Denis O’Donovan, a senator for the Fianna Fail party in Ireland outlined in the Seanad last week that he would like to see high-vis vests being made compulsory for pedestrians and cyclists.

“I ask the Leader to convey to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government my request that he make high visibility vests compulsory for cyclists and pedestrians,” O’Donovan said in the Seanad last Tuesday.

“When negotiating country roads, especially at this time of year when we have a great deal of fog, rain and mist, it can be difficult when one encounters a walker or cyclist without a visibility vest.”

“Many rules and regulations are in place governing safety in cars. The possibility of making visibility vests mandatory should be considered.”

“I am not advocating for a nanny state but if this measure could save one or two lives each year, it should be made compulsory. Perhaps a pilot project could be introduced for children making the journey to and from school. The elderly are also particularly vulnerable as are pedestrians and cyclists.”

Another senator also spoke about the topic and agreed with O’Donovan. Maurice Cummins of Fine Gael said: “Senator O’Donovan spoke about deaths on our roads, of which there have been many in recent months. He discussed the need for high-visibility vests for cyclists and pedestrians and I agree with him.”

“Many people walk lonely dark roads. For their own safety, in the interests of road safety and for the benefit of drivers, people should wear high-visibility vests in such circumstances.”

However, research undertaken in 2013 by Dr. Ian Garrard at Brunel University and Dr. Ian Walker from Bath University suggested that there is little riders can do, by altering their appearance, to prevent the very closest overtakes.

The paper was entitled: The influence of a bicycle commuter’s appearance on drivers’ overtaking proximities:an on-road test of bicyclist stereotypes, high-visibility clothing and safety aids in the United Kingdom .

As part of the experiment, Dr. Garrard trialled a number of different cycling outfits including high-vis clothing.

He then used an ultrasonic distance sensor to record how close each vehicle passed during his daily commute in Berkshire and outer London. However, it was found that there was no difference between the outfits in the most dangerous overtakes.

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45 COMMENTS

    • What about them. Look I’m a cyclist myself and not having a go, but where I live I see guys (that I know by the way) day after day on bad roads in bad weather wearing inappropriate clothing. So it might be no bad thing and save a few lives if “we” were legally obliged to wear hi viz. Thats all.

    • Well they’re dark as well. So by your logic a dark car needs high vis as well?
      Dark clothing shouldn’t matter, appropriate lights – which is how dark cars remain safe – is what’s needed. Not high vis.

    • It won’t save a few lives though, it’ll just stop people cycling and walking, and make it more dangerous for everyone who still does. Nothing better at killing you than sitting down doing nothing either.

    • a Hi viz cost a euro or two. and if it saves you getting a snack of a car. fuck it ill wear two. my jersy is fairly visable but theres always a vest in my black jacket. simple cop on! if you have a vest on and a car hits you the driver can be Done for careless driving and lose his licence. if you dont wear one he can say what ever he likes

  5. 190 odd deaths on the roads each year and the vast majority are motorists, but somehow the car driving ministers never mention high vis cars or compulsory helmet wearing for motorists and passengers………………….

  7. I’d rather the politician make it compulsory to have drivers eyes tested!!! I was knocked off my bike in daylight, the driver told the police “I didn’t see him until I looked in the mirror and saw him lying on the road!” This resulted in me going for a spin in a big hi-vized van with blue flashy lights on top.

  12. Really many a time I see guards with no Hi viz on directing traffic and they are paid by the government
    Yes Hi viz does help but stop putting all the responsibility on cyclists

  13. There’s something magical about that bright yellow colour that stops drivers looking at their phone or trying to find their cigarette lighter or changing channel on the radio. Maybe they should paint entire roads that colour so that driver’s attention stays where it should be.

  14. It’s people in vehicles that kill other people. It’s not pedestrians or cyclists that kill anyone. When in your car, slow the feck down, be observant, drive to the conditions, expect the expectant, and don’t criminalize people out walking or cycling.

    Evidence shows that hi-vis seems to have little effect if people in cars aren’t being attentive for road-users other than cars.

    Also, all those lamp-posts, sides of houses, street furniture, bollards, other cars, etc etc that cars plough into each and every day – is the reason for that because they weren’t wearing hi-vis?

  23. wheres the Harm in this? we are all cyclist here i take it yeah?? bike safe ffs. be safe be seen. and if a driver knockes you of your bike and tells the gard he didnt see your hi vis and back light the gard can then tell he he shouldnt be incontrole of a motor car then should he?

  27. How can any cyclist not see that there is plenty of good sense to wearing hi-vis gear whilst cycling ?. What harm will it do, is there any valid reason why it shouldn’t be compulsory to wear a hi- vis vest/top whilst cycling ? Don’t tell me that a yellow top wouldn’t match up with your black & white bike & helmet cause that will only make you come across as some dumbass.

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