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?

If anyone reading this is thinking "shit I just spent a fortune on my DC's coat and it's all black" I recommend reflective stickers sold for cyclists. You can get a sheet for a fiver or so and stick them on rucksacks or the bottom of the coat.

timtam23 · Today 09:00

So I hope I am at most times aware of the need to be visible on a bike/on foot. I knitted myself a bobble hat with yarn that has a reflective thread running through it. In daylight it looks like a normal knitted hat...

What an excellent idea!

At this time of year it's dark by 4pm in Scotland and the uniform of the local high school is black trousers, black jersey, black blazer/coat. Current fashion is for black bags - unlike in "my day" where we all had neon pink/green/orange rucksacks.

Teenagers are blissfully unaware of how hard it is to see them in the dark. It wasn't until my older two started driving and we took them out for practice at night that they realised just how difficult it is to spot pedestrians in dark clothing with a hood up.

And don't get me STARTED on those Deliveroo riders on their jailbroken illegal electric motorbikes, zooming through the traffic, entirely in black, face covered, no lights.

You don't need high-vis jackets though. The bright yellow ones, I mean. Lots of children's jackets have a small reflective strip on the pockets, around the collar or hem. Or reflecting bits on their shoes. Just a wee section that you wouldn't really notice and think it was part of the design until it's dark and you pick it up in the headlights. Lots of runners round here have similar jackets with reflecting bits.

For older kids though that is not fashionable.

A few years back I almost ran someone down who was wearing black, walking passed a dangerous bend on a country road. I didnt holler at them as it all happened so fast, and I was too stunned. I just hoped they didn't get hit by another driver.

The image comes back to haunt me, often.

You're right, driving for the conditions is the right thing to do. My town has the new style streetlights that only shine downwards, not the old style that shine in all directions, so there are darker patches between them where it's harder to see people wearing dark clothing. But that's not an excuse, I should have been more vigilant.

I carry a small torch with me. Even if I can see where I’m going I shine it on the ground when I can hear cars if I’m walking through our unpaved village in the dark.

My dad almost ran a guy over once. He was in the road already, looking for a chance to dash across. He was looking at the traffic on the other side, hoodie up. I only spotted him by the white bits on his trainers and told my dad to stop.

When we stopped, we were less than 2ft from him and you could still only just make him out in the headlights. My Dad said after that he had seen the white bit, but thought it was just rubbish in the road. It was only that I realised there was something attached to the white that made me tell him to top.

Now this is a main road in London, it's not illuminated like Wembley stadium because of the houses/flats that line the road. Black everything is de rigeur among young men round here (and it suits a lot of them). They might look like a "hot" ninja in a well lit room, but crossing the road between lights, you can't see them.

My coat is dark blue, but I always carry a brightly coloured shopping bag so that I can be seen. A floating Sainsbo bag gets attention.

Does anyone remember the reflective plastic discs they used to hand out in school in the 1970's and 80's for kids to attach to their coats or bags?

A real bugbear of mine is cyclists wearing black clothes and no lights at night. I even managed to convince my teenage son to wear a reflective vest when cycling at night. People don't seem to realise how invisible they are even in a lit area.

In this rural village, people are pretty well trained to carry torches if they're walking in the dark lanes at night.

Except, of course, for the invariable teenage boys. I used to wonder how their parents could allow them out on their bikes at night completely dressed in black without helmets or lights, but now that I have one of my own I realise that unless you jump them at the actual fucking door at the moment of departure and refuse to allow them to leave unless they're properly kitted out, they will do everything in their power to leave the house improperly clad. It's like "Yes, I know nature creates spare males and evolution is supposed to be weeding you out at this age, but I've put a lot of energy into keeping you alive up til now and I'm even quite fond of you sometimes, so could you just fucking not please....." 🙄

But anyhoo, your phone can be a torch if you happen to get caught out walking in the dark.