Why only cyclists should wear hi-viz in the dark? Cars can too!

To be fair, cars have headlight and taillights.

Here in Sweden cars are required to allways have their headlights on when the car is moving, making them far easier to see even during the day.

It us frankly one of the most annoying things about crossing the street when being abroad, cars having their headlights off during the day, it is much more difficult to see if a car is moving if it has the headlights turned off, than if they are on.

The satire misses the mark since cars already have strict mandatory visibility requirements by law. In the EU, you must have working headlights, brake lights, turn signals, daytime running lights (since 2011), fog lights, reverse lights, and reflectors. Driving without any of these gets you fined, points on your license, and fails vehicle inspection (TÜV/MOT). These aren't optional safety suggestions like cyclist hi-viz - they're legal requirements with real penalties.

I don't know about yankee laws...

It's funny, but as a driver and a cyclist, the amount of times I barely saw the person on the bike, because they had no hi viz, no lights and no reflectors (and black/dark clothing), even in moderately good visibility conditions is too damn high.

It's not that big of a deal in cities, but I'd be really pushing it to ride my bike out on a 70+ kmph road, and you'd have to hold me at gunpoint to do it without any lights, because I'd be as good as dead anyway.

Of course black cars are kinda the same, except here in Poland every car is required by law to have at least position lights on at all times (yes, sunny daylight too), and it makes a world of a difference no matter the paint color.

Cars have lights on them?

The number of dumbasses I see biking against traffic with no lights wearing black well after dark is too high for me to find this remotely serious.

Also, cars have a dozen reflectors, daytime running lights, and a ton of safety mechanisms.

Tldr: meme better, this is wrong and unsafe

I only wear hi-vis to take one more excuse away from the driver when they hit me. It doesn't actually help people see me in my experience.

When I'm on the road, I want to be visible. On my red motorcycle I wear a bright yellow helmet and a jacket with hi-viz strips. The problem is that car manufacturers only offer boring colors and charge an exorbitant fee for a cool color if they offer them at all.

I actually fully agree with the message. Bring back bright colors for cars!

Also participating in traffic at night is always a risk so wearing at least a bit of high-viz is just to minimize that. It's not like we are wearing it in jobs for the look.

Cars used to have lots of reflectors on them in the 1980 and 90's. Especially I'm the head and taillight clusters.

Cars should also be required to have high vis strips like commercial vehicles.

Can confirm. My car is that colour. Am yet to collide with a cyclist.

Arguably, if everything is high-viz, then cyclists may just blend in between the cars and be overlooked again. It does make sense that weaker participants in traffic are more visible, as long as everyone else is also visible.

I thought I bought a blue car. It was advertised as blue, paint job clearly said blue, the rendered image of the color was blue. My insurance paperwork states it is blue (as that's what the NVIS calls it).

In real life, i have a black car. The blue pigment is so dark that is black, except in very specific, harsh lighting at certain angles. And then you can see it sparkles blue.

I drive a Smart 451 which was silver initially. I can‘t count the amount of times that trucks and cars on the highway cut me off. At first I thought they were just assholes, but now I think its partly because its such a small car that the silver blends in with the street.

Two years ago, I wrapped my car in bright neon orange as part of an ad campaign from my company and it feels like I‘m getting noticed much more often. It‘s literally like a high vis west for my car.

Cars should be bright as fuck. A bright red, orange, green, or yellow car stands out way more than the black, white, beige and gray shit that dominates the road.

Seeing as many people drive WITHOUT LIGHTS

I get the sentiment here but as I'll always say the car wins.

You can't call it a death machine and then act like it's not one.

Cars have lights built in. Humans don't. Wear the fucking highvis and save your life.

Either that or start wearing light strips all over yourself.

I never understood people buying black cars. Not just because of visibility, but they turn into f-ing ovens in the summer.

We can't even make blacking out essential safety equipment like headlights and tail lights illegal, apparently a driver's personality and style should come before functional lights.

It should be noted most models of cars have high-vis parts on them, usually on the rear, that work the same way.

That bimmer looks sick

Not sure if the intended message is really coming through...

I mean I don't mind the aesthetic.

It's not victim blaming, it's practicality. You can be right, and still be dead. Motorbikers have the same problem as us pedalbikers

Because if too many people and things use hi-viz, that will make it regular-viz.

Score!

@sharingaan@lemmy.myserv.one

You’re absolutely right—visibility is for everyone! 🚴‍♂️🚗✨

While hi-vis gear is often associated with cyclists, drivers can benefit too. Reflective decals, glowing car wraps, or bright paint jobs can enhance a vehicle’s visibility at night, reducing accidents. 🌌👀

Imagine roads where everyone glows in the dark—from cars to pedestrians to bikes. Safer streets for all! 🛣️⚡ #StayVisible #RoadSafety #GlowTogether