do you notice a difference when you wear reflective gear?

weesophz

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i always wear mine out, but in my rush to go a hack on fox yesterday before my dad picked me up i forgot to put my vest on.

noticed more cars seemed to go by me a lot faster and closer than they do when i wear the vest. shows it actually does make a difference!

anyone else notice this?
 
I always hack in hi-viz (cycling shirt, its great!) but I borrowed a polite notice a few weeks ago, most drivers were far better, although one DID come past V close, obviously deciding a 'police horse' could cope with coming 5" past us!!
 
Yes I feel like a super hero. I'm thinking a nice reflective batman cape would make me complete.




Clearly not in a serious type mood this evening.

Terri
 
Yes on the back lanes, No on the main roads....

We live in Lincolnshire it's very flat and Tess isn't hard to miss :D but down the darker back lanes does make people slow down further away giving us a chance to move over for them :)

Generally the people round here are fab at slowing down.
 
Sometimes, but if someone is going to be a d!ck and pass to close or fast then all the reflective gear in the world doesnt help :(

I always wear a vest and I have boot covers and a neck band :)
 
I always wear hi viz gear, plenty of it, on both me and the 'oss, and have to say the drivers are great, and I often have to wave them past as they slow down so much :) This is on quiet back lanes, never ridden on a busy road
 
Always wear it on me and (black) horse, would be mad not too as we do alot of busy road work and quite like been seen, and alive.
 
Definitely makes a difference. I've only been out once or twice by accident without high-vis but I think, especially on roads covered by lots of shady trees, it helps drivers see you quicker.

Also, I hear other people complaining out *&%$ head drivers not slowing or doing this that or the other, and I think to myself 'well if you put some flippin' reflective or high-vis on then they'll probably respect you as a road user more!'
 
I've noticed people slowing down sooner, or going further around us. However no matter how much you glow, you will always get someone who doesn't know any better than to zoom past at 60mph or 2 inches from your stirrup...or both!
 
No, no difference at all around here! The only difference we have noticed is that if the daughter goes out alone (17yr old on a 15.3hh) cars slow down more than if I'm with her on a bike! Can't figure that one out!
 
I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket as it makes it easier for other road users to see my hand signals.

I have ridden in Central London and rural areas and I believe that it is easier for other road users to spot me when I am wearing Hi-Viz.

Not all other road users slow down but most do and I keep an eye on any vehicles approaching from the rear and look in to their eyes - that normally slows most of them down.

I avoid riding out when it is dark and wet or in bright low sunshine as drivers are blinded by it.

I recommend that anyone that rides on the road should take the BHS Road safety Course as it is very informative and provides riders with useful road riding tools.
 
I always try to wear a high viz on the roads but to be honest it doesn't make a difference if I wear it or not! The drivers round the part of the New Forest that I'm in are just rude and ignorant! I had one start beeping their horn and me and swearing at me as I was stood at a junction waiting to turn right last weekend because I was taking too long and the amount of times I've nearly had people's wing mirrors because they are too close are too many to mention! I always thank drivers and move out the way where I can but high viz or no high viz it makes no difference! :-(
 
I always make sure me & the horse are decked out in full hi-viz, so I don't know if wearing it makes any difference to the speed we're passed at - however I'm sure it does, as I know we can be seen and anyone who speeds past us is just doing it because they don't care, not because they can't see. I did briefly wear a "polite" hi viz tabard a while back when I lost my lightweight "please pass wide & slow" jacket, and found it made a massive difference to how much people slowed down though!
 
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