Hi Viz or Regular color on jacket?

[Krazyjohnny]

I would suggest some sort of Hi-viz with a contrasting dark color (black or blue). That is what I have noticed to get me noticed the best. Be aware that the Hi-viz will fade with time. I wear a Aerostitch Hi-viz yellow with black ballastics on the shoulders, knees and elbows. I get addressed as an officer alot when off the bike going in and out of places for quick errands. I also notice that folks tend to "part the seas" so to speak for me when on the road.

Just simply my observations.

[Xeraux]

Originally Posted by daveoneshot

He's not meaning to act like a LEO, he just wears his vest . It's the colors that do it. The blue, especially, a bright police blue combined with the letters MOTO make drivers react and behave better. By the way, those letters are printed on a black panel inserted across the shoulders, highly visible.

Yeah. I'd be careful with that. He may not be "meaning to act like a" Police Officer, but he knows he does and is taking advantage of it.

He may run into an Officer or a Trooper that isn't going to buy the "Well, I can't help it if other people think I'm an officer."

He needs to lose the "police blue" stripe.

A bright orange stripe is just as noticeable and people aren't going to... um... "Confuse" him with a Police Officer.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by Mudcat

That would piss me off; it looks blinding on my screen. I think you make yourself a target.

Not to worry, they are angled down 5°, so unless you are 20 feet in front of me they are not blinding. I rode behind a friend yesterday and he said they are fine so long as I wasn't less than 20 feet away.

I'll see if I get flashed, though I didn't yesterday in 180 miles of riding.

Jim

[navi]

Originally Posted by catweasel67

From a UK article on the topic, one that I agree with,

Good conspicuity is not just about what a rider wears or whether they have lights on the bike, but also about good road positioning, speed and direction – as well as considering the blind spots and vision limitations of other drivers and vehicles around them.

Totally agree, and Hi-Vis clothing can only benefit good riding tactics

There is a reason that HiVis is mandatory in many industries, it just plain works !

But...... Wear what you want to wear.

But ..... Please don't try to rationalize that it's not really all that effective

If I could only have one set of gear it would be HiVis and a white helmet.
Worse case scenario for my normal riding day is +2c / raining / 60-100k speed / moderate - heavy big city commuter traffic.

Lucky for me, I'm a bit a gear whore and have a bunch to chose from, but I'm not confused about what safety equipment gives me the best chances to be seen in traffic.

Be informed, make informed decisions

My 2

[guiri]

Originally Posted by JimVonBaden

Not to worry, they are angled down 5°, so unless you are 20 feet in front of me they are not blinding. I rode behind a friend yesterday and he said they are fine so long as I wasn't less than 20 feet away.

I'll see if I get flashed, though I didn't yesterday in 180 miles of riding.

Jim

Cool. I see lots of people here that have their (car) headlights way up high and are always blinding people.
Back where I come from when they inspect the vehicle, it takes much longer and they check lots more
stuff including the headlight alignment.

Here, I have NEVER seen anyone do it and I've been here for 15 years...

[guiri]

Originally Posted by navi

Totally agree, and Hi-Vis clothing can only benefit good riding tactics

There is a reason that HiVis is mandatory in many industries, it just plain works !

But...... Wear what you want to wear.

But ..... Please don't try to rationalize that it's not really all that effective

If I could only have one set of gear it would be HiVis and a white helmet.
Worse case scenario for my normal riding day is +2c / raining / 60-100k speed / moderate - heavy big city commuter traffic.

Lucky for me, I'm a bit a gear whore and have a bunch to chose from, but I'm not confused about what safety equipment gives me the best chances to be seen in traffic.

Be informed, make informed decisions

My 2

Nah, there's no doubt that hi viz IS more visible. For me it wasn't really a choice. Well, it was when I started asking but it turns out that not many people make a 5x jacket and definitely not many whose jackets I can afford :(

I saw an awesome looking hi viz jacket at competition accessories but they only make it in 3x and I need 5x

[nevermind]

You can put a 3' tall flashing neon strobe light on the top of your helmet and the inattentive cager will NOT see you. You have to ride with that thought at the very top of your OODA loop!!!

If your high-viz ensemble makes you 1/10th of 1% less aware of your surroundings, ditch it.

[guiri]

Damn right! Always ride like they're out to get you

[AK Bear]

4 years with Hi Viz now and I almost never have someone pull out in front of me. It used to happen on an almost weekly basis. I still will have ocasional lane changers try to get me but no left turners or right siders pulling out. It makes a real difference. Maybe I'm just getting old, but I would not ride with out it now.

[guiri]

Hey, old and wise :)