POLITE - Hi-Vis Vest

[jimbop1]

I think most of the people that wear them want to feel important and to maybe come across as an 'advance' rider. In reality they are just boring, sad people who shake their head at anyone who goes over 61mph on a national speed limit road.

[LoonR1]

Discussed this on Sunday when we saw two of these tossers at different points on our ride.

Did i mention that I think they're tossers?

[jimbop1]

LoonR1 said:

Discussed this on Sunday when we saw two of these tossers at different points on our ride.

Did i mention that I think they're tossers?

You may have done but it's always good to say it again.

[bennyboysvuk]

Prof Prolapse said:

I want CUNext Tuesday.

Or you could have Berk for short. I never realised when I was young that when my dad muttered "berk" under his breath about another road user that it was cockney rhyming slang for Berkshire Hunt. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if he knew either.

[anonymous-user]

If it's no big deal that twonks are wearing vests that makes them look almost like a copper, I'm gonna get one that says "POLICE" in big letters, with "Not really, just kidding" in smaller letters underneath.

[defblade]

Watching Road Wars etc etc, there're some drivers who don't notice fully stickered up police vehicles with their blue lights flashing and sirens going full scream.

In the face of that, I suspect it makes less than zero difference what is written on your hi-viz.






(My hi-viz vest is plain and reserved for foggy days)

[McClure]

defblade said:

Watching Road Wars etc etc, there're some drivers who don't notice fully stickered up police vehicles with their blue lights flashing and sirens going full scream.

In the face of that, I suspect it makes less than zero difference what is written on your hi-viz.






(My hi-viz vest is plain and reserved for foggy days)

you notice the biker long before you notice what is written on his vest so that "makes me more noticeable" excuse is twaddle.

Or maybe it's meant in a different context as it does make them more noticeable as being a tool.

[black-k1]

McClure said:

defblade said:

Watching Road Wars etc etc, there're some drivers who don't notice fully stickered up police vehicles with their blue lights flashing and sirens going full scream.

In the face of that, I suspect it makes less than zero difference what is written on your hi-viz.






(My hi-viz vest is plain and reserved for foggy days)

you notice the biker long before you notice what is written on his vest so that "makes me more noticeable" excuse is twaddle.

Or maybe it's meant in a different context as it does make them more noticeable as being a tool.

Whether it makes you more noticeable or not would have to be tested using reliable scientific methods and I know that has not been done (vs non POLITE floro vests). Even if you we to use anecdotal evidence you’d need to talk to people who have tried both with and without the POLITE vest as they are the only ones who can do a comparison. Assuming people continue to wear such vests for more than just a few journeys then the anecdotal evidence would suggest they work!

[anonymous-user]

Does it heck. All it suggests is there are people out there who really really want to be a policeman but failed the spelling test.

[creampuff]

black-k1 said:

Whether it makes you more noticeable or not would have to be tested using reliable scientific methods and I know that has not been done (vs non POLITE floro vests). Even if you we to use anecdotal evidence you’d need to talk to people who have tried both with and without the POLITE vest as they are the only ones who can do a comparison. Assuming people continue to wear such vests for more than just a few journeys then the anecdotal evidence would suggest they work!

As I said before, I have a police surplus hi-viz jacket (not vest), except that it is blank on the back where a copper's jacket would say POLICE. I've also got a Pan European, black pants and a white helmet.

I don't wear the jacket that often. Usually on long motorway journeys when I think a bit of hi-viz won't go astray or when it is raining hard or it's cold, since its also wind/waterproof.

But anyway, based on my non-scientific study, I think it may make either a small difference or no difference.

IMHO what makes a bigger difference is good road positioning and a big bike with large twin headlights doesn't hurt either.

[Prof Prolapse]

Crossflow Kid said:

Does it heck. All it suggests is there are people out there who really really want to be a policeman but failed the spelling test.

I failed the police test by turning up at the correct building on time.

[anonymous-user]

creampuff said:

I've also got.....black pants and a white helmet.

Bit too much.

[creampuff]

Crossflow Kid said:

Bit too much.

Well most bike pants are black.

White helmets are:
- cheaper
- more readily available
- more visible (next time you happen to have a biker with a white helmet and black helmet in the distance in front of you, notice the difference)

Only a gormless mong brained freak would think I was a copper even with the jacket. My "slightly loose" interpretation of the national speed limit should be a clue

[anonymous-user]

I was being childish with respect to mention of pants and helmet in such close proximity.

[creampuff]

Crossflow Kid said:

I was being childish with respect to mention of pants and helmet in such close proximity.

Fnarr, fnarr

[Wacky Racer]

Do the Police ride motorbikes much these days?

Don't see as many about as in the 60s/70s.........Triumph 650cc single carb saints......

Speaking of Police bikes, used to love this:-


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6qNs4GIs94

[Mr2Mike]

It's not really a big deal; I see a biker/horse rider wearing a 'Polite' vest, the phrase "Utter wker" passes through my head and then I get on with my ride.

[anonymous-user]

Wacky Racer said:

Do the Police ride motorbikes much these days?

Lahhndahhn tahhhhhn's full of'em, either proper plod on BMWs, SEG on Hondas or PCSOs on those ridiculous back-to-front tricycle things.

[creampuff]

City of London police also FJRs.

[black-k1]

creampuff said:

black-k1 said:

Whether it makes you more noticeable or not would have to be tested using reliable scientific methods and I know that has not been done (vs non POLITE floro vests). Even if you we to use anecdotal evidence you’d need to talk to people who have tried both with and without the POLITE vest as they are the only ones who can do a comparison. Assuming people continue to wear such vests for more than just a few journeys then the anecdotal evidence would suggest they work!

As I said before, I have a police surplus hi-viz jacket (not vest), except that it is blank on the back where a copper's jacket would say POLICE. I've also got a Pan European, black pants and a white helmet.

I don't wear the jacket that often. Usually on long motorway journeys when I think a bit of hi-viz won't go astray or when it is raining hard or it's cold, since its also wind/waterproof.

But anyway, based on my non-scientific study, I think it may make either a small difference or no difference.

IMHO what makes a bigger difference is good road positioning and a big bike with large twin headlights doesn't hurt either.

I totally agree that positioning is the MOST important thing with regards to being seen. I used to wear High Vis but found that if my positioning is right then it adds nothing extra (in my opinion ...) so I don't wear it any more. I also find a HID dip bean (specifically aligned to blind internet users) is as good as (better than???) large twin headlights

Having said that, I used to (many years ago) have a bike with a white fairing (remember Rickman?) and the traffic would part for me like the Red Sea for Moses. It definitely enabled faster progress in traffic than when on a bike without a big white fairing.