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Police stop Evesham cyclists to warn against dark clothing

West Mercia force hands out high-vis accessories

Police in Evesham, Worcestershire have been tackling cycling safety by warning riders of the dangers of wearing dark clothes, and handing out high-vis accessories.

More than 30 riders were stopped in a ‘Be Safe Be Seen’ exercise conducted by the Safer Roads Partnership and West Mercia Police.

Uniformed officers stopped cyclists wearing dark clothing or who didn't have lights during the morning and evening rush hours on January 6 and 26.

Riders were offered safety advice and high-vis products safety advice about the importance of keeping themselves visible and high-vis cycling products to help keep them safe on the roads, such as flashing armbands, high-vis rucksack covers and lights.

Anna Higgins, communications manager at the Safer Roads Partnership said: “Our ‘Be Safe Be Seen’ cycle safety initiatives are a proactive way of raising awareness about the need for cyclists to make themselves as visible as possible on the roads.

"We’ve run a number of similar initiatives across Warwickshire and West Mercia over the past few months and have engaged with over 350 cyclists.

"Unfortunately some of the cyclists we spoke to just didn’t recognise the dangers involved in not being visible. A couple of cyclists we spoke to during the early morning initiative had lights or high-vis gear at home, but didn’t feel that they needed them, even though it was still very dark at that time."

It's not the first time police have pushed the message that high-vis clothing equals safety on the roads, even though the research on the subject is equivocal at best.

In 2009, cycling charity CTC was critical of Hampshire Constabulary for stopping riders who were wearing dark clothing.

A CTC spokesman said at that time: “It’s curious the police are stopping cyclists for not breaking the law when there are so many motorists who break the law every day, and I think a much better use of police resources could focus on drivers breaking the law."

Research findings on the efficacy of high-vis are inconclusive.

In 2013, a University of Bath and Brunel University study found that no matter what clothing a cyclist wears, around 1-2 per cent of drivers will pass dangerously close. The researchers concluded that there is little a rider can do, by altering their outfit or donning a high-visibility jacket, to prevent the most dangerous overtakes from happening.

Also in 2013, an Australian study drew an important distinction between reflective clothing and hi-vis, highlighting that the former is the best way to be seen in the hours of darkness.

At the end of 2014, a Danish study concluded that high-vis jackets worn by cyclists appeared to reduce incidents leading to injury, though that study also found that there were fewer reported incidents of solo crashes among the high-vis wearers.

That study was also criticised for being funded by the jacket manufacturer.

John has been writing about bikes and cycling for over 30 years since discovering that people were mug enough to pay him for it rather than expecting him to do an honest day's work.

He was heavily involved in the mountain bike boom of the late 1980s as a racer, team manager and race promoter, and that led to writing for Mountain Biking UK magazine shortly after its inception. He got the gig by phoning up the editor and telling him the magazine was rubbish and he could do better. Rather than telling him to get lost, MBUK editor Tym Manley called John’s bluff and the rest is history.

Since then he has worked on MTB Pro magazine and was editor of Maximum Mountain Bike and Australian Mountain Bike magazines, before switching to the web in 2000 to work for CyclingNews.com. Along with road.cc founder Tony Farrelly, John was on the launch team for BikeRadar.com and subsequently became editor in chief of Future Publishing’s group of cycling magazines and websites, including Cycling Plus, MBUK, What Mountain Bike and Procycling.

John has also written for Cyclist magazine, edited the BikeMagic website and was founding editor of TotalWomensCycling.com before handing over to someone far more representative of the site's main audience.

He joined road.cc in 2013. He lives in Cambridge where the lack of hills is more than made up for by the headwinds.

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130 comments

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mrmo | 9 years ago
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on the burglary point, there is evidence that the police try and catch burglars, there is evidence that the legal system doesn't give a **** about drivers and dangerous driving.

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FluffyKittenofT... | 9 years ago
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Tinternet_tim wrote:
FluffyKittenofTindalos wrote:

Where's your evidence that this organisation 'have experience in road safety?

I'll tell you what, I'll leave you to your half empty glass of beer / juice etc.

So many are quick to critic as it's so easy to do so. Wonder how many of those who are critical have actually tried to make a difference for others or a community? Maybe try it one day, it's actually quite rewarding and it takes a bit of character as lots just want to prove you wrong and find problems!!!

But 'making a difference' is not in itself a good thing. The important question is whether they are making things better or worse. I tend to think, on balance, badgering people about high-viz clothing makes things worse rather than better (I'm actually OK with it regarding lights).

I mean, I don't actually know whether the stories about Islamists going around telling women to cover up or people to stop drinking are actually true or Daily Mail myth - but if it were true, would you applaud that as well on the basis that they are 'making a difference for their community'?

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HarrogateSpa | 9 years ago
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Quote:

You either take responsibility for your own safety or you put it in the hands of strangers who may not even know you're there. Anybody who disregards good safety advice is pretty dumb and probably not much loss to the human gene pool if their actions result in injury or worse.

Whether we cyclists like it or not, our lives are in the hands of drivers to a large extent.

Under every cycling article in a national newspaper, you get anti-cycling trolls using the line, 'if you don't do X (what I want you to do) you will die, and it'll be your own fault/you'll deserve it'. Thankfully, I haven't seen it often under articles in road.cc, and if there's a troll signed up here making such comments, as far as I'm concerned he/she is not welcome.

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HarrogateSpa | 9 years ago
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Quote:

Clearly, you are unable to understand basic English. For your benefit and anyone else who is cerebrally challenged

Your comment did follow exactly the formula I described, talking about 'injury or worse.'

Your subsequent comment to me is personal abuse. If this site were moderated, it would be deleted. In any event, your style of debating is not something to be encouraged.

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tonylen | 9 years ago
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I just knew,on reading the headline but before reading the comments,that there would be the usual predictable boring bloody idiots on here banging on about victim blaming,slagging off the cops blah blah boring blah
Honestly,I don't know how some of you lot manage to actually ride your bikes,weighed down as you are with your senses of grievance and chips on your shoulders.
Here's how it works-the cops work to detect crime after its happened ,and at the same time to prevent crime before it does-if giving out some high viz either helps a cyclist to be seen on a dark night,or makes the cyclist think a bit about his own safety,then how can that be a bad thing ? Or would you rather they did nothing pro active and waited until its time to wash the body parts off the road before telling someone Daddy isn't coming home for tea?
And before you say they should be tackling motorists-they are-day in,day out,seizing uninsured cars,crawling over the scrote wagons and generally trying to make a difference-just because you don't see them doing it doesn't mean it's not going on-suppose though its always easier to to be a keyboard critic than actually getting out there and doing it
Bloody hell-drives me mad and is driving me off this forum

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fenix | 9 years ago
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Makes sense to me. I've seen cyclists with no lights at night or lights so feeble that you can't see them at any distance.

Or lights blocked by their wheels, or bags, or mudguards or thir jacket hanging down over the saddle and hiding the light completely.

I've seen cyclists in fog (just) with no lights and wearing a fog coloured rain jacket.

I've even missed my riding mate on a dull day when he was all in black.

A bit of bright kit can't harm you. We all know it's not magic but it doesn't harm your chances. With some drivers you could be on fire and they're so dopy they'd not notice.

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Airzound | 9 years ago
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If the plod stopped me because they didn't like the clothing I was wearing then they would be told to go fuck themselves. They have no power to stop cyclists because they don't like cyclists' choices of clothing, in fact, it is an abuse of their powers.

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TheSpaniard | 9 years ago
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Oh FFS....

Can we talk about helmets for a bit instead...?

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andyp | 9 years ago
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'there is evidence that the legal system doesn't give a **** about drivers and dangerous driving.'

That is, of course, absolute shite.

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iambrianjones | 9 years ago
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More pedestrians than cyclists are killed by motor vehicles. If high viz is so effective why aren't the police handing it out and offering 'advice' to pedestrians as well?

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Reg Molehusband | 9 years ago
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My bright reflective clothing and flashing rear light didn't stop the idiot driver who overtook me yesterday, with only inches to spare, who then immediately turned left across my path - while still partially alongside me. Emergency braking saved me - just. My very vocal response is unrepeatable here. Such breathtaking stupidity by car, van and bus drivers is now becoming a daily feature of my rides.

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Stumps | 9 years ago
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Cant win no matter what they try to do. Perhaps try doing our job will give people an insight into what we do have to deal with, such as the young 16 year old asylum seeker sold into prostitution by unscrupulous blokes or the 6 year old kid running through the snow last night because mammy was being filled in by her boyfriend again or sitting in the road for 50 mins holding a blokes head waiting for an ambulance after a cyclist decided to go for a gap that wasn't there or better still sitting with an old lady trying to comfort her after some bloke pretended to be from the gas board and stole her jewellery. The list goes on and on and on.

But people on here would rather we stood at junctions stopping people who drive into the cycling box or are on their mobiles, but yes we do that as well when we get a chance...  102

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don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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Are the police stopping drivers to let them know that there are cyclists on the road and should be using greater awareness when driving and taking measures not to run them over?

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iso2000 | 9 years ago
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"In 2013, a University of Bath and Brunel University study found that no matter what clothing a cyclist wears, around 1-2 per cent of drivers will pass dangerously close.

when discussing cycle safety, cyclists seem obsessed with being seen from behind. I don't understand this, surely you are far more likely to be injured by a car pulling out in front of you. Does anyone have a breakdown by type of accident?

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don simon fbpe | 9 years ago
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Quote:

Hivis is at best a distraction from the real issue which is inconsiderate/distracted or dangerous driving. Anti social driving is a big thing in the UK, and doesn't just affect people on bikes, but everyone other than people in cars.

This.
Expecting cyclists to wear hiviz just gives the driver another get out clause. We've already seen the driver who got off lightly becasue the sun was in their eyes. buggered if I know why they didn't just slow down...
It's not just "everyone other than people in cars", it's on other car drivers too, it's pedestrians on pedestrians, pedestrians on cyclists, cyclists on cyclists, neighbour on neighbour.
This is a selfish country where we expect to do what we want, when we want and have decided that when it all goes pear shaped that it MUST be the other person's fault/responsibility.
we are not considerate towards others and we don't want to take responsibility for our own selfish actions.

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mrmo | 9 years ago
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a few points 3.8Million drivers have points.

http://road.cc/content/news/44102-courts-let-nearly-half-motorists-who-a...

(note 43% of those with more than 12 are still driving)

c32Million Adults have licences.

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/nts02-driving-licenc...

two thirds of drivers ADMIT to speeding

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4241215.stm

I grant the numbers are from different years, and aren't directly comparable.

I think they make the point well enough

The point I am trying to make, most drivers break the law and most drivers get away with it, and even if they do get caught they don't get banned. Can you imagine any other crime where this would be so tolerated?

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Shades | 9 years ago
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Let's introduce Rapha High-Viz clothing into the debate and send the forum into the stratosphere!  21

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brian_the_snail | 9 years ago
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At this time of year, during daylight hours, the sun when it is out is generally low in the sky therefore high-viz clothing does not help, in fact it is more likely to be much worse at being seen by drivers as it reflects light and makes harder for you to be seen on the road. Reflective clothing in all conditions with a mix of some dark clothing for during the day would be better. Dark colours obviously absorb light hence making it easier for you to be seen in bright conditions. Same theory but opposite reason as to why for example combat soldiers do not wear dark clothing in the snow! I have and Exposure 6 pack and Joystick on the front of my bike and a Hope District + on the rear as well as Cateyes front and rear on flash mode. I run these day or night yet it doesn't to make much difference for some drivers!!

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wknight | 9 years ago
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I am an advanced motorcycle instructor and the hiviz debate is just as topical in our community, along with why do I need to have my headlight on. When I get a student who doesn't believe in hiviz I don't say anything.

I train with radios and its not long before up ahead there will be a motorcyclist or cyclist without hiviz or a light and one who does. Over the radio I ask them how many vehicles they can see. When we stop they are surprised at how much the light or hiviz made them earlier to see.

No it doesn't stop someone making a close call, or pulling out in front of you, that will happen. But it does make you more visible and it definitely helps, especially in built up areas. Unfortunately statistics cannot prove that because no incident results.

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Glyn | 9 years ago
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These campaigns are missing the point completely and just reinforcing to motorists that they have an excuse if they hit a cyclist. SMIDSY but hey its your fault, where's your hi viz jacket?

I think there is too much emphasis on hi viz and helmets and the like. Lights perhaps should be on at all times? LED lights now are as cheap as chips and stay bright for ages. But the biggest danger to cyclists are the motorists who on the whole are plain unaccepting that cyclists even exist let alone are out on the roads. We are hammered if we listen to music when we ride and we are legally forced to ride around with a bell! When has anyone avoided a crash with a car by ringing a bell? When has anyone avoided a crash with a car because he did not hear it coming? Car drivers on the other hand ride around in sound proofed boxes with multi speaker sound systems. The onus needs to be on getting the motorists to accept that bikes are there and accept that they are vulnerable and give them the space they deserve. Stupid police campaigns focussing in on minutiae like this one are only there to boost the promotion prospects of the organiser "Look what I did!" What about pedestrians crossing the road, are they asked to wear a helmet and an HV vest?

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Reg Molehusband | 9 years ago
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Following on from my earlier post:

Reggie Plate wrote:

"My bright reflective clothing and flashing rear light didn't stop the idiot driver who overtook me yesterday, with only inches to spare, who then immediately turned left across my path - while still partially alongside me. Emergency braking saved me - just. My very vocal response is unrepeatable here. Such breathtaking stupidity by car, van and bus drivers is now becoming a daily feature of my rides."

I forgot to menton it was daylight at the time. The driver saw me, but it obviously didn't enter her head that it was dangerous to pass so closely, or to overtake me on a left hand bend just before she wanted to turn left into a side road.

Telling cyclists to wear reflective clothing and helmets is all well and good, but it's not tackling the root cause of the problem. Drivers are generally ignorant of the dangers and something needs to be done to make them more aware. Until that happens, more cyclists will be injured or killed.

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700c | 9 years ago
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Oozaveared, spot on as usual.  41

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mrmo | 9 years ago
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Oozaveared,

One issue, and this is a problem, if one cyclist wears hi-viz they are more visible. if two wear hi-viz they are more visible, BUT if motorists decide unconsciously to look for hi-viz and don't see non hi-viz cyclists, hi-viz isn't really helping.

I know that is badly worded!

The roads are full of animals, walkers, cyclists, etc. some people can wear hi-viz but you will never get everything painted up. At some point you have to get drivers to look. Part of the problem, in-fact most of the problem IMO, is that the human brain is actually incapable of processing most of what it sees.

Trying to keep traffic flowing, by fast intersections, by roundabouts, all you do is deprive people of the chance to look. Even in a busy urban environment where the gaps in traffic are small people don't really look.

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FluffyKittenofT... | 9 years ago
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Actually, the irony is that cyclists riding on the road after dark sans lights, _does_ seem to be generally tolerated, notwithstanding one-off campaigns. And it irks me both as a cyclist and a pedestrian (I'd quite like to be able to see them coming when crossing the road).

I think it still just highlights the point that one-off gimmick campaigns solve nothing, and that road safety needs far more systematic change (most definitely including infrastructure!).

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mrmo | 9 years ago
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Don't know if it is connected, last two nights west Mercian have had a couple of cars and motorbikes pulling drivers on the A46 just south of Evesham. Quite a shock the way drivers change their behaviour when they might get pulled over.

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LinusLarrabee replied to HarrogateSpa | 9 years ago
0 likes
HarrogateSpa wrote:
Quote:

You either take responsibility for your own safety or you put it in the hands of strangers who may not even know you're there. Anybody who disregards good safety advice is pretty dumb and probably not much loss to the human gene pool if their actions result in injury or worse.

Whether we cyclists like it or not, our lives are in the hands of drivers to a large extent.

Under every cycling article in a national newspaper, you get anti-cycling trolls using the line, 'if you don't do X (what I want you to do) you will die, and it'll be your own fault/you'll deserve it'. Thankfully, I haven't seen it often under articles in road.cc, and if there's a troll signed up here making such comments, as far as I'm concerned he/she is not welcome.

Oh dear. I didn't say anyone deserves anything or that not doing 'X' will result in death. Clearly, you are unable to understand basic English. For your benefit and anyone else who is cerebrally challenged, I was expressing a lack of sympathy for people who deliberately avoid helping themselves out of a warped sense of morality that places all blame and responsibility on everyone but themselves - especially those people who spread dangerous ideas and actively encourage other people to increase the risk they are taking when cycling.

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Awavey replied to tonylen | 9 years ago
0 likes
tonylen wrote:

Here's how it works-the cops work to detect crime after its happened ,and at the same time to prevent crime before it does-if giving out some high viz either helps a cyclist to be seen on a dark night,or makes the cyclist think a bit about his own safety,then how can that be a bad thing ?

the point is it doesnt help at all, not one iota IMO, your opinion on its effectiveness may vary, but on the great big to do list of things they could do to help cyclists stay safe, its a long long way down the list of things that they could do that they should do, that would actually make an impact, would actually save lives.

but its really easy one to do, stand at a junction for a few hours with 50 hi viz vests, you can pick them up for about £1 each at builders trade. so total cost £50 + plus time, safety box ticked and everyones home by teatime...except maybe the cyclists who are still getting hit by cars/trucks/buses every day, but we dont want to fix that problem thats too tricky to solve and we cant do it for £50 quid, so lets hand out some more hi-vis & pretend we are doing something

yay for hi-vis!!!  20

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ChairRDRF replied to mrmo | 9 years ago
0 likes
mrmo wrote:

on the burglary point, there is evidence that the police try and catch burglars, there is evidence that the legal system doesn't give a **** about drivers and dangerous driving.

Exactly!

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mrmo replied to andyp | 9 years ago
0 likes
andyp wrote:

'there is evidence that the legal system doesn't give a **** about drivers and dangerous driving.'

That is, of course, absolute shite.

How many drivers are penalised after killing someone? There is the evidence, it is accepted that people will die and drivers will be allowed to continue on their way. It is accepted that depriving drivers of a licence may cause hardship so we have drivers on the road legally with 30 points on their licences. From personal experience the Police are not interested in accidents. My BiL was hit by a drunk driver and lost a leg as a result, it was the drivers second serious accident whilst drunk, he went on to have a third because he did not have his licence withdrawn. Look around at how many drivers are still using mobile phones, still speeding, driving recklessly, etc etc etc. I see no evidence of the police cracking down. I look at the recent court cases where judges declare that the highway code should be ignored and that driving at speed whilst blinded into a low sun is acceptable behaviour.

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mrmo replied to TheSpaniard | 9 years ago
0 likes
TheSpaniard wrote:

Oh FFS....

Can we talk about helmets for a bit instead...?

Good point, was West Mercia advising the cyclists to wear helmets in addition to lights and hi viz?

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