Anyone who takes additional training is fine by me, thats not the point I was trying to make. Also the good IAM majority have probably not been noticed by me as they werent the dickhead ones. You tend to notice the numpties. Bit like this post really.
I wore hi viz a couple of times when I had my kids (teens) on the back. But ditched it as it makes no difference. It’s how you ride that matters. Even as an instructor both Rospa and CBT I never wear it. We have to mention it as an aid in CBT but there is no evidence it works, except in pink, I kid you not.
Have you read Kevin Williams' Science of Being Seen book about motorcycle conspicuity? It's more of a booklet than a book, but it's a valuable read with handy info. This book should be required reading for RoSPA trainees because SMIDSYs account for so many bike accidents, yet Motorcycle Roadcraft doesn't cover the issue adequately.
Ill buy it. It was talked about a lot on my bikesafe. Also the high viz thing. They said yellow is too prevalent and suggested orange or pink
I often see anti hi vis comments on forums, frequently the refer to studies that “prove” hi vis makes no difference. I can only go by my experience and that is I see bikers in hi vis much more easily than those wearing black, a light or brightly coloured helmet I would think is also a good idea, don’t get me wrong I don’t think that they create a car deflection force field, but to borrow Tesco’s tag line “every little helps!” IMO, here is a shot of my sartorial elegance this morning Hmm, my daughter got married yesterday, for some reason I can’t remove the wedding shot I accidentally added
Lol congrats to your daughter you must be very proud I have had a theory fro years about smidsy increases. 1) mandatory headlight: try standing at the side of the road and judging the speed of a vehicle when all you can see is a light. And you can’t make out a silhouette of a biker. 2) speed of approach compounds number 1
And I find the recent fashion of adding spot/fog lights makes it even more difficult to ascertain the vehicle speed, and I count myself as reasonably competent, for those less competent, older, declining vision etc it’s awfully confusing. I can see them saying yes I did see you but…..
Congratulations on your daughter's wedding! Hi-viz doesn’t equal high conspicuity because it’s contrast that makes us more visible. In a grey urban environment, a fluo yellow jacket should contrast brightly against the greyish background. But if you’re riding along rural roads in spring and summertime, yellow could be counterproductive – it contrasts poorly against emerald coloured foliage. Also, we see things by shape, not merely colour. If you break up your shape (e.g. the pattern on that AGV helmet), it will be less instantly recognisable. It’s how camouflage works If you read the Science of Being Seen book, it offers more valuable tactics (such as yellow lighting) than hi-viz. Does BikeSafe cover SMIDSY prevention, e.g. using lateral movement on the approach to junctions?
Does BikeSafe cover SMIDSY prevention, e.g. using lateral movement on the approach to junctions? My instructor told me to alter positioning when approaching junctions or even when following traffic, as its that slight movement that a drivers proriferal vision will hopefully notice if he's not looking properly
I rode with a bike cop a few years ago, and he commented on how I always avoid junctions with heavy move away, either to middle of the road or gutter depending on which side. In my mind it makes me far more visible, give me more visibility and allows me to make a quicker judgement. Someone taught me this years ago, was from some kind of rising system, and always stuck. And saved my bacon countless times.
