Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury - Motorcycle-Journal Forums

Thundurburd · 02-02-2008, 06:40 PM

The following link is to an interesting paper on the conspicuity of motorcycle riders. Its objective was "to investigate whether the risk of motorcycle crash related injuries is associated with the conspicuity of the driver or vehicle." While the focus is conspicuity it includes several tables that reveal more details of the database if anyone is interested. This paper seems to be written by experts in statistical anslysis for others with that background.

Motorcycle rider conspicuity and crash related injury: case-control study

Conclusions:

Riders wearing reflective of fluorescent clothing has a 37% lower risk of crash related injury.
Compared with wearing a black helmet, a white helmet was associated with a 24% lower risk.

The study showed no association of risk for frontal color of clothing or the motorcycle, which was unexpected. Their explanation is that 80% of the riders wore dark colors and that the study might not have had the power to detect the effect of brighter colors if it existed.

I think conspicuity is important (but I do wonder who thinks up these words.) Last year I wore a very bright orange jacket or orange t-shirt depending on the weather. On the few occasions I wore something different I had the feeling that I was camouflaged and invisible to the cagers. Overall though I experienced fewer cagers cutting me off and pulling out in front of me than I had expected. I have to admit however that I was not a fashion statement.

Conspicuity is not a panacea but the 24% and 37% lower risks stated would be significant.