Give the gift of light this Christmas...

Fey!

I'll be sticking this up in motors, too, as well as sending it off to the local paper...

I am appealing to cyclists to light up and wear reflective vests during these long winter evenings. A lot of cyclists I meet on the road seem completely oblivious to the danger which they put themselves in, as drivers can't see them until the last second, even on partially lit city streets. A huge amount of these people also appear to believe that the smartest colour for them to wear is black, and that running a red light on a bike isn't in the least bit dangerous!

This problem is compounded by the number of cars on the road with only one functioning headlight. Only last night I met a taxi with only their right front headlight working, which he tried to rectify by using his front fog lights, of which only his left one worked! I do realise that not all car manufacturers make it easy for novices to change bulbs, and that few so-called service stations carry bulbs and fuses any more, but I do feel that it is worth going to some trouble to make sure that at least the lights on you car work. Bear in mind when you meet a one lighted car on the road; what else has the owner failed to service? The brakes, perhaps?

Then there is the ongoing argument about the drivers who insist on driving with their foglights (or as they describe them, "Driving Lights") on all of the time, and worse still those who use their forlights with their parking light instead of using their dims? What exactly can they see better? Do any of them bother checking to see that they aren't blinding everyone coming toward them?

Anyway, back to my point, giving the gift of light. If you know a cyclist who doesn't have a light on their bicycle, why not get them one? Front AND back if you're feeling really generous! And maybe one g thos luminous belts or vests?

Or for the driver in their Halfblind Cyclops, why not treat them to getting their light checked, and getting their burnt out bulbs and fuses replaced? And for our foggy friends, perhaps a couple of driving lessons, a copy of the rules of the road, and a bucket of cop on?

No matter which one you know, be, or which one you might meet on the road, may you all have a safe and happy Christmas.

Ghost Rider

Personally, I reckon my high visibility vest is at least as important, if not more so, than my lights when it comes to being seen on the road - certainly during the day but at night too. With a visi vest on you are noticed even at the periphery of a driver's vision as well as in his mirrors, and that can be incredibly important.

Fey! wrote: »

I'll be sticking this up in motors, too, as well as sending it off to the local paper...

I am appealing to cyclists to light up and wear reflective vests during these long winter evenings. A lot of cyclists I meet on the road seem completely oblivious to the danger which they put themselves in, as drivers can't see them until the last second, even on partially lit city streets. A huge amount of these people also appear to believe that the smartest colour for them to wear is black, and that running a red light on a bike isn't in the least bit dangerous!

This problem is compounded by the number of cars on the road with only one functioning headlight. Only last night I met a taxi with only their right front headlight working, which he tried to rectify by using his front fog lights, of which only his left one worked! I do realise that not all car manufacturers make it easy for novices to change bulbs, and that few so-called service stations carry bulbs and fuses any more, but I do feel that it is worth going to some trouble to make sure that at least the lights on you car work. Bear in mind when you meet a one lighted car on the road; what else has the owner failed to service? The brakes, perhaps?

Then there is the ongoing argument about the drivers who insist on driving with their foglights (or as they describe them, "Driving Lights") on all of the time, and worse still those who use their forlights with their parking light instead of using their dims? What exactly can they see better? Do any of them bother checking to see that they aren't blinding everyone coming toward them?

Anyway, back to my point, giving the gift of light. If you know a cyclist who doesn't have a light on their bicycle, why not get them one? Front AND back if you're feeling really generous! And maybe one g thos luminous belts or vests?

Or for the driver in their Halfblind Cyclops, why not treat them to getting their light checked, and getting their burnt out bulbs and fuses replaced? And for our foggy friends, perhaps a couple of driving lessons, a copy of the rules of the road, and a bucket of cop on?

No matter which one you know, be, or which one you might meet on the road, may you all have a safe and happy Christmas.

unionman

Ghost Rider wrote: »

Personally, I reckon my high visibility vest is at least as important, if not more so, than my lights when it comes to being seen on the road - certainly during the day but at night too. With a visi vest on you are noticed even at the periphery of a driver's vision as well as in his mirrors, and that can be incredibly important.

+1

I notice the difference when I am driving too. High viz makes a bigger impact than lights. Though obviously both is even better.

HJ Simpson

I always wear a hi viz vest when cycling and lights. However when driving I notice a cyclist coming up my inside with no lights on cant be seen even in a hi viz vest unless light shines on them. So lights and a hi viz are the way to go. IMHO!