Everyone stares since I started wearing a dayglo vest

I recently bought a dayglo vest, similar to the type roadworkers wear
(for $9.95 from the local hardware store btw) which I wear over a bike
jacket when riding in the city. The idea is to make myself more obvious
in the hope of avoiding the SMIDSY (Sorry Mate I Didn't See You)
syndrome mentioned in a recent thread.

Since then, when commuting on the bike 1 or 2 days a week (driving the
other days :-( ) I have noticed that many car drivers and pedestrians
stare at me as a go past. I had actually expected car drivers to be more
agressive towards me than normal because I looked like a wimp with the
vest on, but this hasn't happened.

I am interested in anyone else's opinions on whether wearing a
high-visibility vest improves a rider's safety.

Sure I may look like a real wanker in my vest, but if it works, it has
to be better than waking-up to white uniforms and the smell of antiseptic.

David

 

I've been wondering whether to get something similar. If you're getting
people looking at you the vest is doing its job.

David

 

Every little bit helps, but don't assume it works all the time.

Even if you can see them looking at you, don't assume they have seen you.

Others here have first-hand tales of motorists who "didn't see" (among
other things) a tour bus and a fire truck with lights and sirens.

Moike

 

Sad but true. Still it doesn't hurt to tilt the roulette wheel of luck
when riding in your own favour, even if only by a fraction.

David

 

Maybe I should imitate a certain correspondent to this group and to
aus.cars by asking every poster if they have their high-visibility vest yet?

to Jeremy.

 

"If you've put yourself in a position where someone has to see you in
order for you to be safe -- to see you, and to give a **** -- you've
already blown it." - Neal Stephenson in "Zodiac"

;-)

In my opinion, it can't hurt, but don't rely on it...

Its probably about as effective as loud pipes - it may attract some
extra attention, but you really can only make yourself safe.

Wearing a dayglo vest and riding like a tool _will_ hurt eventually...

big

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 14 Feb 2005 10:22:57 +1100

If the job is "get people who aren't in a position to endanger you" then
yes it probably is.

But if the job you want it to do is "stop people from hitting you with
their cars" that's asking too much of a vest.

The most you can ask is "attract the attention of some people who might
be in a position to endanger you".

If the people who are moving towards you at a distance where they might
hit you if they do anyone of a number of things can't pick it from that
distance, then it's no good no matter how many folk at other distances
look at it.

If the people stationary at a distance where their doing anyone of a
number of thigs might be a problem can't pick it from that distance,
it's not helpful either.

If people see it but it doesn't trigger any kind of useful response in
them, then it's no good at all, no matter how many pedestrians look at
it.

The only really useful safety aid is your own brain, leading to you
positioning the bike so you are hard to hit, and so you have escape
routes, and you learning to see when they might be needed.

Any passive "safety aid" is giving you a false sense of security as far
as I am concerned, because it is allowing you to let yourself rely on
other people's ability to see, ability to recognise, and understanding
of what is the right thing to do.

I don't give a damn what drivers *say* about why they hit someone. It
isn't cos they didn't "see" them, it's cos they weren't paying attention
or (far too often) their convenience and desire to be right there was
more important than anyone else's life or limb.

So wearing something to make you more visible is hoping they'll wake up
and do the right thing, far better to ride so the dopey blind bastards
have as little chance as possible to hurt you.

Zebee

 

It's really weird... I've never seen a Copper knocked off his Beemer or
Honda by a blind SMIDSY.

It may happen occasionally, but I've never heard of it.

What is it that makes a white bike more visible than a Dayglo green or
orange one.?

Oh.... the word POLICE plastered all over it? Now I understand.....

Phil

'98 RT1100

 

But, after you've passed, they point at you and giggle.

 

X-No-archive: yes
david wrote :

~
If that's not enough you can get slip-on Dunlop Volleys in a pretty argyle
pattern from Kmart.

Clem

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 14 Feb 2005 12:44:14 +1100

A friend of mine was crippled for life when a car turned across his
cop bike and he tboned the car.

his lights and siren were on at the time, but the guy in the car claimed
that he didn't see the bike, or the lights, or hear the siren. On a
dead straight road in the middle of the day in the middle of suburbia.

it happens.

Zebee

 

Jeez...I'm sorry to hear that....

And totally gobsmacked.

Hopefully they locked the Twat up...

Phil

 

The people you're nervous about are people who don't look, full stop.

If you consider making yourself more conspicuous to have a safety
benefit, you're already giving the motorists around you credit for looking.

That is a mistake.

 

Somehow, I'm getting the impression the latter's a frequent state of
mind for you.

 

I purchased a high-vis long sleeve shirt to wear whilst riding in very hot
weather instead of a jacket. In my opinion it helps, and I don't give a shit
what I look like.

Boxer

 

Oh I'm so sorry, I was talking to Zeebee and Paulh.

Did I disturb you?

I don't recall being rude to you, but if I was then please accept my sincere
apologies.

 

But if the job you want it to do is "stop people from hitting you with

and turn your headlights off so your easier to see too. Right ZB

 

Pfft; some of them warning vests just go too far!!
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/bargearse/warning_.jpg

 

In aus.motorcycles on Mon, 14 Feb 2005 20:56:12 +1100

Turn them off in town in Australian levels of fine daylight so you don't
blind people with glare unnecessarily while giving yourself a totally
wrong idea that you are more visible at the distance you want them to
work at, yes.

But I do realise that understanding that requires a bit of thought and
an understanding of how the human eye works, and the design of
headlights, so I won't be surprised if it takes you a while.

If you are still having trouble, you can look at
http://www.zip.com.au/~zebee/lightson.html

Although I warn there are words with more than 2 syllables in there, so
take it slowly.

Zebee

 

Turn them off in town in Australian levels of fine daylight so you don't blind people with glare unnecessarily while giving yourself a totally

So if your blinding them with glare, how are you less visible? Surely
that is more visible?

Yes, everyone is an optometrist and understands completely how the
human eye works.

Couldnt be if you wrote it. There is more chance of bobby having
friends than that.