What Research Says about Bright Motorcycle Gear
If you’ve been in a motorcycle wreck here in northern Texas, you’ve probably heard the chastising. Friends, family, and those who mean well but lack tact say things like, “You should wear brighter colors.” Or “If your jacket wasn’t black, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”
After a crash, people go through the What-Ifs. And a significant portion of those questions wonder what if the rider had worn something flashier, easier to see, and perhaps safer?
Today, the Car Crash Captain looks at what the studies show and what parts of this are just myths.
Bright Motorcycle Gear Improves Visibility, but Doesn’t Decrease Negligence
There’s plenty of research that shows wearing fluorescent or reflective gear improves your ability to be seen.
But that’s not the entire story. The time of day plays a big part too – is it dawn, daylight, dusk, or dark out? Weather is a factor, it’s much harder to see anything, no matter the color, if it’s raining. Traffic, road conditions, and more all play a factor when it comes to a crash.
And there’s the fact that most motorcycle safety gear is dark in color. Primarily because dark leather hides grease stains, matches motorcycle aesthetic, and it’s the easiest color to mass produce.
Making yourself easier to see is always a good idea. But assuming visibility is the only reason motorcycle crashes happen is naïve.
Motorcycle Accidents Don’t Happen Because Riders Wore the Wrong Color
Statistics don’t lie. We know that the majority of motorcycle accidents happen when a vehicle turns left in front of them. We also know that drivers pulling out from the side streets “don’t see the biker.” Or they change lanes without really checking if it’s clear. And, of course, there’s the negligent driver staring at their phone instead of paying attention to the road.
Have you ever wandered around the house looking for your car keys, only to realize they’re in your hand? Or perhaps you needed your sunglasses, and you finally find them – on top of your own head. Something similar happens on the road. Drivers look and scan for the larger vehicles like cars and trucks. Sometimes they see the motorcycle, but since they’re scanning for cars and trucks, the biker doesn’t even register as being there.
It doesn’t matter if the biker is wearing a black jacket, a gold jacket, or a green jacket. They’re seen, but drivers are suffering from what’s called inattentional blindness.
Clothing Becomes a Distraction from Reality
Studies do show that wearing bright motorcycle gear reduces the risk of being hit while you’re out riding. But that fact can cause conversations to take an unfortunate turn.
After a wreck, insurance companies, adjusters, and even legal experts can let the discussions drift toward what the rider was wearing instead of what the driver actually did. And they can get into debates on what could have happened if the situation was different.
But we know that clothing is only one factor among many. A driver that’s staring at his or her phone won’t see a motorcycle rider no matter what color they’re wearing. Bright gear improves the odds that someone notices you, but it doesn’t eliminate distracted driving. Wearing a hi-vis vest won’t stop someone from running the stop sign. Riding around with reflective stripes won’t force a driver to look more thoroughly when changing lanes.
Herbert Law Group Keeps the Conversation Focused
What you were wearing doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been injured in a motorcycle wreck in the Dallas area. If you had on bright motorcycle gear, you’d still be in the hospital, wondering if you’re going back to work, and overall stressed because someone else caused you to be injured.
That’s why Herbert Law Group is here. We’ll keep the conversation with the insurance companies focused on what really matters: getting you justice and compensation that will allow you to recover.
Let’s get to know each other and find out what happened. Call our offices at 214-414-3808, or fill out the contact form on our site and we’ll reach out to you.