High-visibility clothing: is it really necessary on a motorbike?

You have probably already used or normally use something high-visibility when you ride. If you have never considered it, you might change your mind after reading the next few lines.
I have no intention of convincing you, the motorbike is freedom and I am convinced of that, but you might at least be interested to know what researchers have to say about it.

To explain what high-visibility clothing is, let’s take the Wikipedia definition: it is ‘clothing that is highly luminescent or of a colour easily distinguishable from any background. They are usually worn on the torso and limbs, in the form of jackets, vests, trousers and the like.”

Health and safety regulations often require the use of ‘high visibility’ clothing, classifying it as personal protective equipment. The most commonly used colours for high-visibility vests are yellow and orange. Colours other than yellow or orange may not provide adequate luminescence for compliance with standards such as ISO 20471 (High visibility clothing – Test methods and requirements).

High visibility clothing is worn to increase a person’s visibility and thus prevent accidents caused by unseen persons. In fact, people are often seen wearing them when carrying out dangerous activities or in low light conditions, e.g. railway and road works.

Hey you motorist, do you see me or not?

Have you ever heard the phrase ‘Sorry, I didn’t see you’ when you were on your bike and a car didn’t give you the right of way? How could this happen? You had your headlight on, your exhaust noisy, you even bought two additional LED spotlights… yet nothing.
Psychology explains why. Like it or not, we are part of the problem.

There is a mistaken assumption among motorcyclists, the common belief that we are seen and noticed, but there are many factors that can determine our visibility to others. First of all, global perceptual precedence.
Attention (in this case we are talking about the motorist) can be focused on global aspects or on specific elements. In a context such as the road with traffic, noise and all other distractions, the driver of a car will give priority to large vehicles (lorries, cars) and those he or she recognises quickly (this perception is called: silhouette recognition). If you do not drive or have never driven a motorbike, you will not pay attention to it at first glance precisely because it is not part of the pattern in your memory.

We are immersed in a visual big picture and a motorbike is only a small part of the big ‘global’ picture, especially when in motion. If something, anything, is bigger and more visually relevant, that is where another road user is more likely to focus their attention. That thing takes precedence. The only way for a motorcyclist to be more noticeable is to draw attention to himself with luminescent colours, the so-called ‘high visibility’ colours.

Wearing high visibility

It is not yet mandatory in our country for motorcyclists, but many motorcyclists have understood the concept of visibility and have opted for different solutions. One classic is the fluorescent waistcoat, a product that will make us visible both to oncoming traffic and to those stopped at an intersection, but also when overtaking, by selling us from the rear-view mirror.

In addition to the high-visibility waistcoat, one can opt for a helmet that has yellow surfaces, as well as gloves or even jackets that have yellow areas and white reflective stripes, thanks to specific fabrics that reflect light when illuminated. At night or in the presence of rain (there are also fluorescent yellow anti-water suits), or fog, you are less visible, which is why the use of this important accessory is recommended, and let’s remember that even if the law does not require it, it is an excellent personal protection device to wear.

Ph. credits Alessia B.