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Ok so it wasn't dozens!!
Is there an inverse correlation between colour and watts?
Most definitely not.
Ok , the skip was indeed black/dark blue after all. Amazing that drivers will actually drive into a large dark object even with the sun in their eyes. Incredible!
“I saw your light – couldn’t really miss the **** – but it was so bright I couldn’t look direclty at it and so couldn’t fully work out where you were.
Not strictly a SMIDSY more a case of I couldn't be arsed to think about road safety for vulnerable users. The IDSY bit is I didn't see you, whereas your example the light was seen but the driver didn't change their driving to take account of the hazard. (Highway Code suggests slow down and be prepared to stop in such a situation).
Last time I was knocked off I had 2 front flashing lights 2 rear flashing lights, bright clothing and it was daylight. I was on a roundabout turning right when the driver came right through the give way bumped into me and I flew into the air. The painful bit was landing back on the deck at high speed. Fractured wrist and badly bruised bum.
I do agree that cyclists should make themselves as visible as possible. However it is no guarantee.
I did get a few quid compensation for that one though. Have thought about just riding round that roundabout until someone ****s me again 😂😂😂
Yeah, black cars are less visible. But these days they do come with lights on.
But in case yours doesn’t, always turn on your lights when the sun is low.
An aside to the actual thread..... if you had any idea how poor my wing mirror visibility is in my van on the motorway on a rainy day you'd sure as shit put your lights on in a grey or silver car.
On topic - this is one where the knobs at both ends of the scale will bleat on about it being exclusively the car drivers responsibility or that all roadies are wazzocks. But they are all mouth breathers that the rest of us have to tolerate. The sane majority appreciate that driving carefully and riding to be seen are not mutually exclusive expectations.
... your example the light was seen but the driver didn’t change their driving to take account of the hazard. (Highway Code suggests slow down and be prepared to stop in such a situation).
Does it say anything about undipped headlights and oncoming traffic - perhaps not to use any lights in a way which would dazzle or cause discomfort to other road users ?
Completely agree with OP. It doesn't really matter what car driver is doing, if they can't see you because you've camouflaged yourself with the road then you risk being hit.
Amazing that drivers will actually drive into a large dark object even with the sun in their eyes. Incredible!
Also amazing that a driver will drive along a road with so much sun in their eyes they can't actually see but guessing the amount of drivers that stop and wait for sun to go down or turn around and go back is pretty low isn't it so they just carry on driving.
There's some wonderful victim blaming going on on this thread.
Does it say anything about undipped headlights and oncoming traffic
Why yes, yes it does! As my comment said, but you knew that anyway!
https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/CLCAPRKRTC/carnac-parky-reflective-toe-cover (have been as cheap as ~£4) and similar are great for front and side visibility sunset to sunrise, being a moving high visibility object if you aren't freewheeling.
There’s some wonderful victim blaming going on on this thread.
Possibly. I also see outrage (maybe a bit strong) where none is needed. Again, expecting drivers to drive sensibly AND dressing to reduce the possibly of you recieving life changing injuries should inattention or circumstances minimise margin of error are not mutually exclusive. You can expect one whilst still advocating the other.
If they were riding out of the sun- they’d have been far more visible in black. And travelling far slower than a motorbike- so no excuses for any driver not to see them.
Plenty of emergency response vehicles get crashed into each year whilst their headlights are flashing and blue lights and sirens are blaring. There is nothing available to make someone see you.
Far better to ride like a ninja and assume nobody has seen you- than ride arrogantly in high vis and then post obnoxious videos on YouTube when you get run over yet again.
One of the pro-active thing you can do is the Z line at junctions where cars are waiting to cross your lane. Work your way out to the right a little on the approach, then angle to the left when you get near. This increases your profile to them and the movement catches their eye and helps them judge your speed and position. Then if there are cars waiting to exit the side road too, you can angle to the right next to achieve the same result with them. Hence the Z line.
And cover the brakes too…..
Loads of Z line geekery here:
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.com/2008/08/z-line-introduction.html?m=0
If they were riding out of the sun- they’d have been far more visible in black.
If the sun was that low then there'd be a lot of shadows around, so black wouldn't be a sensible choice, unless they spent their whole ride travelling in the same direction.
Yeah, black cars are less visible. But these days they do come with lights on.
There's a matt grey Range Rover parked around the corner from my work. It is genuinely difficult to see because it is exactly the same colour as dry tarmac.
There's a Range Rover round here painted in proper camouflage. Of course, if you're in a Range Rover, you can afford to not worry too much about whether people can see you, because it's probably not you that'll come off worst in a collision.
I'll add to this my reminder that a green hi-vis jacket and helmet over black tights* when you are riding on a tree lined country road when the sun is out is actually very effective camoflage, and not the bright high visibiliy safety look you think it is.
*this seems to be as much of a uniform for the older touring cyclist as black rapha is for the sunday club run set.
There is nothing available to make someone see you.
No but you can help matters somewhat.
Far better to ride like a ninja and assume nobody has seen you
No, the best thing is to ride in bright colours and assume no-one has seen you as well.
Weird, I've never once had an issue seeing cyclists/pedestrians dressed in black when I've been driving. The road isn't black, the sky isn't black (in the day at least), the majority of things on the road aren't black so every time I see a cyclist dressed in black on the road, I can see them!
It's not hard to pay attention to the road when you're driving, it's just that some people don't want to and then blame others for their own faults.
It’s not hard to pay attention to the road when you’re driving, it’s just that some people don’t want to and then blame others for their own faults.
I see a lot of unlit cyclists dressed in black. I think they are unwise but I see them.
Genuinely baffled by all theses cyclist people accuse of not being visible that they see.
I myself hardly ever see cyclists dressed in all in black, maybe I'm the problem.