No apologies for dragging this thing off-topic again. I find this ‘visibility’ thing very interesting and was really hoping/expecting the discussion to extend beyond lights & clothing.
Obviously, we can’t ride around with the belief that we are invisible – if that were the case, we’d be scampering about like frightened chickens. We must aim to ride as if we have been seen, but plan our ride in case we haven’t.
But we can’t leave the ‘being seen’ bit to fate, can we?
Icandoit wrote:
When we are seen, we are seen. We don't need to 'do' anything.
If we are not seen it isn't our 'fault' for not using any (particular) device at the time. But it is still our responsibility not to ride into an accident
Sure, it’s our responsibility to avoid the accident, but that must include our responsibility to do all we can to be seen. It may well be our ‘fault’ if we didn’t try harder to be seen, and the argument can’t end with the ‘lights on or off ’ decision, can it?
R1nut wrote:
I have ridden with the lights on and off and have discovered that when filtering through traffic I tend to get seen better if I have my lights on.
But do you ride any differently whether or not you have your lights on?
BottyBurp wrote:
Part of my responsibility, knowing that drivers don't look properly, is to use a mixture of tools available to me (hi-vis clothing, DRL's etc) to 'help' drivers spot me.
I’d love to know about your ‘et ceteras’.