Re: Motorcycle Conspicuity Study by Iowa University
Bryn said:
Whatever you do there will be drivers out there who just do not see you and pull out into your path....Can't see the point in all this HiVis stuff.... I wore Hi Vis on my work bike before I retired from the police 3 years ago.... and still had drivers pull out in front of me , sometimes while I had blue lights flashing ::019::
So... white helmet, yellow vest with 'Police' on it, Blue Strobes, and a dayglo bike and it still happened...... Kind of answers the question
Well no, that does not state much at all. How many people avoided you because of your flashing lights and bright colors? They are all proven to help bring forth some sort of awareness, will it always work? No nothing does, even the superhuman riding/driving/awareness skills many of you seem to think you possess. ::26::
Which is why even Elite athletes perish while trying to exist among mortals.
Coming home safe at the end of each ride comes down to increasing our odds of survival. Those odds come from a multitude of factors, first and foremost our own brain and ability to make good decisions. That comes from not only good health, but proper nutrition, a good nights sleep, training and other factors I am sure all the god riders are aware of and practice constantly, or maybe they are just born with greatness, I am thinking the later, at least that is what it seems.
Next we have maintenance on our bike itself. A well maintained and properly functioning machine will help insure that those superhuman reflexes actually work when they need to.
Now we have riding aids such as ABS, TC and apparently bright colors. Do they all work themselves? No but they help increase our odds of survival, thus the point.
TO further upon your statement I was struck in a plow truck. Probably you do not have them in the UK, take a Lori, Paint it bright Orange, then put flashing lights all around. What happened? well what usually does, the other moron focusing on an accident, she drifted over and struck me. Happens, nothing I could do despite my super human martial arts reflexes I was merely a big, all be it invisible target. Despite this I realize that big orange truck and bright flashing lights also help other drivers avoid me and others on the road, even when I am doing half their speed.
Consequently I still wear bright colors, and still ride in an offensive/defensive manner.
Madhatter said:
sure, they say they don't see you. and with there eyes glued to their cell phones they probably don't. but I think its even more than that...... a callous lack of respect (selfishness , if you will) its all about me attitude.... ive got to be in front .... I drive an 40 ton truck and they pull out on me in it, I can crush 'em like a bug... but they still do it... so I have to drive to protect them from them... 40 tons, large profile, headlights on, they still pull out..... on the bike I do all I can, headlight , led light hi-viz jacket , move around a lot in lane to be more noticeable.... the bright LEDS have I think been the most effective in limiting the pull out in front of me drivers... still cant trust 'em... instructed wife to sue with out mercy that driver who gets me and says they did not see me, he will be lying... more prosecution and financial punishment of the so called blind cage drivers might make them more aware(doubt it) the American car culture runs to deep... don't have to no much to get a license, just enough to get on the road and be a danger to every one... I think most americans couldn't get a license in Europe.... it would be to hard.... so it boils down to this, we are going to die!!!! use that brain and use every strategy you can think of to increase your survivability out there, and when we die it just might be when your old and in your bed.... race won....
Grammar aside this is probably the best post of this thread, you sir, get it ::008::