hi-viz and tickets

Hi, I recently started commuting with a hi-viz Jacket. Also, I recently ordered a Hi-viz Arai helmet. With the jacket, I noticed that people see me better. For example on Thursday, a T-shirt and shorts Harley rider waved his index finger about one mile from my position. He held his finger up until he passed me. I was surprised he saw me so far off. He waved long before I did. The hi-viz color is annoying, so I am not judgmental on his choice of fingers to wave. But, what worries me is speeding.

Does anyone that recently switched to a hi-vis jacket or helmet notice an increase in tickets ?

I am just curious. Regretfully, wearing a hi-vis helmet may make me slow down.

Gear:
Hi-Vis Olympia Jacket
Hi-Vis Arai Signet Q

Being hi-viz certainly makes it hard to blend in with the traffic - that's kinda the point. It also makes it easier for Sheriff Andy to single you out and continue visual contact until he catches-up. Or maybe he notes what a conscientious rider you are in your gear and cuts you some slack.

Frankly, I always wear hi-viz with a plain white helmet but haven't noted any increased attraction from law enforcement. My four-wheeler is a silver Honda CR-V which I do believe has saved me a few times. I mean, half the cars on the road around here are silver CR-Vs and they are mostly driven by mobile road hazards, so I might get a free pass. Who knows? Enjoy the added conspicuity and don't swet it.

pete

Love to be seen

Hi viz jacket and flashing lights makes people move over. I don't know why, but I like it.

If you can see a finger waving from a mile away you should be able to spot speed traps before they spot you and speeding is more apt to earn you a ticket rather than your choice of wardrobe.

>>Harley rider waved his index finger<<

Being a Harley rider, are you sure it was his index finger?

My wife and I were discussing this on the way home just this afternoon (my RT, her GS). I wear a Hi-Viz Schuberth C3, and either a yellow jacket or a blue Darien. Her in a silver C3 and a yellow jacket. Passed quite a few LEOs, including a Trooper shooting radar while we we doing 62 in a 55.

I'm of the view that at least here in Northern VA and DC the LEO's are more predisposed to expect "bad" behavior (speed/weaving/etc.) from (i) sport bikes and (ii) riders *not* wearing much in the way of protective gear.

Put another way, when they see you in Hi-Viz, especially if ATGATT, they seem to subconsciously assess you to be a "safe" rider, and focus on the next car/bike.

mneblett said:

Put another way, when they see you in Hi-Viz, especially if ATGATT, they seem to subconsciously assess you to be a "safe" rider, and focus on the next car/bike.

Click to expand...

Kinda agree with this. Passed three deputies today, doing at least 10 over each time. None of them gave me a second glance. Well, maybe they did, but they didn't feel like having a chat. White C3W, yellow Roadcrafter, boots, gloves.

Or maybe they just couldn't believe that I, being on a 250cc Honda Rebel, could actually get the bike moving fast enough to BE 10 over the posted limit, and they figured something was wrong with their speedometers and/or radars.

I can't understand why the OP is worried about getting a speeding ticket ON HIS COMMUTE no matter what his garb. If there is other traffic, go with it for safety whether that is the posted speed limit (which almost certainly means there is serious speed enforcement) or 20 mph over the posted speed. A safe speed should be his main concern and that is only a mph or so faster than MOST traffic.

If he has the luxury of commuting on back roads, he should know if speeding tickets get handed out there.

My rule of thumb is that you can speed with impunity from law enforcement (not necessarily deer enforcement) when 1. traffic is is moving faster than legal and you are simply part of the herd; 2. you are so far from a major center and there is so little traffic that speed enforcement is not cost effective.

When you have the urge to "open her up," I hope you will keep concerns about your personal safety higher than concerns about the cost of a speeding ticket.

flymymbz said:

Or maybe they just couldn't believe that I, being on a 250cc Honda Rebel, could actually get the bike moving fast enough to BE 10 over the posted limit, and they figured something was wrong with their speedometers and/or radars.

Click to expand...

Boy oh boy, you were being awfully brave in that school zone.

PGlaves said:

Boy oh boy, you were being awfully brave in that school zone.

Click to expand...

lol. Yup. Flogging that poor 250 for all it was worth....

Actually, all three times were on the highway. Getting a Rebel up to 70mph (according to Mr Garmin) isn't an easy task, I guess they just wanted me to enjoy my accomplishment. hahaha

rut3556 said:

>>Harley rider waved his index finger<<

Being a Harley rider, are you sure it was his index finger?

Click to expand...

Could not believe it was a Harley rider. I find that Harley drivers are afraid to take their hands off the handlebars

BCKRIDER said:

My rule of thumb is that you can speed with impunity from law enforcement (not necessarily deer enforcement) when 1. traffic is is moving faster than legal and you are simply part of the herd;

Click to expand...

On a two laner, don't be the LAST ONE in a line of vehicles going over the speed limit.
Don't ask how I know.

garthw said:

Could not believe it was a Harley rider. I find that Harley drivers are afraid to take their hands off the handlebars

Click to expand...

Why the gratuitous Harley-bashing? Did I miss the smilely that would have said you meant this in jest? If so, ignore the following "say what??"

Most HD riders exchange waves with me, and I know a few that could ride circles around the typical beemer rider. While I'm no fan of the butt-jewelery-riding "look at me" types, or the "you ain't **** if you're not worshiping the only REAL motorcycle" fanatics, most of the HD folks I know are decent/cool. As far as I'm concerned, if you're on two wheels and not being a jerk, everything's fine.

As the saying goes (paraphrased): "No one ever got ahead by speaking ill of others." This sort of comment help justifies the HD rider's stereotypes of stuck-up BMW riders!

mneblett said:

why the gratuitous harley-bashing? Did i miss the smilely that would have said you meant this in jest? If so, ignore the following "say what??"

most hd riders exchange waves with me, and i know a few that could ride circles around the typical beemer rider. While i'm no fan of the butt-jewelery-riding "look at me" types, or the "you ain't **** if you're not worshiping the only real motorcycle" fanatics, most of the hd folks i know are decent/cool. As far as i'm concerned, if you're on two wheels and not being a jerk, everything's fine.

As the saying goes (paraphrased): "no one ever got ahead by speaking ill of others." this sort of comment help justifies the hd rider's stereotypes of stuck-up bmw riders!

Click to expand...

+1

flymymbz said:

lol. Yup. Flogging that poor 250 for all it was worth....

Click to expand...

Hardly. In third world countries it would be carrying a family of four, their pig and fifth wheel hitch pulling a tandem trailer full of water buffalo.

mneblett said:

Why the gratuitous Harley-bashing? Did I miss the smilely that would have said you meant this in jest? If so, ignore the following "say what??"

As the saying goes (paraphrased): "No one ever got ahead by speaking ill of others." This sort of comment help justifies the HD rider's stereotypes of stuck-up BMW riders!

Click to expand...

Not bashing just a bit of humour. Did not think I had to use a smiley.

On the other hand I just returned from a trip to the west coast and back. We did a bit of a survey and found that Harley (or at least the harley and look a likes) riders would initiate a wave 2 out of 10, return a wave 4 out of 10. The higher the ape hanger the less likely a wave so I thought they must be afraid to take thier hands off the bars.

Those riding sport bikes had about the same record. The people who waved most were either riding a VStrom, KLR or a BMW GS. They had a 50-60% initiation wave and 90-100% return wave.

I wave at everyone because that is the way it was when I started riding 40 years ago. Bikers waved at bikers and truckers waved at truckers.