Introduction: Why People in All Black on Bikes With No Lights Are Hard to See at Night - and What They Look Like When They Get Run Over. (has Nasty Pics)
OK - without getting into all the nuances and fine detail and using a cars high beam lights vs. a pox camera flash, being in traffic, coming from behind as compared to coming from the side etc..... etc., etc., etc....
This is a very simple "what you see is what you get" test, or to rephrase that in terms of riding at night in reflective clothes on a bike with lights and reflectors Vs. a person who wears all dark colored clothing and they are riding a bike with no lights or reflectors.....
So it's a what you do or don't see, is what you avoid or run over test.
This is my crappy black T shirt and my crappy and dirty white work T shirt... hanging on a barbed wire fence in the middle of nowhere. from about 6 meters or 20' - using a pox camera with flash.
Step 1: A Little Further Away...
This is the same crap black T shirt, the same dirty white T shirt - and with a longer distance = wider view - a reflective vest - all hanging on a barbed wire fence in the middle of nowhere from about 10 or 11 meters or 35' away.
Step 2:
This is the same crap black T shirt, the same dirty white T shirt - and with a longer distance = wider view - a reflective vest - all hanging on a barbed wire fence in the middle of nowhere - from even further away - perhaps about 15 meters or 50' - with a pox camera and a crap flash....
You have to look really carefully to see the white shirt.
The black shirt - no hope.
Step 3: Bang - Your Dead.
In my longer than usual rants - forget what you think about yourself and your fashion statement - after all it's not you running yourself over, it's the car driver running you over - so it's important to see yourself, as you are - from the CAR DRIVERS perspective.
https://www.instructables.com/id/The-Green-Helmet/?comments=all#C2RHBKTFR1239Y4
The person in the CLEAN white long sleeve shirt and pants and the reflective vest - and a set of lights and with front, rear and side reflectors on their bike, they are EASY to see, and are the most likely to die of old age and in good health.
The person in all dark colored clothing, with no lights or reflectors on the bike? Your just more fresh and easily preventable road kill.
As you can see the black T shirt is all but invisible from a very short distance away.
That's what I meant when I said that late one night - riding my motorbike through the back roads of an industrial estate - a kid dressed in all black, rode directly across the road in front of me - at night, with no lights or reflectors on a black BMX style bike....
And I was not able to see him until he was almost directly in front of me.
If I had of taken a second to glance at the scenery or the engine or the instruments - instead of having been looking directly ahead when he did shoot across the road on his bicycle - he would have been hit broadside and would most likely have been killed outright.
Wearing all dark colored clothing on a bike, at night, with no lights or reflectors is as smart as looking for a gas leak in the basement with a lit match.
In the traffic - it's just "BANG" and your dead.
That is about as simple as it gets.
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Step 4: I Like This Picture.
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I have inserted this picture as the cops have the cycling outfits pretty much down pat.
And the women are so CUTE - especially the short one.!!!!!!
Step 5: I Myself - Getting Older Smarter - Because I Have Nearly Killed Myself in Not Being So.
These days I REFUSE to do any night riding with out decent lights and decent reflectors and high visibility clothing.
Because of the configuration of my saddle, and the type of reflector and the fact that I only have had "shit" rear lights and I started to make my own, I needed a decent mount to put the said most excellent reflector and light onto.
The light is a single 10mm red LED, putting out abut 1/2 a watt of light.
The reflector is the OLD VIC ROADS (Victoria Australia) road side post reflector - it's BIG, it has a white plastic inner base and they work really well.
I had to design a mount to fit them onto my bike.
Note the lighting is under development.
Step 6: The Rear Reflector and Mount
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A different view.
Step 7: The Rear Light - No Camera Flash.
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It's BRIGHT - with an excellent beam direction and dispersion.
Step 8: The Rear Reflector With Camera Flash
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These reflectors are brilliant - and while rear light failures are rare, it's a pretty good backup anyway.
Step 9: This Is an Example of How Easy It Actually Is to Kill or Injure People.
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This guy was riding in a group, doing about 35Kmh (or 20mph).
The bike in front of him, ran over this stick, the stick lifted and hit this guys leg end on, and the stick went through his leg, breaking the bone in the process.
The stick wasn't pointy either.
Step 10: Doing a Good Job of Getting Dead.
There are plenty of things one can do to become very dead... in fact it's a remarkably easy thing to achieve, with a fraction of excessive risk, a moments distraction, a thoughtless act or a chain of seemingly benign events.....
That little nick in the extension lead.... not an issue... not worth noticing, not worth doing anything about -the power cord still works....
So one decides to run the lead from the power point in the laundry and out the back door...
This is great - until one day the laundry floods from the tap that was left on and one became distracted with something else.... So one runs into the pool of water on the laundry floor with bare feet... that the lead is laying in, and then one turns off the tap - thus completing the circuit to earth - and "Bang - your dead!"
Becoming dead is just SO easy to do.
And thus it is with cycling - You need to be sober, well rested, properly fed on good nutritious food, you need to have all your wits about you and the ability to concentrate - clearly - and for sustained periods.
You need to be dressed in high visibility protective clothing.
You need a helmet.
Your bike has to have the full kit of lights and reflectors. - front, back and side.
You have to service your bike - fully, so the chain runs smoothly, BOTH the brakes have to work - cleanly.
Perhaps some "family therapy" to address the reasons why your not doing what it takes to take good care of yourself.
And then thinking about things BEFORE you do them and BEFORE you get yourself into situations that you can't get out of. - or that don't factor in the unknown or the "surprise element".
Consider this, a motor bike can go much faster around corners than most cars... If the corner is a tight turn and the "safe speed" is listed as 60Kmh (about 40mph)... OK on really sticky compound rubber tyres, on a very clean road - perhaps you can take that corner on your motorbike at 110kmh.
The margin for error at this speed around that corner is virtually nill. OK lets say the corner is on a steep mountain road and you have limited visibility - because of the embankment on the inside of the corner - it's no big deal IF you know what is around the corner - before you go around it.
I have placed myself in a similar situation - only to find that a tree has dropped a huge branch across the road... or the downpour on the night before was washed a fine layer of sand across the road...
So if you have to hit the brakes to stop from hitting the tree - the bike straightens up and off into the oncoming traffic you go - or off the mountain you go...
Same with the sand.- down one goes - sliding under the oncoming traffic and or off the edge of the mountain road....
So this act of NOT leaving a very generous amount of room for unforeseen circumstances and errors in judgement - tends to make the difference between being fortunate enough to live to tell about it and amending ones attitude and behaviour or ending up young, mangled, crippled or dead.
It's the same with cycling - really excellent stopping power requires properly adjusted FRONT and REAR brakes, on properly inflated tyres, on a clean, dry road.
70% of your stopping power is in the front wheel and 30% is in the rear wheel.
Say your bike has only the rear brake working, you come sailing down a big hill, the road is wet and someone in a car at the bottom of the hill, doesn't see you and decides to pull out in front of you.
Without going too ballistic on the maths of it all, I am going to make up some figures so it's easier to understand.
The front brake in the dry has 7 units of stopping power; and the rear brake in the dry has 3 units of stopping power.
So collectively at 10 units of speed, you need 10 units of stopping power to stop in 10 units of distance in the dry.
In the wet you would probably need 3 X the distance, to stop in before coming to a halt - thus needing 30 units of distance to brake in.
With the rear brake only - in the DRY - your going to need 30 units of distance to stop from 10 units of speed.
With the rear brake only - in the WET - your going to need 90 units of distance to stop from 10 units of speed.
Why? With the rear brake only - in the wet, with only 1/3 of the stopping power is applicable before the rear tyre breaks adhesion and aquaplanes - causing loss of braking power and directional control of the bike.
All up this means that irrespective of "who is in the right and who is in the wrong" - if you have both brakes working properly, on properly inflated tyres - when that car pulls out in front of you, you have the braking power to be able to either stop completely and avoid hitting the car or to at least wash off an awful lot of speed before you do hit it.
But on a rear brake only - the emergency stop is engaged, the rear tyre breaks adhesion, and one aquaplanes down the hill at almost full speed, into the side of the car, then flies over the roof, lands on the ground on the other side of the car, on ones head and breaks one's neck and or cops a heap of brain damage.
So by considering that with the intersection at the bottom of the hill is a source of potential crashes, and going down it at an appropriate speed (read kind of slow), with both brakes fully operational - irrespective of who is in the right, you have placed yourself in the BEST position to avoid a collision before it occurs.
This is the difference.
It's a bit like premediated murder, where one prepares and plans for the killing of another; but in this case, one is consciously undertaking premeditated actions that are going to result in health, wealth and longevity - through the avoidance of accidents before they occour.
95% of living well is in the preparation. The other 95% is doing it properly.
Step 11: This Is What a Bicycle Lawyer Had to Say About Bicycle Crashes.
http://www.watkinlaw.com/bicycle_accidents.htm
Latest Example: El Tour de Tucson
The 2008 El Tour de Tucson race was marred by a series of car-on-bike accidents. In one hit and run incident, an elderly male driver turned left in front of an approaching peloton of approximately 60 riders, causing at least 10 cyclists to collide with the vehicle, five sustaining serious injuries. The driver got out of his car, inspected the damage to his vehicle, and drove off! Two days later, his attorney turned him over to the Pima County Sheriff's Office. There were at least three other, very similar, car-on-bike incidents, as well as an incident in which a rider was struck in the back by a brick thrown from the window of a passing motor vehicle!
Watkin Law represents one of the riders injured in El Tour. When the motor vehicle turned left in front of him -- he was riding in the bike lane! - with no time to swerve or stop, he crashed into the right side of the car, breaking both legs. He underwent surgery that day and spent the next two nights in the University of Arizona Medical Center. All of these injured riders will be forced to pursue personal injury damage claims against the at-fault drivers. If the drivers have no liability insurance coverage or not enough - the cyclists will have no recourse but to pursue personal injury claims for pain and suffering under their own automobile insurance policies - assuming they have uninsured and underinsured motorist "UM/UIM" coverage. In any case, they should contact a lawyer with experience in handling cycling claims.
Hire an Attorney Who is also a Cyclist.
As a long-time road cyclist and mountain biker, Clark Watkin has thousands of miles of "saddle time" and has witnessed (and sometimes experienced) the painful cuts, bruises, broken bones and even more serious injuries that can be caused by the negligence of others - usually drivers of autos and trucks; but sometimes motorcycles and even other bicyclists. Most injuries -- and virtually ALL deaths -- are preventable. They simply do NOT need to happen. Aside from an equipment problem or "operator error," where the cyclist himself is not paying attention or is riding dangerously, fault can usually be found with the motor vehicle driver, who frequently will claim he "just didn't see" the bicyclist.
Bicycle Accidents
In the United States, approximately one million cyclists sustain serious injuries as a result of bicycle-related accidents each year. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that a bicyclist is fatally injured every 6 hours, and nearly half of all the people killed in bicycle accidents are children under the age of 16. Head injuries account for seventy-five percent of all serious injuries and deaths from bicycle accidents. In most bicycle accident cases, negligent drivers are to blame. Whether its aggressive driving or sheer stupidity, a bicyclist stands to suffer serious injuries when a car fails to follow the rules of the road. The Watkin Law Office handles serious bicycle accidents throughout Arizona.
The lack of protection and inability to predict a driver's behavior is a dangerous combination for cyclists. There is no competition between a bicycle and a vehicle that weighs thousands of pounds when the driver acts in a negligent manner. Under Arizona law, cyclists are entitled to monetary settlements for the medical expenses, bike damage, lost wages, pain and suffering and a bevy of other damages from the negligent driver.
A bike accident can be not only a very frightening experience but the injuries involved are usually serious and long-lasting requiring thousands of dollars in medical treatment and significant future medical expenses. Cyclists suffer all sorts of injuries due to driver negligence. It is not uncommon for bike riders to be injured by car doors ("doored"), or hit by cars that do not respect the right-of-way, and often, drivers who were just not paying attention. There are many different injuries that a person may suffer due to a bicycle accident, including:
- Head injury
- Concussion
- Fractured bones
- Spine injury
- Paralysis
From professional cyclists, enthusiasts and "weekend warriors," to the occasional rider, elder or child, all run the risk of being tragically injured. In each case, the sudden inability to engage in a profession, avocation or favorite hobby/pastime, is accompanied by the inability to engage in many (or any) aspects of a person's daily "routine. A serious "road rash" is essentially the same as a serious burn - and it usually covers a fairly large expanse of skin. As for cuts, broken bones and any of the even more serious injuries inflicted in a cycling accident, they are no less serious and severe than if they had been inflicted in a car, truck or motorcycle crash. In fact, given the generally "active lifestyle" lived by the victim, such injuries can carry an even more devastating consequences. Depression, sleep loss, weight change and a host of other "incidental" emotional conditions often coincide with such a sudden and dramatic alteration in your life.
We understand. We also understand that one of the critical goals after going through such trauma is to get your medical bills paid and covered, make sure you do not suffer financially through any lost wages, and make sure your insurance company will pay for future treatment relating to your injury. We will discuss your situation and go over the options available to you, as well as work with insurance companies and other parties involved in your case to make sure all your needs are handled quickly and appropriately.
Cycling, of course, has some inherent risks. Mishaps and injuries caused by rider error, inexperience, mechanical problems, potholes and debris in the roadway are some of the most obvious. At the same time, however, cyclists must obey the same "rules of the road" as drivers of autos, trucks and motorcycles. That includes stopping at stop lights/signs, yielding and using lanes in a safe and lawful manner, using appropriate hand signals, and not just "blowing through" intersections while expecting everyone else to obey the traffic control devices.
But what happens when you, the cyclist, are fully in control, paying attention, obeying the traffic laws and doing everything you are supposed to be doing -- but the driver of a motor vehicle suddenly swerves and strikes you from behind, pulls into your path from a side street, or opens his car door without looking? Because of the differentials in speed between cyclists and motor vehicles, there is often no time to react and no place to turn to avoid the sudden danger. And because of the huge size and weight difference, in a match between a bicycle and a car or truck, the bicycle loses every time. You don't stand a chance!
These are just a few examples of the dangers to cyclists caused when motor vehicle drivers are inattentive. Add to that the dangers of speeding and reckless drivers and the dangers multiply. Worst of all, there are apparently drivers on the roadways who intentionally run cyclists off the road, throw objects at them as they pass, honk for no reason, drive dangerously close, and do other things designed to make cyclists crash or run off the roadway. A recent series of articles and "blogs" posted on AZCentral.com revealed the truth -- and admissions -- by many such drivers! Clark Watkin has seen some of this bizarre behavior over the years and has had beer cans thrown at him from passing cars, has been hit in the back by the side mirror of a truck passing too close, and actually had a cement truck drive into a marked bicycle lane to try and force him up and over the curb! Intentional. Dangerous. Reckless. Wrong.
We can assist you in determining your rights, and take over the insurance claims process, which can be a nightmare if you are not represented by legal counsel. Ultimately, we can help get you compensated for your loss.
IMPORTANT: If an insurance claims agent for the person at fault calls to "interview" you, decline -- at least until you have spoken with an attorney. Despite what the insurance agent might tell you, he is NOT "just trying to help."
Contact us online or call at 480-281-3838 to arrange a consultation. When results matter, choose The Watkin Law Office, P.C.
The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established.
Step 12: Someone Was Drunk and Fell Asleep at the Wheel and Ran Into a Group of Cyclists.
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A few died, many were seriously injured.
From ones own perspective, no matter "how safe" one operates, there are things you can do almost nothing about.
Step 13: Trucks, Turns and Cyclists.
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I don't care whether the truck has their indicator on or not, I am always wary of passing a truck on the inside at an intersection.
Always keep an eye on the trucks front wheel...and hang back a little if it is only just starting to move.
And if the truck drive pulls an unexpected move. kissing the foot path is nicer than kissing the truck wheels. Being primed to jump on ones well adjusted brakes is also a significant help.
These pics and story are about people who didn't.
http://www.streetsblog.org/2006/08/10/trucker-kills-cyclist-on-ninth-avenue-and-29th-street/
Transportation Alternatives' Graham Beck was on the scene and he said the crash looked like a "classic right hook." The drivers of these big tucks have a big blind-spot along the right side of their vehicle. They can't see much of anything on that side of the truck. Unfortunately, this does not prevent them from often making fast, aggressive right turns at crowded intersections. The "right hook" is a common way for pedestrians and cyclists to die on the streets of New York.
Be careful out there, folks! According to the Department of Health, heavy vehicles are twice as deadly to cyclists as cars. One-third of bike fatalities involve heavy trucks even though they represent only one-sixth of vehicle miles traveled in the city. Physically-separated, protected bike lanes on New York City streets would likely prevent many of these crashes from killing cyclists. But until the day comes when New York City makes the streets safer for bike commuting, you are completely on your own out there. Stay away from the passenger side blind-spot of these big trucks and assume that the drivers have no idea that there are people riding bikes on the streets of New York City.
Step 14: This Is What Happens When a Truck Runs Over You.
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Dead is dead.
There are a heap of pictures on this site.
http://www.charonboat.com/2007/10/charonboat_dot_com_woman_run_over_by_truck_1.jpg
Step 15: Part II
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Ditto
Step 16: Part III
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Ditto.
Step 17: What Happens When You Make Mistakes or Errors in Judgement.
I won't include a squillion pictures but I have harvested some pictures and some facts of what happens with people rush or make errors of judgement or those around them do.
On a bicycle or on foot, in traffic - it's really really bad.
You can see the whole range of pictures at these sites.
http://www.charonboat.com/2007/10/charonboat_dot_com_woman_squashed_by_bus_1.jpg
This woman was crossing the road and she tripped over the center "strip" and then had a succession of traffic run over her - one after another.
Step 18: The "Ghost Rider" - I Really Hate This Guy.
This guy calls himself "Ghost Rider" and he gets his kicks from riding his motorcycle at 300+ Kmh type speeds - down the freeway and around town and through traffic - and baiting the cops and start cop chases - and he and his friends take videos of himself, and post them on Youtube.
He is putting so many peoples lives in danger - I absolutely am LIVID with anger - I really hope he kills himself by running up the back of a stationary truck at 300Kmh and they post that on Youtube, or some people grab him and bash him and burn his motorcycle.
Anyway a few pictures of this idiot to introduce him - doing 336Kmh on the freeway, sitting facing backwards on his motorcycle and giving the cops the finger;
And a few more of him being a smart arse to the cops - by riding around dressed in a black helmet, wearing black motorcycle clothing, on a black bicycle - at night, with NO lights and NO reflectors.
He is HARD to see - but in the LAST TWO pictures - with a bit of clutter and traffic he is very hard to see.
In the very last picture - he is RIGHT in the MIDDLE of the picture - and he is almost impossible to see.
And these are the kinds of view that any vehicle driver has of you, when you ride around at night, on a bicycle, in dark clothing with no lights - not only on the road, but especially in traffic.
This is why your life expectancy suddenly noise dives.
Step 19: The Conclusion.
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Life is like painting your house.
Almost all the work is in the quality of the preparation.
