Motorcycle Visibility for Dummies

[lds]

I don't have time to completely revise a post I made for another audience some time ago on motorcycle visibility, but since I went public with my "Loud Pipes Save Lives" post, I need to at least hit the high points on motorcycle visibility, as well. As before, let's start with the facts.

As with any other physical objects on our planet, there are

Comments

[ehintz]

I dunno, rear lights don't seem to be worth as much to me. Seems that most of the accidents I've either seen or avoided were due to not being seen either approaching or beside the cars. As noted in your pipes post, beside is often a problem caused by lack of attempt, so I'm not convinced that better side visibility helps much either. Front visibility, absolutely. More bells and whistles there can only help.

Of course, all that said, it only takes one time for rear or side visibility enhancements to pay off handsomely, so I can certainly grok anybody who lights 'er up like an xmas tree. I prolly won't myself tho.

On visible clothing, orange or nasal green does stand out, but as you note nowhere near as well as bike reflectors. However, the gear we wear in the fire service has some exceedingly good reflective strips integrated; something like that reflects easily as well as stock reflectors. I don't personally care to wear the stuff myself, but that's what I'd suggest to anybody that felt they need it.

Daylight example(featuring teh backs of yours truly):

http://www.pvfb.org.nz/gallery/salmagundi/clean_up

Night shot-hard to get because the reflections bugger up the cameras:

http://www.pvfb.org.nz/gallery/Incidents/truck