Flashing Lights and Bright Jerseys: Do They Really Make Cyclists Safer?

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cyclist dressed in bright clothes and a blinking red tail light
When you’ve spent as many hours on the road as I have, you start to notice what really gets a driver’s attention — and what doesn’t.

I used to think bright jerseys and flashing taillights were just extra gear marketed to nervous riders. But I’ve changed my mind. Experience — and data — have convinced me that visibility gear isn’t optional. It’s essential.

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🚴‍♂️ What I’ve Learned From the Road

Over the years, I’ve seen patterns:

When I ride in dull, muted jerseys, I get passed closer and faster.

When I wear bright yellows, oranges, or lime green, cars tend to give me more room.

The days I forget my rear flasher, I feel invisible until the last second.


There’s one stretch of highway near Lubbock where the difference is night and day — same road, same time of day, but the jersey color changes the driver behavior.

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📊 What the Research Says

A study published in Accident Analysis & Prevention showed that flashing rear lights reduced near-misses by 33%.
Another found that fluorescent colors — especially yellow-green — were up to five times more visible in low-light conditions than standard colors.

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✅ My Visibility Setup Now:

Rear flashing light set to daytime mode — always on, even in full sun.

Hi-vis yellow jersey on traffic-heavy days.

Reflective ankle bands for dawn/dusk rides.

And I always assume: If I’m not lit up, I’m not seen.

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🧠 Final Thought

We can’t control distracted drivers, but we can stack the odds in our favor. Visibility isn’t just about being seen — it’s about being seen early enough to matter.

If it helps one more driver notice me a second sooner, it’s worth it.

– Bruce.

Location: Lubbock, TX, USA

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