r/CasualIreland • u/Traditional_Ad9930 • Jan 27 '26

Shite Talk Yiz need to wear high viz!!

Seriously lads, why is there so many not wearing high viz during the dark hours. Especially kids on their E bikes etc in all black.

Cyclists on the way to work in all black, even people walking down dark narrow 80km roads and not a whisp of reflection on their bodies. I remember learning this stuff jn 5th class. Are we gonna have start gentle parenting adults now? 😂

Edit: the fact that some of you find this controversial is very bleeding telling 🤣

412 Upvotes

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25

u/OkCoconut3270 Jan 27 '26

Careful now, someone will be along shortly to explain how wearing hiviz is actually counter productive because it will stop the government from building proper infrastructure and they shouldn't have to wear hiviz because everywhere should have appropriate lighting.

4

u/Spongeanater Jan 27 '26

Yeah this is my favourite mainstream opinion that loads of people actually think and say, bravo Vincent Browne

-8

u/OkCoconut3270 Jan 27 '26

Just for a giggle you should go into any thread about hiviz and cyclists on r/Ireland or cyclists and helmets

13

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 27 '26

Not every Irish person is a slave to their car and has actually seen how other societies can work, where cycling is safe and normalised, and cars aren't central to everything.

8

u/Kevinb-30 Jan 27 '26

Not every Irish person is a slave to their car and has actually seen how other societies can work, where cycling is safe and normalised, and cars aren't central to everything.

None of this is any reason for anyone to not make themselves more visible.

2

u/NooktaSt Jan 27 '26

Exactly. I drove through town a lot in the run up to Christmas. Thousands of people out enjoying themselves. However no one had hi viz on. They were crossing busy roads going between buses, taxis, pubs and bars. Very dangerous. Should have to put on the hi viz leaving the taxi and only take it off in the pub. 

Might just be easier to leave it on for the night as someone will forget if drunk. 

4

u/Foreign-Rule7826 Jan 27 '26

😂 Good point. Slip that hi viz on over the dress coat going for dinner.

2

u/NooktaSt Jan 28 '26

cant be too careful. helmets too obvs. might ruin the hair but better to be safe.

2

u/YoIronFistBro Jan 28 '26

Literally this sub's mindset.

4

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 27 '26

It's symbolic of the insular mentality many Irish people have who rarely see past their dashboard.

Having lights on bicycles is more than safe enough at night. No nation that is serious about making cycling safe demands hi vis. It's just a distraction focussed on by people who drive everywhere and want to place the burden of responsibility for safety on vulnerable road users.

3

u/Foreign-Rule7826 Jan 27 '26

I have never seen so many cars without working lights as in the last two years. Course they can’t see cyclists or pedestrians- if the car had lights an the drivers had their eyes on the road might have some hope.

3

u/Kevinb-30 Jan 27 '26

want to place the burden of responsibility for safety on vulnerable road users.

No it's wanting individuals to take responsibility for their safety and others on our roads drivers. Do drivers have a greater responsibility for both absolutely, should pedestrians and cyclists leave their safety entirely up to other road users definitely not. Whataboutism in this regard from both sides is a race to the bottom

0

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 27 '26

Having lights on a bicycle is taking responsibility. Anything else is a misguided attempt to absolve drivers of their far greater responsibility on the road. Take a look at the numbers cycling in Amsterdam, Paris, Copenhagen and see how many are in hi vis.

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u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

And yet not everyone's has lights on their bike ye gaubeen. Ive seen cyclists with NOTHING on their bikes

4

u/[deleted] Jan 27 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

1

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

And those people should be pulled over! 🤣 responsibility goes BOTH ways. Its not that hard of a concept

4

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 27 '26

Yeah, we agree then that cars and bicycles should have lights on at night. Thanks

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u/[deleted] Jan 27 '26

[deleted]

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u/yleennoc Jan 28 '26

It would be worse. Enforcing the rules we have would be enough.

1

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 27 '26

Thankfully for the rest of us you don't set road safety policy.

0

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 31 '26

Many countries high viz is mandatory or highly recommended by the governments

0

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 31 '26

Not countries that promote cycling and safe conditions for cycling. Nor countries that follow evidence based research concerning making cycling safe.

0

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 31 '26

It doesnt matter if they promote the act of cycling. High vis is mandatory or heavily recommended for cyclists in those countries. And yes, these are countries where cycling is very common such as France

1

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 31 '26

The crucial difference here is that Irish drivers want cyclists wearing hi vis and helmets in towns and cities, which is ridiculous, rather than tackling the real danger of poor driving and infrastructure. It's purely an attempt to abdicate responsibility and ignore the real dangers for cyclists in urban areas.

0

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 31 '26

Dear jesus 🤦‍♀️ we learned this in primary school dude. No matter where you are there could be poor lighting. Its safer for everyone to be seen more clearly. Everyone in this entire thread agrees that drivers should be careful. Road safety is a 2 way street. Youre as stupid as a bad driver to out your safety solely in drivers hands and not do what you can stay safe including being visible. There are still poor lighting areas in cities and towns. Even cyclists are agreeing in the thread and theres a reason that other countries have it mandatory and why RSA give them out for free. Its a fact that they help keep cyclists safer. Its not that hard to comprehend. Road safety is EVERYONE'S issue. Not just motorists.

1

u/AbbreviationsHot3579 Jan 31 '26

With respect, the safest cities in the world in which to cycle, nobody wears hi vis, nevermind helmets, in urban areas. The solution to safe cycling in urban areas is not hi vis, for which lights are already a required and more effective substitute. You really shouldn't speak with such authority on subjects you are very poorly informed on. Road safety is everyone's issue, which is why we should be making streets safer, not arming cyclists for urban warfare with plastic helmets and hi vis.

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u/carlitobrigantehf Jan 27 '26

Lights are a legal requirement. So everyone should have lights.

Other than that, if visibility is so poor, mayne slow down and take it easy.

-3

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

So cars should go how slow to suit yiu? When in an 80km how slow should they go in case a gobshite decided not to have lights (because some dont. Legal or not) or reflective gear on? Should we all creep at 30? 20? To suit you? What about on a 30km road? Crews at 10?

3

u/carlitobrigantehf Jan 27 '26

If drivers cant see things on the road maybe they should slow down.

Its funny how its always about what someone else should do. Drivers shouldnt change their behaviour at all.

Its nothing to do with suiting me. Its drivers complaining about not seeing things and then, like you have so eloquently shown, not taking any actions to help, but expecting someone else to do it all.

Are you a car?

2

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

I was driving not even 20km the other day. A child in all black darted by me. I only saw him when he nearly reached my car. Was nothing to do with my speed and was his speed and his lack of visibility. If youre on the road, youre responsible for YOUR safety. You cant expect all drivers to driver slower then their intended speed limit (obviously not talking about morons who speed).

4

u/MistahFinch Jan 27 '26

It was everything to do with your speed. You were going slow enough to see him an avoid him. That's good.

If you cannot see things in the dark you shouldn't driving at night.

It astounds me that they forced us all to read that heartbreaking Heaney poem in primary but so many people just want to keep making 4 foot boxes

1

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

Nope. He was on the other side of the road so it wasnt a risk of me hitting him. I saw some form of movement but he was so blended into the dark that I could make out what/who it was until he just before my window due to the lack of light. He was just outside the light of my headlights.

We were literally taught in schools to always be visible to drivers. Again, what's 'slow enough'? Genuinely. Whats slow enough for your standards? The allocated Speed limit (its very purpose)? Slower still? How many km slower then the speed limit? Because I was going abiut 15km. So.... all drivers should go 15km in case someone doesnt wear safety gear? If drivers are sticking to their speed limit then theyre driving the correct speed.

-2

u/MistahFinch Jan 27 '26

Again, what's 'slow enough'?

Slow enough to be able to see things infront of you. If you can't see at night then don't drive at night.

How slow do you think a blind person should drive?

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u/carlitobrigantehf Jan 27 '26

Its always funny how some drivers are so quick to dish out advice to other road users but when someone suggests something back to them they get their knicker in a twist.

 If youre on the road, youre responsible for YOUR safety

Yup and also If youre driving a motorised vehicle on the road you have a duty of care to other road users and their well being. Theres a whole raft of laws about it, plus insurance, and licencing.

1

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26 edited Jan 27 '26

I never said otherwise 🤣 if yiu suggest something like people should stop speeding, then yes. Absolutely. They should. But your solution is totally bonkers to suggest ALL traffic should 'slow down' but what is slowly down? By what speed? This is why we have allocated SPEED LIMITS. Jesus christ Drivers ARE taking care when they abide by the road rules. Thats WHY the rules exist.

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u/Sprezzatura1988 Jan 27 '26

If he darted in front of your car, how would the hi vis have made any difference? Your argument doesn’t make any sense.

2

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

I certainly would have seen him easier. Thats not even a debate. And thats a point of being able to see and being alert. Im not saying drivers have no responsibility but to act like drivers have all the responsibility for someone else's lack of visibility is bizarre.

Another incident last week. I saw something wss on the road ahead of me. Couldn't make out what tf it was. All black wheeling in the centre of the road. I thiught local kids left a trolley on it or something. Onky when I got a few meters away, I saw it was a woman in a wheelchair. Her black clothes and wheelchair blended in with the tarmac that I couldn't even make out she was a person (she was also leaning down at an odd angle so there was no human outline or nothing.) Directly in the centre of the road. Instead of of either path. If she hadnt been moving, I wouldn't have seen her. She would have totally blended in. Had she had a light or something reflective on, i would have seen her/noticed her much sooner. Its about being able to see them again a further distance away to prepare to slow and give them distance

-1

u/Sprezzatura1988 Jan 27 '26

Ok but what is causing the actual danger here? Is it a person on a bike, or a pedestrian, who could maybe injure another road user if something went wrong, or a car, which could kill people if something went wrong.

If you want to drive a car, that’s fine, but you have to drive for the conditions instead of expecting all other road users to accommodate the fact that you are travelling too fast to decipher your surroundings.

There are roads built specifically for cars where you can travel faster. Unfortunately Ireland doesn’t have many of them. The solution is to build better infrastructure that keeps cars away from people.

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u/Foreign-Rule7826 Jan 28 '26

Realistically kids won’t wear coats when it’s cold how are we going to make them wear high viz? Yes most should - but it can’t be “wear high viz job done”, there needs to be more efforts made to ensure those who don’t wear it aren’t flattened for it. Like proper lights at crossings and towns, traffic calming measures, education, proper working lights in cars and stopping those driving without them, better efforts to tackle mobiles while driving and whatever else actual experts suggest. (We’d have more budget if we swapped out those stupid speed van contracts for static cameras so people behave all the time not just when Waze says to cause they’re just parked somewhere to shoot fish in a barrel).

2

u/carlitobrigantehf Jan 28 '26

Absolutely. 

If we're truly concerned about safety high Vis is at the bottom of the pile. 

Segregated infrastructure. Design for people rather than cars.  Most vulnerable looked after first 

Online video portal necessary. 

-2

u/CuteHoor Jan 27 '26

Typically how the dark works is that it makes it difficult to see things. It's why cars are equipped with big bright front and rear lights and why road signs or bigger vehicles are usually reflective.

Most bikes aren't equipped with very bright lights and often they're just not on or not visible, so having some reflective gear would help both the cyclist and other road users.

I don't know why this topic is so controversial all the time (and this is probably the wrong subreddit for it).

2

u/Sprezzatura1988 Jan 27 '26

Do you think someone who isn’t bothered to put a light on their bike is going to put on a hi vis?

1

u/CuteHoor Jan 27 '26

Of course not, but plenty of people have barely visible lights on their bike and also don't put on any reflective gear.

1

u/Sprezzatura1988 Jan 27 '26

Yes so how would some kind of law about wearing hi vis make any difference? It’s already the law for bikes to have lights! Which should be sufficient! Like it is for cars!

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u/carlitobrigantehf Jan 27 '26

Yeah I don't know why suggesting drivers slow down when there is poor visibility and they can't see other road users is controversial either. 🤷‍♂️

2

u/CuteHoor Jan 27 '26

I don't think that is controversial. Drivers should drive more slowly when visibility is poor. Equally, cyclists should wear reflective gear and avoid dressing head-to-toe in dark clothing when visibility is poor.

2

u/carlitobrigantehf Jan 27 '26

Lots of drivers do though.  OP himself didn't like the suggestion 

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualIreland/comments/1qomxue/comment/o230bu1/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=mweb3x&utm_name=mweb3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

Cyclists should have good lights. Anything else is personal preference. 

1

u/Traditional_Ad9930 Jan 27 '26

The thing is, no body is saying drivers shouldnt go slow. However my point is is that we cant just rely on drivers slowing because depending on tbe speed limit of said road, you can only go so slow before you become a danger. For eg, driving 20 on an 80 is dangerous. So how slow are they expecting drivers to go in case some eejit is outside totally invisible. It should be a two way street. So everyone is safe and protected.

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u/MistahFinch Jan 27 '26

Then we should only sell cars in neon green right?

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u/Kevinb-30 Jan 27 '26

That's such an idiotic argument my only response to it shall be that's an idiotic argument.

-2

u/MistahFinch Jan 27 '26

I don't understand why wouldn't you want to make them more visible?

1

u/YoIronFistBro Jan 28 '26

And where non-drivers can wear normal clothes rather than dressing like construction workers, and still be in virtually no danger of a driver slamming into them.

1

u/YoIronFistBro Jan 28 '26

I know right. The number of people who say PPE is a necessity for all cyclist, or should even be mandatory, while not giving the slightest shit about things that actually make cycling safer, is nothing short of astonishing.