Should Black Or Dark-Coloured Cars 'Wear' Hi-Viz?

armyknife

What's with the fashion for buying black cars nowadays ?

It seems to have replace the trend for silver and before that red cars.

In daylight these cars aren't conspicuous and in low light or at night, despited their lights, it's sometimes hard to judge their width/dimensions, especially if they're coming close to oneself on a bike.

So my question is, should they be made to 'wear' some high-visibility markings/'clothing' ?

Posting the thread here, as it's relevant to non-vehicular road users and if I posted in the motoring section it would probably be regarded as a troll.

DUTR

Strange, I thought the in colour for cars is white now? Anyways, balck cars have been around just a little less time than cyclists, it's up to all road users to ensure their safety and the safety of others, I'm a cyclist myself, but a lady on a push bike the other morning nealry missed xmas through her lack of low visibilty clothing on a winter morning around a busy roundabout, where there have been fatalities in the past.

Tilt

armyknife wrote: »

What's with the fashion for buying black cars nowadays ?

It seems to have replace the trend for silver and before that red cars.

In daylight these cars aren't conspicuous and in low light or at night, despited their lights, it's sometimes hard to judge their width/dimensions, especially if they're coming close to oneself on a bike.

So my question is, should they be made to 'wear' some high-visibility markings/'clothing' ?

Posting the thread here, as it's relevant to non-vehicular road users and if I posted in the motoring section it would probably be regarded as a troll.

And you would be absolutely right! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Merry Christmas :xmastree:

esuhl

As a former driver of ten years and an occasional cyclist... I can't say I've had any problems in general with the visibility of black cars except in low light levels... when the car should have it's lights on (and thus be visible) anyway.

What drives me crazy is how car drivers rattle along the road at 20mph or more! Expecting pedestrians to get out of their way! They don't even wear helmets some of them! (*hic* Just testing Father Christmas' sherry!)

Johnmcl7

It's never a problem I've encountered or even considered with dark coloured cars, with mandatory DRL's these days their visibility has improved for newer cars anyway.

John

Stooby2

It didn't bother Henry Ford.

peachyprice

Perhaps your eye test is overdue OP?

almillar

I've got a grey car, and I'm used to mostly having red ones. I drive round with my lights on most of the time anyway as I have too many people not seeing me! No need for high vis jackets, turn your lights on!

Strider590

I don't have an issue with black cars, I have an issue with drivers who don't use their ****ing headlights, as if parking lights are of any use to anyone.

At night, when you need to focus ahead MUCH more, when a car is looming up behind you, at least you know it's there by the light on the road. But if some plank (usually in a Nissan) is driving about with no lights or just parking lights, then they're on top of you before you even know it.

Oh and "hi-viz" on cars? I'm sick of it as it is, with cars driving about looking like Police panda cars, I loose count how many near accidents i've seen when a speeding drivers see's one, slams on the anchors and nearly wipes out anyone within a 10metre radius.

Daytime running lights (DRLs) are now a legal requirement on all new cars

I suspect it was an easy way to solve the problem of drivers not using their lights. Seeing as how the authorities have invested so much money in telling us that speed and/or alcohol are THE ONLY things that cause accidents, the last thing they want to do is confuse that message with "actually being a complete and utter moron is dangerous too".

WiggyDiggyPoo

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j0nathon2

Even if a car has hi-vis cyclists who are not looking will still ride into them.:rotfl:

Regarding "parking" lights, it's perfectly legal and sensible to use these alone if there is street lighting in a <30mph zone.

Regarding Daytime running lights, they're stupid. Everybody used to be visible during the day until half the cars had lights and half didn't.