Do you wear hi-viz gear?

[Chippertheripper]

I can't find a reasonably priced vest from them that is in stock and doesn't say POLICE across the front and back.

a very quick google turned up a number of things, this being the first:
http://www.hivissupply.com/store/index.cfm

[oVTo]

All my gear has at least some retro-reflective material and I wear a white helmet on the street. The white helmet makes a big difference, it's associated with about a 25% reduced risk of crash according to a study done in the mid-90s. In the winter I wear my MSF Hi-Vis dork vest. Rush hour commuting on 93/495 in the mid-winter dark is scary even with lots of reflective gear.

I wouldn't be surprised to see some correlation between age and wearing Hi-Vis gear.

[Wislon]

I love the reaction of car drivers when I come up behind them wearing the Olympia Hi-Viz.
Double take, then out of my way! Or at least behave... like I was a cop.
The ones approaching from a side road fall into two categories, you know these types:
"I'll slow down a little, flick my eyes up the road, see no threat, then go if I can make it..."
or:
"OK, I stopped at the line, anything coming? No? OK, go!"
In each case, when they turn their head to look, they blink. They do not scan. Their eyes barely have time to focus up the road before it's time to blink again and turn back to their target — the bit of road 5 yards in front of them.
The Hi-Viz works a treat. I see those brakes coming on properly, sometimes after a false start, even. Feels great!
The comments when I'm off the bike, like,
"Sure hope it rains for you!"
"Won't have any trouble finding you in a snowdrift!"
Are kind of fun, too. Starts a conversation sometimes, which is OK with me.
Olympia Hi-Viz? Waterproof, windproof, vented, VISIBLE.
Great stuff
Wislon.

[Garandman]

Yeah, I'm not sure you'd find many willing to voluntarily admit to homicide. Intentional or not.

All of this is what it is. In the end each of us just has to decide what's important for us and why.

No speed hump here, but I'm kind of in the same boat.

Gman mentioned www.galls.com. I can't find a reasonably priced vest from them that is in stock and doesn't say POLICE across the front and back.

You can buy a mesh vest at HD for $10.

But galls.com or a local police supply store have ANSI vests.

[Rossco]

As mentioned before, I have a bright-green Fieldsheer vest.

I have had friends in Law Enforcement comment on it's build quality and sturdiness.

MC specific vests are designed to stay in place at high speeds, with high winds. I'm not saying that they do, but they are better built than others.

I can tell you from experience that most cheap-ass $5-$10 vests will either whip around on the highway, or may even break off altogether.

[nhbubba]

As mentioned before, I have a bright-green Fieldsheer vest.

Looked into it. They don't seem to make that vest anymore. Or at least I can't find it via any of the usual suspects. All I can find is the orange one. I would prefer the day-glow, bionic green.

You can buy a mesh vest at HD for $10.

Perfect. Thank you.

Never seen or heard of a local police supply store.

[Rusty the Scoob]

Make sure you get one that closes with a zipper rather that 2 or 3 little 1" square tabs of velcro, for obvious reasons. The motorcycle-specific ones really are better, but pricier.

[Cheese]

I think all these questions about target fixation and safe riding and this and that come from folks who have never worn hi-viz. I don't know anyone who has tried it and went back to dark-colored gear.

You are absolutely correct that I haven't worn Hi-Viz gear and that the target fixation comment was a stretch. I wear tightly fitted armored leather. To my knowledge there aren't a lot of tightly fitted armored leather Hi-Viz options. So, it's suggested that I switch to a textile jacket which doesn't have the abrasion resistance of leather, has less armor and fits lose enough that any armor may not stay in place during a crash. This change is recommended because visibility is more important than protection. The obvious difference being that Hi-Viz is supposed to avoid a certain type of crash where as leather and armor are supposed to protect against injury from another type of crash.

The quick answer is to wear Hi-Viz over leather but then I end up with too many layers on an already hot summer day. Especially if the leather gear is designed with vents which the Hi-Viz over wear covers. So I wonder if there are ways I can be more visible while still wearing protection.

What if HID headlights work better than Hi-Viz gear?

What if a modulated taillight works better than Hi-Viz gear?

[nhbubba]

Sounds like Cheese doesn't think hi-vis is worth the time and effort.

That's cool btw.

[Cheese]

Sounds like Cheese doesn't think hi-vis is worth the time and effort.

No, Cheese is not convinced that orange, yellow and green will hold up as well as leather, plastic and titanium while asphalt surfing.

The studies site that a white helmet is safer than a black helmet. Obviously these studies don't account for striking one's head on the pavement as color makes no difference in that scenario. So which is safer, wearing a white hat or a black helmet?

[butcher bergs]

I've come to the conclusion that one cannot make themselves visible to drivers who are distracted and/ or looking away.

I have proved this time and time again with high beams, upgraded headlights, helmet mohawks, brightly colored riding jackets and yet with all of those supposedly working to my advantage, I have not seen any improvement to the number of close calls.

You could be wearing a flashing neon sign that shoots sparks and fireworks whenever you ride but if a cager is looking down at their text mssg, painting fingernails, etc they aren't going to see a damned thing no matter how bright and flashy you are.

Best bet, IMO, is to wear the best gear and posess even better rider skills.

[Garandman]

LOL. From the Advrider forum, talking about a close call while commuting.

I couldn't have been more visible without being covered in burning road flares and flashing strobes when he started his "merge" and I couldn't have been more centered in his hood and field of vision at that point if we tried..."
ParrotheadJeff

[Rusty the Scoob]

You have to plan for what's most likely. On my urban commute, I'm not going to have a 100mph crash, I'm going to have a 30 mph crash. And it'll be because some a-hole doesn't see me. So I'll do what I can to make that a-hole see me. Anecdotally for me, it works and works well.


All the responses of "it doesn't matter if they're texting, fixing their hair, etc" are partly true, but the fact is that the vast majority of drivers are at least dimly aware of their surroundings, or we'd have pileups every single day at every single intersection.

[nhbubba]

I bought a cheapo velcro construction vest at my local home center the other day. Today was my first time trying it out in a commute. Sure enough, Rt 3 south was a disaster this morning; a dead crawl of self important, annoyed cagers right from the get-go.

As I was warned, the velcro vest fits like shit. It did the marylin monroe thing and blew up on me when underway. Maybe I'll get creative with a nylon belt or something. I'm sure it looks as geeky and dumb as I think it does. But for the price..

I swear it changed things. One guy started to invade my lane. As soon as he got one wheel into mine I made eye contact with him and he immediately snapped to and backed off. Had a makeup artist/phone addict behind me at one point. The hairs go up as soon as I see that crap as pileups on 3 are not uncommon. But today there were no issues.

Was it dumb luck? Was it the vest? Who the hell knows.

It adds yet another ~30 seconds to my suit up ritual. But I think I'll keep doing it for my commutes.

The next jacket might just be day-glo. Although I'm not prepared to replace my current one for a while yet.

You can buy a mesh vest at HD for $10.

So I just figured out that by "HD" you mean Home Depot. I thought you meant Harley Davidson, meaning at one of their dealers...

[Garandman]

'Tis the season, apparently. BTT.

[slammp]

I wear tightly fitted leather on an already hot summer day while still wearing protection.

Something you need to come clean with Rob?

[Stromper]

Painted back of hat day glow pink with reflective eyes

If I was buying a new textile it would be dayglow something

A little edge is still an edge, also I like to believe the LEOs are more sympathetic to safety looking then Power Rangers in general.

[RandyO]

I like to believe the LEOs are more sympathetic to safety looking then Power Rangers in general.

I had never thought of it in that light till you mentioned is, hi-vis hasn't kept me completely free from tickets, but I have only received verbal warnings on my most serious violations, (at least 4 warnings I can remember of speeds over a ton in 30mph-45mph zones)

I've been sold on hi-vis (day-glo, florescent, not just bright color) for years based on personal observation, it makes a BIG difference.

I've also noticed a difference in pulling in and out of my driveway with both cage and bike since I put my Motorcycles are Everywhere sign

[Stromper]

Randy that's because they thought you got away from Clarks Trading Post.

Similarly myReal Vanson Race Suit is black without puck mounts so It doesn't look like I am up
to something

[sdog30]

I have a new poll for you guys that like Hi-Viz:
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-viz-poll.html

[Kenn157]

I have a new poll for you guys that like Hi-Viz:
http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...-viz-poll.html

I really liked your old poll!

[Garandman]

Some comparisons with other forums.


Example poll on stromtrooper 47% do, 47% don't, and 6% went for the bemused "looks dorky" option.

Advrider. 41% all the time, 28% some of the time, 13% no because of how it looks, 19% never for other reasons.

Similar poll on XLforums. 26% just about all the time, 21% some of the time, 23% no because of the way it looks, 30% no for other reasons.

Here last year. 18% all the time, 24% some of the time, 15% never because of how it looks, 43% never for other reasons.

So sport bike and cruiser riders seem to wear it the least, sport tour riders it's pretty common, adventure touring bike owners it's pretty common, and for V-Stroms (usually older, high-mileage riders) it's almost a majority.

[Rossco]

We now have our own group.

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...viz-mafia.html

[DesmoTull]

We now have our own group.

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...viz-mafia.html

Joining! Since I'm going to be commuting every day now... soon I'll look like a giant Highlighter.

[nhbubba]

Nwice! They don't call me 'highly visible' fer nothin'.