Do you wear visibility gear when running in the dark?

This Fat Girl Runs · 09-12-2014 01:31PM #1

I'm asking because yesterday on my run in the morning (it was dark) I saw someone else running who was wearing zero visibility gear. Nothing reflecting, no lights etc. The street lights were still on but this person was very hard to actually see.

I was a bit surprised but maybe it's not unusual for people to go without visibility gear?

Personally, I wear a top with reflective strips, reflector armbands (around my wrists as they don't fit around my arms

) and an LED light armband.

Just wondered what the general consensus was amongst the board.

IvoryTower · 09-12-2014 01:33PM

nope, but i run on the paths

the paths have been quite icy lately so the plan is to get lots of shiny stuff so i can run on the road when needs be

deadybai · 09-12-2014 01:34PM

If it was early morning and few cars on the road than I wouldnt be too pushed

walshb · 09-12-2014 01:41PM

Always! Asking for trouble at night if you don't. Even on footpaths. Best to be seen.

Cabaal · 09-12-2014 01:42PM

If I'm out on country roads at night I wear reflective top, two flashing/reflective arm bands, headtorch and red flashing light on the back of me. I may be lit up like a Christmas tree but if it prevents me getting killed then happy days.

On footpaths I only wear reflective top which I wear anytime I'm out running in dark anyway.

Even if you run on paths odds are you'll cross atleast one junction so it makes sense to wear a reflective top at the very min,

RayCun · 09-12-2014 01:46PM

I wear that vest given out at the race series half marathon (?)
I run on paths and in parks, not on the road

walshb · 09-12-2014 01:52PM

I don't think the location is the real issue. It's the visibility. Whether it's parks or paths or roads, at night and when the light is poor I think being seen is very important.

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 02:43PM

walshb wrote: »

Asking for trouble at night if you don't.

It's not. Do you wear high vis if you were out for a walk at night on the paths ?

walshb · 09-12-2014 02:47PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's not. Do you wear high vis if you were out for a walk at night on the paths ?

Yes.

I thought the question was on running at night/in the dark?

adrian522 · 09-12-2014 03:02PM

walshb wrote: »

I don't think the location is the real issue. It's the visibility. Whether it's parks or paths or roads, at night and when the light is poor I think being seen is very important.

Why is being seen in paths in parks very important?

walshb · 09-12-2014 03:05PM

adrian522 wrote: »

Why is being seen in paths in parks very important?

Just because you are on a path doesn't man that you can be seen and are safe. Other people use paths, some running, walking and biking. Simple: At night and in darkness best to be lit up and visible. I have to say that around my area I would see 90 percent of walkers/runners on paths wearing high viz clothing when at night.

This Fat Girl Runs · 09-12-2014 03:06PM

I should clarify this was in Dublin, on a darker street and both of us were running on the footpath.

I think I'd rather be safe than sorry so will wear reflective gear anytime it's dark, even with the street lights on.

crisco10 · 09-12-2014 03:17PM

I run on footpaths in Dublin but generally wear this jacket. I tend to run at 5 - 6pm or 7 - 8am so come into contact with lots of junctions and cars so I think I would be nutty to not wear Hi-Vis at this time of year!

I used to wear the armbands before i got that coat but got annoyed with them as my arms are too skinny so they just slide down all the time, start somewhere at my armpit and end up at my wrist - v.annoying.

Ruu · 09-12-2014 03:20PM

Gets darker a little after 4 these days and the days are quite dreary as well, so always wear something. If I don't have my headlamp, I have a small light that I carry from the RSA. Coat I wear has reflective strips and so do parts of my shoes. If I know that I will be out past dark, I will wear something else.

Ed Mc · 09-12-2014 03:32PM

All my running is on country roads.
During the day I always wear a hi vis top. When im driving I'll always spot them quicker than a runner without one. So the sooner im seen the safer ill be.

At night ill wear a hi vis top and head torch with a flashing red bike light attached to the back during the milder months.

At the moment with fog or heavy rain ill add flashing red armbands, upper and lower arm and my gloves are reflective.

The usual jokes about being a running christmas tree etc. but it allows me to focus on a run rather than worry if im seen or not.
I got a bright yellow reflective hat last christmas but that would be just silly looking.:-)

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 03:32PM

walshb wrote: »

Yes.

I thought the question was on running at night/in the dark?

You're the one who said "even on paths".

walshb · 09-12-2014 03:33PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

You're the one who said "even on paths".

Yes, I did. So?

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 03:35PM

walshb wrote: »

Always! Asking for trouble at night if you don't. Even on footpaths. Best to be seen.

ThisRegard wrote: »

It's not. Do you wear high vis if you were out for a walk at night on the paths ?

walshb wrote: »

Yes.

I thought the question was on running at night/in the dark?

ThisRegard wrote: »

You're the one who said "even on paths".

walshb wrote: »

Yes, I did. So?

Seriously ? You're chasing your own tail.

walshb · 09-12-2014 03:36PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Seriously ? You're chasing your own tail

What is your point?

Seems you are trying to make the thread far more complicated than it should be.

Running at night in the dark I would advise to wear high viz. That includes running on paths or roads or anywhere at night or in darkness for that matter. The OP didn't specify where exactly the night time running takes place.

You disagree with that? No problem.

You asked me if I wear high viz whilst walking on paths at night. You asked me this. I simply answered yes. One word.

walshb · 09-12-2014 03:46PM

Ed Mc wrote: »

The usual jokes about being a running christmas tree etc. but it allows me to focus on a run rather than worry if im seen or not.
I got a bright yellow reflective hat last christmas but that would be just silly looking.:-)

Better to be joked about than to be badly injured/killed from a collision because you weren't visible enough.

PaulieC · 09-12-2014 03:47PM

I wear brightly coloured tops if I remember (or if I have anything clean). Since I run in the city and on paths I don't feel the need to be lit up, where I probably would if I were running on country roads.
As for crossing roads etc. I use these things I have called senses. One of them allows me to see traffic approaching, another one lets me hear things that are going on around me. They are really amazing those senses

09-12-2014 04:01PM

PaulieC wrote: »

I wear brightly coloured tops if I remember (or if I have anything clean). Since I run in the city and on paths I don't feel the need to be lit up, where I probably would if I were running on country roads.
As for crossing roads etc. I use these things I have called senses. One of them allows me to see traffic approaching, another one lets me hear things that are going on around me. They are really amazing those senses

Same. If I ever put myself in a situation where I'm relying on a driver to see me (reflective gear or not), I've already made a huge mistake

walshb · 09-12-2014 04:04PM

28064212 wrote: »

Same. If I ever put myself in a situation where I'm relying on a driver to see me (reflective gear or not), I've already made a huge mistake

But with reflective gear and high viz you give everyone out there a better chance of seeing you in the dark, or at night. Be careful, aware and responsible. That's your job done. But there are other people out there. Leaving off clothes/aids that allow you to stand out more and be more visible in the dark makes the job of you being seen that bit more difficult. No point in blaming the driver or the bike or whatever if you end up badly injured. Throwing on a high viz jacket is not a chore.

crisco10 · 09-12-2014 04:12PM

28064212 wrote: »

Same. If I ever put myself in a situation where I'm relying on a driver to see me (reflective gear or not), I've already made a huge mistake

Know what you are saying, High - vis is not an invincibility cloak! but I think sometimes people even assume that "if i can see them, they can see me" which is not true. Why not reduce that potential with more high vis?

An example might be a cyclist running a red pedestrian light? you run across on a green man, they don't see you and go thru the red....(let's not argue cyclists going through red lights!)..or even a cyclist on the footpath... Or what about motorists turning off a major road into a minor road without seeing you in the middle of crossing that minor road already? Happens a lot if the motorists is "skipping" across traffic while turning right.

HelenAnne · 09-12-2014 04:13PM

I try to wear a hi-viz, or a least a white, top, and I wear these:

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/brooks-running-nightlife-arm-leg-bands-reflectors-set-235207

I like them because they're not scratchy on bare arms or legs like the plastic-y ones.

I run on paths too, but along the sea front etc there are bikes etc flying along so I want to be seen. I wish dogs would wear hi-viz, and lit up extendable leads :-)

09-12-2014 04:15PM

crisco10 wrote: »

Know what you are saying, High - vis is not an invincibility cloak! but I think sometimes people even assume that "if i can see them, they can see me" which is not true. Why not reduce that potential with more high vis?

An example might be a cyclist running a red pedestrian light? you run across on a green man, they don't see you and go thru the red....(let's not argue cyclists going through red lights!) Or what about motorists turning off a major road into a minor road without seeing you in the middle of crossing that minor road already? Happens a lot if the motorists is "skipping" across traffic while turning right.

I assume all lights are against me at all times, and green for all other traffic. And that all other road users are both drunk and on their phones

PaulieC · 09-12-2014 04:15PM

walshb wrote: »

No point in blaming the driver or the bike or whatever if you end up badly injured. Throwing on a high viz jacket is not a chore.

If you keep your wits about you then you only have yourself to blame. I would prefer to take responsibility for my own safety that to wear brightly lit/reflective clothing and then think that was me sorted for safety.
Ed Mc said that wearing these clothes allowed him to focus on his running and not whether or not he can be seen. I wouldn't leave that kind of thing to the responsibility of others.

walshb · 09-12-2014 04:16PM

HelenAnne wrote: »

I try to wear a hi-viz, or a least a white, top, and I wear these:

http://www.bike-discount.de/en/buy/brooks-running-nightlife-arm-leg-bands-reflectors-set-235207

I like them because they're not scratchy on bare arms or legs like the plastic-y ones.

I run on paths too, but along the sea front etc there are bikes etc flying along so I want to be seen. I wish dogs would wear hi-viz, and lit up extendable leads :-)

So true. Even other runners who are not lit up can be a danger. Your eyesight is only so good. You see fellow runners at night much clearer and much earlier when they are lit up and wearing high viz. Your running along at a decent speed and out of of nowhere there's a dark shadow of a fellow runner with no lighting on at all. It's asking for trouble.

crisco10 · 09-12-2014 04:16PM

28064212 wrote: »

I assume all lights are against me at all times, and green for all other traffic. And that all other road users are both drunk and on their phones

If they are drunk and on their phones....surely high-vis would help more? :P

Is this not analogous to a driver saying that they don't turn their lights on because they are 100% confident they will see everything else?

walshb · 09-12-2014 04:18PM

PaulieC wrote: »

If you keep your wits about you then you only have yourself to blame..

Agreed. And leaving off high viz and visible aids is not giving yourself the best chance. So, yes, you are to blame. Wits about you goes so far. After that there is the added risk of others. Plan for this, or at least try to. That is why wearing high viz and reflective aids are used. Leaving them off IMO is not addressing that risk, and not giving yo you the best chance of being seen.

09-12-2014 04:21PM

crisco10 wrote: »

If they are drunk and on their phones....surely high-vis would help more? :P

No, I assume they wouldn't see me even if I was an actual christmas tree out for a run.

crisco10 wrote: »

Is this not analogous to a driver saying that they don't turn their lights on because they are 100% confident they will see everything else?

A driver has blind-spots, a breaking distance, higher speed and a greatly reduced sense of hearing

Do you wear visibility gear when running in the dark?

Comments