Wearing Black Clothes in Darkness

[JL690]

I had a wee bit of road rage driving back from the shop just now, at a pedestrian who I almost didn't see crossing the road because they were wearing dark clothing. Along the lines of "you're wearing the right colours if you want run down in the darkness". Then I saw myself in the mirror when I got home. Yes, black jeans, black jacket, black hair. I need to be more self-aware, don't I?

Cyclists here on unlit country roads dressed in black so I feel your rage. Didn’t there used to be a public information film on tv telling us to carry a newspaper at night to show up in headlights?

The majority of our local high schools have dark coloured uniforms and insist coats are all black or navy blue with no logos or markings. Their pupils are walking home in darkness, at thai time of year, especially if they have stayed behind for clubs or detention.

I saw three cyclists in black/dark clothing last night with no lights on their bikes either. I don’t drive at the moment but I used to hate this time of year and the number of cyclists and pedestrians who lack any visibility at all. I have a black coat myself though so I can’t really criticise.

Headlights should show up vulnerable road users, and I guess if you're driving on roads with pavements, shops, houses etc. then these people should be expected. Driving according to the conditions I think is probably the key.

If everyone wore hi Viz then it would quickly become the new normal. In some cases it already is called "urban camouflage".

That's not to say I haven't been surprised by folks in similar circumstances though. Just realised I'd fallen into the same trap as you OP!

Our school's uniform is black trousers, black shoes, black coat and being Scotland its getting dark when the kids get out of school. In another week or two it will be completely dark when school finishes.

I did this the other night walking my dog. Just didn’t occur to me when I walked out of the door dressed head to foot in black with a black dog. It dawned on me when I nearly got run over when I stupidly crossed a road too near the entrance and a car came around the corner as was halfway across.
I’ve added some lights and reflectors that I had in my drawer from last year.

My primary school, back in the 1970s used to sell reflective orange/ silver armbands for children to wear during winter - we are in Scotland so days are really short this time of year.
That was such a good idea, but I have just walked by black dogs, with their flashing collars and note that the children don’t wear those these days. I hadn’t thought of it for years, but such a simple idea.

Its really difficult outsude of streetlight areas - some motorists drive too fast without considering the chance of there being a pedestrian, and loads of pedestrians dont drive so have no idea how hard it is to see them when driving.

I’ve started running early in the morning (completely dark as I’m going out) and have been really surprised the amount of runners I have seen without reflective jackets etc on. And teenagers on paper rounds, riding their bikes with no lights and dressed in dark clothes. I wasn’t sure if I was being too over cautious, but they are really tricky to see when it’s dark.

I have a reflective strap that I keep in my bag

I wear a white hat but though the strap was a good plan, quite cheap on Amazon and easy to out on if you want it for after a night out etc.

You almost didn't see a pedestrian crossing the road, but you were raging at the pedestrian whom you nearly ran over? Really? Unreasonable. No excuse for 'road rage'.

Certainly it's better to wear brighter colours and for urban roads to be well lit.

A near miss approaching the prow of a hill where someone all in black was crossing (not at a crossing). Thank god I saw their legs moving in the light of a car coming the other place because there was no other clue that someone was there. Just about to buy a new dog walking coat and actively avoiding black or navy because of this.

Hi viz isn't helpful in the dark, reflective elements or LEDs are what is needed.

But high vis has reflective elements?

Driving home in the dark last night a chap was coming towards me walking his two dogs. I was really quite impressed at how effective the reflective edgings to the dogs’ coats were, so well worthwhile getting.

Mate of mine does this and doesn't take a phone or torch or anything. I've told him, but he's determined!

I wear a high-viz jacket when walking my dog in the morning and evening. It takes a second to slip on and could be a lifesaver. It terrifies me when I see cyclists/joggers/school children in dark clothing.

Anyone remember the 'Be safe - be seen' adverts? Don't they advise that any more?

I think in some of the Nordic countries it’s mandatory to wear reflective clothing.

i live in a city and even under the streetlights it’s really hard to see pedestrians in the dark (even more so if it’s raining). I hate driving on dark nights for that reason - people just step out into the street and I don’t think they have any idea that they are almost invisible. Even a tiny piece of reflective material makes a huge difference.

I love when I'm out for a run & I see dogs with either flashing collars or refective coat, it makes such a difference, the same reason my son has always had flashy light up runners & wellies, it gets dark so quickly now & it's just a small way of keeping everyone & their dog safe

Was driving home last night, proper dark, in the rain, on a 70mph dual carriageway - no pavements or street lights.

When suddenly in front of me, on a sweeping bend, were 2 pedestrians walking on the white line at the edge of the carriageway both dressed head to toe in black, except one has a grey hood on their hoodie. Which is the only reason I saw them.

I live in the sticks. There's a chap who walks his dog every night at the the time I am driving to the stables. I have nearly hit him about 20 times, and told DD enough is enough, I am going to buy him a hi-vis gilet and pull over and hand it to him. That very evening we say him walking wearing a hi-vis gilet - I like to think someone else had the same idea.

DS1's school has an all black uniform, but is it the fashion across the whole country for all the kids to wear white socks, or is it just down here? Girls even wear them over their black tights and boys roll their trousers up, so at least you'd see a couple of disembodied ankles walking towards you! 😆

God yes if even one person reading this thinks about NOT wearing all bloody black to go walking/running down the narrow, pavementless pitch black lanes round here then a good thing will have been done by you OP.

I saw a pair of pix shared on Twitter - same street at dusk. Same child actor on the pavement about to step out on to a crossing.

In the one where the child is wearing black, you wouldn't know they were there. In the other, in a light coloured coat with a reflective strip you can easily see someone is there. It was a v striking comparison.

Bloke who posted it says he's a bus driver and that he posts it every year when the clocks go back in the hope it makes at least some parents realise what an enormous difference it makes when they choose the next winter coat.