[SafetyFirst]

We all know that cagers love to say “I didn’t see you.” But could it get to a point where it could actually cause trouble?

I’m playing devil’s advocate here. We all know most cagers haven’t figured out you go where you look. If your bike is decked out in marker lights and reflective tape, could it become eye-candy enough to cause someone to actually hit you?

Case in point, people have been known to slam into the rear of police cars on the side of the highway. The blinking lights seem to attract drivers, DUI drivers especially, to it like a moth to a bug zapper. There’s no question they saw it, but the trouble lies in that it takes their eyes off the road, and they end up going where they’re looking. There’s actually a lot of discussion over certain light patterns to avoid in public safety circles because of this.

[briderdt]

I’ve been told that the reason I haven’t had a close call with a car yet is that I ride a bright yellow bike and carry a flame orange back pack when I commute to work… Not the same as lighting my bike up like a Christmas tree though. But still, haven’t even had a close call yet, 10 months into my journey.

[eon]

My short answer would be no.

My longer answer would be it depends on if you have crossed the line from being visible to being a distraction. Riding a tilting 3 wheel scooter I get a lot of attention. I have had people swerve around me so they could get a better look. I’ve had drivers pacing me holding their cell phone out the window trying to take a picture (and then reviewing picture to see if it worked!!). Others have reported accidents around them as people are too busy gawking at the strange machine to look where they are going.

Being visible is good. Being a distraction is not.

[SafetyFirst]

I’m asking, because I’m debating putting a row of alternating red and white reflective tape (similar to that on truck trailers, but not officially DOT-C2 approved) across the very bottom of my lower fairings. Though I might spring for the black reflective tape, because I think the red/white might look a little tacky. I dunno.

I already have a row of red and white on the rear of my helmet, and a Halo reflective band. I think tonight I’m going to get some of the DOT-C2 for the helmet and put two rows of it on the back of the helmet. You can’t miss that stuff, especially with highbeams on at night. Since I do most of my riding at night, I can use all the help to be seen I can get.

[Author]

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