269 bikers rode with mounted distance measuring devices. Some of them rode in their daily clothes, others used traditional bodywork, and others dressed in a helmet or safety vest. The results of the experiment can be shocking – only one piece of clothing improves the safety of a cyclist (more specifically, it does not matter what distance the cars are ahead of us). This is a vest with the words “police”.
In measurements taken by universities in Bath and Brunner, the average distance between the cyclist and the car ahead of him was 117 centimeters – regardless of what the cyclist was wearing. Also regardless of the dress, 1-2% of drivers overtook cyclists without keeping a safe distance and driving only 50cm from them.
It has been further research showing that reflective vests, reflectors and other special clothing may improve the well-being of cyclists and drivers and allow more visible (though doubtful) conditions, but this in no way translates into a safer distance between the car and the cyclist.
If you want to increase your visibility and safety, the researchers suggest wearing a “police” vest (or “police”, because the study was done in the UK). These actually have a positive effect on the behavior of the drivers. The study showed that the police waistcoat increased the average distance between the bike and the car ahead of it by 122cm, or 5cm.
Unfortunately, the use of vests with the inscription Police by civilians is illegal in Poland. On the websites you can find a vest with the words “Poland”, “Police” or “I am from the Police” (“I’m from” written in a very small font), which from a distance imitatively imitate the high visibility vests used by our brave uniforms.
Regardless of how we dress on the bike, it is important to remember that dressing is much more important than how we behave on the road.