Quote Originally Posted by Kiwi Stoker View Post
A friend of ours was taken out broadside at an intersection- he was wearing screaming yellow vest with reflective, bright pants and a bright top. It was an overcast but bright day (so no deep shadows) and no trees or anything. He got collected, rolled right over the roof and broke his kneecap. His bike got dragged 200m before falling off the car- the car didn't stop.

I think it really doesn't matter how bright or reflective the clothing you wear (although wearing all black is just wrong), unalert drivers are not going to see you. I always ride in a group. Its easier to miss/ignore a single cyclist.
Our bike shirts (slated to be revamped) are navy blue. I pedal in it at night. In the dark. I have a blinky light and reflectors in various places, but when I am pedaling uphill at midnight in my dark blue gear I literally CRINGE every time a car passes. Just being out in daylight I feel screamingly loud.

If I have to direct traffic at an accident we are required to wear these horrible bibs that say POLICE on it in big reflective letters. And I will tell you that I have come mighty close to having my butt run over...I will be a flattened girl, but at least I will be wearing my vest.

On the horse I am so reflective that no one can take a picture. He has reflectives on his browband, noseband, breastplate, legs, and my stirrups. And still people are surprised by a loud, clopping, huge, reflective horse. I call my large fellow my "stealth horse." He is 18 hands and 2500 lbs and walks like he is stomping on large colonies of ants, but I can walk up on people as though I am on foot....or the bike...because people, when they are distracted, are oblivious. But the effect is MUCH more dramatic when people turn around to have his big head in their face than when I walk up on foot or the bike.

You can never be too reflective or too visible, because I am telling you (as I negotiate life in various stages of reflectibility) people will be surprised by you. At least when you dodge imminent road rash, you can mutter, "what, are you BLIND?" when you are as visible as possible.