Do you wear visibility gear when running in the dark?

rainbow kirby · 09-12-2014 04:24PM

Rarely wear specific hi-vis gear while running at night - the vast majority of my evening routes have good street lighting all the way around so there's not a lot of need for it. A lot of my long-sleeve winter tops are relatively light or bright in colour though (pale blue, bright pink etc).

crisco10 · 09-12-2014 04:27PM

28064212 wrote: »

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

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

Fair enough. for the sake of a few euro (or nothing if it's from the RSA) I'd still like to increase my chances of being seen. It's not like people in high vis are going to run blindly forwards with cricket pitch vision. And I still think that given a certain set of circumstances and a particular time, i might just miss something that I should have seen or heard and if my yellow jacket helps bail me out just that once, it's worth it.

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 04:35PM

walshb wrote: »

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

How many runners in, say forever, were badly injured or killed on a footpath and the lack of highviz was ruled a factor in the accident ? None I'd say.

Yes, country roads well and good, I wear them myself, usually with a head torch. But in a city on a footpath, it's pointless, IMO.

walshb · 09-12-2014 04:42PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

How many runners in, say forever, were badly injured or killed on a footpath and the lack of highviz was ruled a factor in the accident ? None I'd say.

Yes, country roads well and good, I wear them myself, usually with a head torch. But in a city on a footpath, it's pointless, IMO.

I don't know the answer to that.

We can agree to disagree. I will say, the more lit up an area the better. That's obvious. The less lit up the more emphasis is placed on a person to ensure their safety. Not everyone runs in cities where street lighting is generally quite good. Many towns and communities where the street lighting is fair-poor-nonexistent!

This Fat Girl Runs · 09-12-2014 05:14PM

Knowing I'm visible doesn't relax my vigilance at knowing my surroundings. I spotted the other runner because I was making sure to keep my eyes peeled for anything unexpected. Even in day light and bright sunshine I can't assume other road/footpath users are paying attention or making the best decisions.

As a pedestrian and a runner, on footpaths in the city, I've had too many near misses to ever take for granted that everyone is alert! I've had many occasions where I've missed a green man to cross a street because drivers/cyclists are turning right on the red, even though I had the right of way. I've nearly been taken out by cyclists on the footpath going the wrong way on a one way street and I've had pedestrians step out or stop suddenly in front of me.

Basically, wearing high viz on a dark night/morning is my way of giving everyone else notice that I'm there, but I'm also going to stick to trying to notice everyone else.

shels4ever · 09-12-2014 05:25PM

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.

Have to agree with you there I've run in the park reciently at night and still had high vis stuff on. But I'm unfit and chances of passing out in a run are high so would help out collecting my body in any search ðŸ˜„

DarByrne1980 · 09-12-2014 05:45PM

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

Knowing I'm visible doesn't relax my vigilance at knowing my surroundings. I spotted the other runner because I was making sure to keep my eyes peeled for anything unexpected. Even in day light and bright sunshine I can't assume other road/footpath users are paying attention or making the best decisions.

Just having da hi0viz gear on doesnt take much effort. so it mite not save u in an accident situation with someone not aware of their srurroundings. but u are giving urself every chance of being seen. if its dark regardless of where im running. i put on the hi-viz.

Carawaystick · 09-12-2014 05:50PM

All the proponents of wearing high vis on a path in a streetlit area at night know high vis works by flourescing from incident uv skylight, the kind that you get only in the daytime?

If they said retroreflectors for night time then there'd be some reason.

This Fat Girl Runs · 09-12-2014 05:58PM

Carawaystick wrote: »

All the proponents of wearing high vis on a path in a streetlit area at night know high vis works by flourescing from incident uv skylight, the kind that you get only in the daytime?

If they said retroreflectors for night time then there'd be some reason.

I didn't know there was a difference, but when I think 'high viz' I think of anything that makes me visible. Reflector bands, LED lights etc.

crisco10 · 09-12-2014 06:00PM

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

I didn't know there was a difference, but when I think 'high viz' I think of anything that makes me visible. Reflector bands, LED lights etc.

Ditto, would even class lighter clothing as high-vis in a sense. To me, it's basically anything that increases your visibilty. Not particular materials that reflect etc.

sconhome · 09-12-2014 06:40PM

Carawaystick wrote: »

All the proponents of wearing high vis on a path in a streetlit area at night know high vis works by flourescing from incident uv skylight, the kind that you get only in the daytime?

If they said retroreflectors for night time then there'd be some reason.

This ^^ is the key point that pretty much everybody misses.

This Fat Girl Runs wrote: »

I didn't know there was a difference, but when I think 'high viz' I think of anything that makes me visible. Reflector bands, LED lights etc.

Your stock HIgh Viz vest is pretty much useless at night or for running. The colours are 'DayGlo' and designed for identifying you against a dull background. They do not flouresce or retroreflect at night and we are essentially colourblind at night too.

The best things to wear are outer-garments that retroreflect or have points of identity on the back and sleeves that outline you rather than make yo look like a traffic cone.

If mods don't mind I wrote about this last year explaining some of this https://amphkingwest.wordpress.com/2013/10/02/reflecting-on-run-safely/

The backs of most shoes, running tights have reflective markings, gloves, hats and jackets too. Most running Tees and tops have little reflective patches. These are shown to be more effective than a glaring bounce of light.

We are fixated though on the idea of high-vis, some understanding of how and whay it works, helps in choosing the right gear for the job.

To answer OP - I don't wear a reflective vest, I have a Saucony gillet which literally glows orange when light hits it, no-one gets dazzled and I am clearly visible at night on country roads and the like. So yes, I wear visibility gear running in dark but not how most people expect.

chinguetti · 09-12-2014 08:05PM

Folks, regardless of whether people walk, cycle, run out or drive into you, if you're running at night and not wearing a high vis jacket/bib or bright colours to go with it, you are taking your life in your hands needlessly without due care for yourself, don't mind anyone else.

You can get high vis bibs for free so there's no excuse. The amount of people I meet running or cycling wearing all black with no lights on them always amazes me.

Its too late to put on a hi vis if you're lying in the road after getting a belt of car.

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 08:09PM

chinguetti wrote: »

Folks, regardless of whether people walk, cycle, run out or drive into you, if you're running at night and not wearing a high vis jacket/bib or bright colours to go with it, you are taking your life in your hands needlessly without due care for yourself, don't mind anyone else.

Surely the qualifier being where you actually run?

RonanP77 · 09-12-2014 08:14PM

I do all of my running in the forest so no. Walking around the outskirts of town, yes.

Hannibal Smith · 09-12-2014 08:36PM

I always wear a high vis vest when running in the dark. I never assume im safe though. ..id still never run onto a road without checking etc

Its funny people mention those led arm bands...I find them so freaky when I come across them...its like a dancing light coming for you and you have to try and figure out wtf it is. The other night I came across a whole pile of lights...it looked like a ufo coming for me

and I couldn't make out the outline to figure out how to get round it.

As it got closer I copped...it was a guy on a bike...leds on his head. ..his arm and on the front of the bike...a dog on a lead attached to the bike with leds on the collar. ...two kids behind him with leds on helmets arms and front of the bike. ..im not gonna lie I was a little afraid

chinguetti · 09-12-2014 08:39PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Surely the qualifier being where you actually run?

For me that's a no. To me that would be something like saying that if you drive a car, you don't wear a seat belt if you're driving a car along a road that is your private road. If you go off the road, the seat belt might save you.

I know some on here will scoff at the above but its my opinion. Whether everyone else does the same is up to each person but if I'm driving a car and a runner wearing black runs out in front of me, they are not giving due care to their safety or others and in my mind is being reckless.

DarByrne1980 · 09-12-2014 08:44PM

chinguetti wrote: »

I know some on here will scoff at the above but its my opinion. Whether everyone else does the same is up to each person but if I'm driving a car and a runner wearing black runs out in front of me, they are not giving due care to their safety or others and in my mind is being reckless.

well said chingeutti. sometimes a runner will have to step off a footpath onto a road for manys reasons. its very possible a car is passing at da same time. someting hi-viz could help prvent a very dangerous situation actually happenig. da way i look at it u get loads of hi-viz free in race goody bags. wearing one is saying ur trying to give due care to others around u as chingetti is saying.

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 08:49PM

chinguetti wrote: »

For me that's a no. ........safety or others and in my mind is being reckless.

Well then surely walking to the shops, bus stop, the dogs etc at night all require the wearing of high vis ?

What makes running on the same paths fundamentally more dangerous than walking on them?

walshb · 09-12-2014 09:10PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Well then surely walking to the shops, bus stop, the dogs etc at night all require the wearing of high vis ?

What makes running on the same paths fundamentally more dangerous than walking on them?

Running usually involves the element of more speed. Speed adds to the the equation.

Try it. Walk down any fairly busy street/path in Ireland and you may not bump into anyone. Now, run down that same street or path and you'd be lucky not hit someone. Add in darkness/lack of good daylight and people with no viz aids and it gets even more tricky.

As I said earlier, I would wear high viz at night whether walking or running on a foot path. Simple: So that I am more visible. I don't fully trust that others should be able to see me and avoid me should I not be wearing high viz at night.

Anyway, I'm shocked that there's so much debate on this. I would have thought it was bloody obvious that the simple addition of a high viz aid at night would be a no brainer. Even in areas that are somewhat lit up. Night time will always present more visual difficulties. Best to try and be as visible as you can

pistol_75 · 09-12-2014 09:19PM

walshb wrote: »

Anyway, I'm shocked that there's so much debate on this.

Irony at its best...

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 09:23PM

walshb wrote: »

Try it. Walk down any fairly busy street/path in Ireland and you may not bump into anyone. Now, run down that same street or path and you'd be lucky not hit someone. Add in darkness/lack of good daylight and people with no viz aids and it gets even more tricky.

As I said earlier, I would wear high viz at night whether walking or running on a foot path. Simple: So that I am more visible. I don't fully trust that others should be able to see me and avoid me should I not be wearing high viz at night.

Anyway, I'm shocked that there's so much debate on this. I would have thought it was bloody obvious that the simple addition of a high viz aid at night would be a no brainer. Even in areas that are somewhat lit up. Night time will always present more visual difficulties. Best to try and be as visible as you can

Your analogy to walking down a busy street, and then running down it, is ridiculous.

Where are all these people that can't avoid you without the aid of a high vis, ( their effectiveness, or lack thereof, already detailed, ) ? I've managed to run around for years in parks and on footpaths without them and strangely have never had anyone crash into me.

menoscemo · 09-12-2014 09:26PM

Hi Viz tops are only hi Viz when there is a light shining on them.. They don't glow up in the dark.
In a dark or unlit park or street they don't make you visible at all. On Roads where cars lights are shining on you they do...

granturismo · 09-12-2014 09:46PM

menoscemo wrote: »

Hi Viz tops are only hi Viz when there is a light shining on them.. They don't glow up in the dark.
In a dark or unlit park or street they don't make you visible at all. On Roads where cars lights are shining on you they do...

Agreed, there used to be a guy running on a country road, whom I drove past regularly at about 6pm this time of year, so no paths, no street lights and he wore a yellow sports bib - no reflective strips on it.

Reflective strips and led lights make a huge difference to drivers on country roads.

I got a small clip on red led light in Elvery's for €4.99 - only used it once, I run approx 1k on a road in daytime before getting onto a pedestrian track but it was very foggy about 2 weeks ago, so got to use the led for one day. Night time, I run in a park so dont need it.

walshb · 09-12-2014 09:47PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

I've managed to run around for years in parks and on footpaths without them and strangely have never had anyone crash into me.

Good for you.

I guess all the people (and it's almost all) up my way who wear high viz clothing at night whilst walking and running on footpaths are wasting their time then. The street lighting isn't too bad either.

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 09:55PM

walshb wrote: »

Good for you.

I guess all the people (and it's almost all) up my way who wear high viz clothing at night whilst walking and running on footpaths are wasting their time then. The street lighting isn't too bad either.

Yes, I would say it's a pointless exercise which can actually lead to a false sense of security.

People put on high vis for everything these days to the point of ridiculousness.

walshb · 09-12-2014 10:08PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

Yes, I would say it's a pointless exercise which can actually lead to a false sense of security.

People put on high vis for everything these days to the point of ridiculousness.

You seem to think that these people go out thinking they're completely safe? I don't think that, but at least at night if you are that bit more visible/lit up it gives you a better chance of being seen should a situation arise.

I am not sure what is to the 'point of ridiculousness' about wearing high vis/reflectors etc at night whilst out and about. If it was sunny and daylight I could understand. I haven't ever seen that. I can only speak about my own area which is fairly lit up, in parts, and not so in other parts. Most people out at night whether walking or running use high vis clothes/aids.

kirving · 09-12-2014 10:09PM

Where I live is just outside a small town, about 1km or so, so I see lots of runners from the town and surrounding housing estates along the road. I do plenty of driving on country roads too. Anyone, either walking or running on the path beside the road without a reflective jacket is nigh on impossible to see at night.

Now some will say that it does't matter that I can't see them at night, since they're on the path. It absolute does matter though. A reflective jacket which I can see easily see from 100m away means that I'm not straining my eyes, or thinking about whether the movement up ahead is a dog, a child, an adult or a loose branch of a tree. Having as much clear information about your surrounding is vital. I know that whatever happens, like a car pulling out of a side road, or a truck crosses the white line on a bend, that I 100% cannot put the car on the pavement, because that means a dead pedestrian. I'd rather hit the other car and rely on the safety of my car rather than almost certainly kill someone.

As a walker or runner, I'll do whatever I can to give myself the best chance rather than rely on the driver who is passing 3ft away.

Edit: You hear the false sense of security thing with bicycle helmets, seatbelts, airbags, etc, it's nonsense.

ThisRegard · 09-12-2014 10:11PM

walshb wrote: »

I am not sure what is to the 'point of ridiculousness' about wearing high vis/reflectors etc at night whilst out and about

I didn't say that..

And the argument that wearing high vis can lead to a false sense of security is not a fallacy, it's prevalent amongst certain sections of cyclists who think that the wearing of it makes up for the lack of adequate lighting on their bikes.

walshb · 09-12-2014 10:14PM

ThisRegard wrote: »

walshb wrote: »

I am not sure what is to the 'point of ridiculousness' about wearing high vis/reflectors etc at night whilst out and about/quote]

I didn't say that.

Okey doke. I have yet to witness folks wearing high viz in situations that were ridiculous or unnecessary. You obviously have?

Ososlo · 09-12-2014 10:17PM

I never go out anymore without a little battery operated red clip on light like cyclists use. I had a near miss whilst just wearing reflective clothing so I don't think it's enough anymore. It has a flashing setting too which is great.
I wouldn't dream of going out without it now as I feel it's the best way of being visible to others.
A great xmas present for any runner btw!

Do you wear visibility gear when running in the dark?

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