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Motorcycle News, News

Panic over hi-vis vest proposal

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An incorrect News Ltd media report that Victoria proposes introducing hi-vis for all riders has caused some level of social media panic in the riding community.

Riders have been sharing the inaccurate reports which were lifted from the “Road Safety Regulations 2019 summary paper for consultation”.

So, for a start, it’s only a proposal at this stage.

The sentence lifted out of context is “Driving a motorcycle without a securely fitted and fastened high visibility vest of jacket”.

It is under a section that suggests introducing demerit points for the offence.

Learner riders have been required to wear hi-vis vests in Victoria from some years now. The proposal only adds a demerit point.high visibility motorcycle clothing panic

Panic stations

The erroneous News Ltd articles have been shared on social media causing panic among Victorian and interstate riders amid threats to protest.

Victorian Motorcycle Exports Advisory Panel member Dean Marks says there was a similar social media response when hi-vis for learners was proposed.

However, he points out that “the riding community sat on their collective thumbs” and only a small number turned out at a rally against the changes.

Dean blames infighting among “fractured” rider representative groups in the state for the apathy.

While the Victorian Government is not proposing hi-vis for all riders, many consider it may be on the agenda in future.

In 2015, France introduced a rule where riders have to carry a hi-vis vest to wear during a breakdown.

Meanwhile, the South Australian Government is considering following Victoria with hi-vis for novice riders.

This is despite the road toll in Victoria rising in the past four years since introducing hi-vis vests which seems to indicate the increased motorcycle conspicuity of a hi-vis vests has had no beneficial effect.

University of Melbourne’s Chair of Statistics, Prof Richard Huggins, says his review of several studies on motorcycle conspicuity and “look but fail to see” (SMIDSY – Sorry, Mate I Didn’t See You) accidents casts “sufficient doubt” on the effectiveness of hi-vis.

He has previously called for a repeal of the Victorian mandatory requirement.

Click here to read more.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

News

Video shows hi-vis does not work – even for cops!

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This British video of a police officer with sirens going and a hi-vis jacket and bike shows that some motorists still don’t see riders.

It shows a police special escort group of BMW R 1200 bikes escorting British Prime Minister Theresa May with the Metropolitan Police’s Protection Command in London.

Right from the start it shows a van driver doesn’t even see the police officer with hi-vis gear, flashing lights and sirens.

This video comes as a Monash University report into motorcycle accidents suggest riders and bikes be more visible.

The report, quaintly titled “Current Trends in Motorcycle-Related Crash and Injury Risk in Australia by Motorcycle Type and Attributes” suggests promoting high-visibility motorcycle clothing and research into its effects.

It also suggest increasing motorcycle visibility technology such as modulating headlights.

Well, the British police officer above has his motorcycle lights flashing but still wasn’t seen.Police hi-vis high visibility clothing

If even bike cops officers can’t be seen, what more could we riders possibly do to be seen and heard on the road?

Most riders resist mandatory hi-vis gear as is required for Victorian novice riders and France where riders have to carry a hi-vis vest to wear the vest during a breakdown.

Many claim they are still not seen even when wearing bright gear and on brightly coloured motorcycles.

Hi-vis myth debunked

While Monash Uni suggests hi-vis Prof Richard Huggins of University of Melbourne says there is no research that proves hi-vis vests aid safety.

Richard says he has studied many scientific studies about hi-vis clothing and says there is no conclusive evidence it is safer for riders.

However, there are several international studies with varied findings suggesting:

  • Dark clothing is more visible in certain lighting situations;
  • Hi-vis rider gear may be less visible in certain conditions; and
  • Hi-vis clothing could create a “target fixation” for motorists, causing them to steer toward the wearer.

Richard also says he regularly wears a hi-visibility jacket when riding, but has still been hit by a car.

“The driver claimed they didn’t see me, from a distance of less than 2m, as they changed lanes on top of me,” he says.Hi-vis vest

The Victorian Motorcycle Council also says hi-vis is a safety myth, claiming:

  • Modern research shows that people don’t recognise or react to motorcycles, rather than not seeing them at all;
  • Drivers are more likely to see a bike but make an error in timing; and
  • All bikes have hard-wired headlights yet no research has been done on how this affects hi-visibility.

Some say group rides with lead and tail-end riders in hi-vis vests destroys our argument.

However hi-vis vests on group rides are not worn for safety reasons. They are there to help distinguish those riders from the others so that riders don’t accidentally pass the lead rider or fall behind the sweep.

Hi-vis vest age submission
Tail-end Charlie

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com