Re: THE DREADED LIST !!!!!!!!!!!!

[Eric Sheley <eric@xxxxxxxxxx>]

At 03:26 PM 10/30/1999 +0200, Leatherbiker wrote:
 >on a more serious note
 >does anyone recall seeing any official statistics about the
 >relative safety of different-coloured bikes?
 >I always assumed that black bikes were intrinsically more
 >dangerous, being less visible at night.

Not on bikes, but I have seen study information on emergency vehicles (fire 
response vehicles in particular).

Can't remember the last time I saw a Black fire engine heading off to the 
scene of a late night fire ......

A large number of Fire departments began painting their apparatus Safety 
Green (the color of tennis balls) after a national (US) study demonstrated 
it was the most visible color under all weather conditions - and at night - 
and provides the greatest amount of contrast to environmental colors. The 
last part being the key statement - it is not enough to just be light (as 
white would be) but also to contrast with the colors found in the 
surrounding environment. By these criteria, black would not be a winner in 
this test.

The change from red to Safety Green apparatus instantly reduced accidents 
which occurred when units were answering calls.

 >On the other hand, they are pretty visible in the daytime in
 >bright sunlight, surely?

As visible as any other black vehicle would be. Thus the benefit to running 
your lamps during the day.

 >One of my friends says he even saw statistics proving that black
 >bikes are MORE visible.

I would ask to see it in print and then investigate the source.

 >So either somebody's lying with statistics or else I'm very
 >confused.
 >I know that I find it hard to see people dressed all in black
 >(which is very fashionable still here in the UK) at night,
 >specially as they meander across the road after leaving the pub
 >at a snail's pace with not so much as 1 sq.cm. of reflective
 >striping on them.

Yup, I watched a couple almost almost get it Saturday night in Daytona. The 
driver of the car had no idea they were there (nor did I travelling in the 
lane next to the car).

- - Eric


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