz.

kimokimo

I'll still wear them for the style statment

megalowmatt

Maybe it's my imagination but it seems that when I started using a rear blinker during the a few years back drivers left a little more clearance than before.

erig007

If you want room make room

ItsJustMe

I think it's a bizarre premise to think that what you're wearing will change how drivers treat you anyway. Why would someone even think that? Do people really believe that would happen? We wear high viz stuff so the texting morons have a higher chance of noticing us, not so we get treated differently.

gregjones

Another study.......for the most part they only serve to start arguments on forums. Or to back up your opinion...."Well, this study proves blah blah."

Either side of whether helmets save lives, or whether caffeine contributes to hypertension can be supported with some results that support your favorite opinion.

megalowmatt

Caffeine contributes to hypertension? That's CRAP!

gregjones

I found that out after six months of doing without morning jumpstarts. No change in BP at all.

cogdriven 

As I said above, "I still get the cowboy ******** in the oversized pickups testing their spatial skills at my expense," but, yes, it does seem to help with the distracted drivers. That's the point. They are more likely to see you if you are there at the edge of the lane rather than just a foot to the right. If we all started riding like this tomorrow, some would still get hit, but I believe, based on my own observations, that the number would drop.

I haven't written any studies, but over ten years I have seen a distinct, significant difference between the amount of clearance I get from the average driver based on where I am on the road.

cogdriven 

Yes.

bbbean 

Interestingly, I live in an area where the average sized vehicle is a large truck, and can tell you that I am FAR more likely to be buzzed by someone in a small car than someone in a full sized truck or farm vehicle. Take it easy on the generalizations.

BB

megalowmatt

I've had a similar experience. Sometimes I feel like we're grasping at straws for health fixes. I'll continue to enjoy my coffee

unterhausen

this is not a bad idea. I have noticed that when I have a bike frame loaded on my rack that I get a lot of room from motorists.

As far as the blood pressure discussion goes, mine goes down a lot when I lose weight, need to lose 20 pounds right not to get everyone off my back. It's high normal.

gerv 

I've always wondered if this strategy works. Might give it a try.

However, I note that I've had exactly the same number of accidents wearing hi-viz as not.

When I first started wearing hi-viz, a car back out of the driveway into my path. I had to brake hard to avoid a collision. Guys says "Gee... I didn't see you. [pauses] But I should have with that jacket you are wearing."

jsdavis

If you have a rack you could try it on the cheap with a stick and some reflective material. Though my experience is that it probably won't help, and may upset people by making them think your bike is excessively wide. I have panniers that protrude 3-4 inch/7.5-10cm from the rack that's about 6 inch/15cm wide; about 12 inch/30cm across with both attached and I have had people tell me I shouldn't make my bike excessively wide by using those bags. What they don't realize is that my bars are 28 inch/70cm across which is significantly wider than my panniers.

erig007

It isn't excessively wide the space is part of the cyclist bubble, it is a security margin. Cyclists have the same right to use the road for what i know. If the car hit the flag it means that the car is too close as simple as that.

acidfast7

Actually, I find it quite humorous that in the UK people wear Hi-Vis clothing. No one on the continent does even in safety obsessed Germany.

The only was to reduce interaction between motorists and cyclists is to give dedicated infrastructure (a painted strip on the pavement does not count) and personally, I think everything else is a joke probably to the dismay of the flashing light/Hi-Vis industry.

mtbikerinpa

Agreed big time. I have a set of crazy animal ear hats that I use randomly and it seems they attract more looks than the blah knits. Also noticed wearing pink or red had more pleasant outcomes than hi-vis yellow. Not sure if there was an agressive perception of the gender bias or not, but when it came to looking more like spandexy roadie vs city girl the roadie lost ground big time. Efficiency wasn't worth the headache.

The police level strobe on the tail was a huge improvement as well. I also noted a difference with that by putting one of the 3 aimable LED bulbs on a 45 deg to the side so that they get it full force when almost on the overtake. Most of the time the overtakers are almost to the opposing shoulder now

gerv 

To me, hi-viz seems like a fashion statements that petered out a while back. I know 7-8 years ago I picked up a couple of hi-viz jackets (as did the rest of US cyclists). Of course, I'm still using them, but suffer much abuse from my cycling friends as they see the color as largely ineffective.

I'd be looking at some nice, natural blue Vaude jacket if I wasn't such a cheapskate.

jsdavis

Ok, now get motorists on the same page and we're good.