# Dress appropriately **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 20, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949 "2014-10-20T21:39:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/1 "2014-10-20T21:39:46Z")
Remember those warnings you’d get every year, telling you your Halloween costume should have light colours and maybe you should carry a light lest you be hit by a car? The same goes for walking to school, apparently. [Student hit by school bus](http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/vancouver/2014/10/20/student-hit-by-school-bus-in-vancouver/17609727/) The 15-year-old girl, who may or may not have had the crossing signal, was wearing all black clothing about 40 minutes before sunrise, in the rain. I may have had a nasty (and ultimately, aborted) commute this morning, but at least I didn’t get run over by the short bus! ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/2 "2014-10-20T21:45:12Z")
I’m surprised we don’t hear about more accidents like this in my area. There seems to be a group of people every year who, after daylight savings time ends, feel the need to go for a jog/walk/bike after work while wearing black/navy blue/dark green. And without lights and reflective stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/3 "2014-10-20T21:59:02Z")
Been handling pedestrian vs. car accidents for a long time now. Blows my mind that the vast majority (as in, I haven’t come across one yet) folks on foot or bikes, kids and grupps alike, believe it is always the car’s fault when they get run over. Nevermind visibility concerns, or really whether or not they’re in the crosswalk. Always the car’s fault. Nevermind they were dressed like ninjas & stepped in front of the only pair of headlights on a dark street late at night in the rain. Always the car’s fault. Juries sometimes disagree and side with the driver, but even that’s not always a predictable result. But you know what IS predictable? When I was a kid, if I’d have gotten run over under ANY circumstances it was just common sense I would hope for a swift death, because a beating was on the way for being dumb enough to forget the streets aren’t stuffed with kittens. I mean, there’s being right (in the crosswalk under a walk signal), and there’s keeping yourself safe and never assuming the other guy sees you. Or cares you’re there. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2014, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/4 "2014-10-20T22:12:46Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > I mean, there’s being right… … and being _dead_ right. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/5 "2014-10-21T03:33:35Z")
> [@The Great Sun Jester](#): > > Been handling pedestrian vs. car accidents for a long time now. Blows my mind that the vast majority (as in, I haven’t come across one yet) folks on foot or bikes, kids and grupps alike, believe it is always the car’s fault when they get run over. Nevermind visibility concerns, or really whether or not they’re in the crosswalk. Always the car’s fault. Nevermind they were dressed like ninjas & stepped in front of the only pair of headlights on a dark street late at night in the rain. Always the car’s fault. Juries sometimes disagree and side with the driver, but even that’s not always a predictable result. > > But you know what IS predictable? When I was a kid, if I’d have gotten run over under ANY circumstances it was just common sense I would hope for a swift death, because a beating was on the way for being dumb enough to forget the streets aren’t stuffed with kittens. > > I mean, there’s being right (in the crosswalk under a walk signal), and there’s keeping yourself safe and never assuming the other guy sees you. Or cares you’re there. I have seen a couple of cases in New Zealand where the driver has been “absolved” of blame after hitting darkly clad folk on country roads… [Here’s a case where it](http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/6058787/Dark-clothing-a-fatal-choice)(appears) the driver wasn’t “blamed” [Here’s another one](http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/news/9147798/Nelson-mans-death-a-tragic-accident) ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/6 "2014-10-21T03:38:10Z")
Johnny Invisible Pedestrian Not For Blind Kids! ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/7 "2014-10-21T03:40:09Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > The 15-year-old girl, who may or may not have had the crossing signal, was wearing all black clothing about 40 minutes before sunrise, in the rain. I see this _every school morning_ with _every teenager_ at the bus stop or walking to the bus stop. Most walk in the center of the street and refuse to move. Unfortunately, I can’t make examples out of any of them (obvious legal and moral reasons) because those that would survive still wouldn’t get the message. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/8 "2014-10-21T04:10:00Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > … and being _dead_ right. The Cemetery is full of people who had the “Right-of-Way”. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/9 "2014-10-21T10:45:41Z")
I deal with this issue constantly when cycling to work and have developed a theory. The no-light cyclists (ninjas) and pedestrians as they are riding or walking get their night vision. To them, the world is a pretty brightly lit place. As a car driver, you never really get your night vision and the world is a pretty dark place. I think that this is less an issue of stupid, not that there isn’t plenty of that, but one of the perception of how lighted the pedestrian is. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/10 "2014-10-21T13:57:11Z")
There have been a few scary times that I almost nailed some idiot on a bicycle, at sundown or later, with no lights, wearing dark clothing and no helmet, and flying right through a stop sign. Darwin Award candidates, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/11 "2014-10-21T14:08:57Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I may have had a nasty (and ultimately, aborted) commute this morning, but at least I didn’t get run over by the short bus! It’s probably just as bad at the long bus; after the first two axles, they say you don’t feel a thing. > [@Gatopescado](#): > > The Cemetery is full of people who had the “Right-of-Way”. …they all have their headlights on & drive in a line…? ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/12 "2014-10-21T14:45:38Z")
> [@GrumpyBunny](#): > > I’m surprised we don’t hear about more accidents like this in my area. > > There seems to be a group of people every year who, after daylight savings time ends, feel the need to go for a jog/walk/bike after work while wearing black/navy blue/dark green. And without lights and reflective stuff. On the right side of the road (or left, for you wacky bastards in a select few non-US countries). [I’ve commented about this issue before.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=624360) It constantly amazes me that people don’t have a stronger sense of self-preservation. I’m all for exercising my right-of-way, but only to the extent that I don’t endanger myself in the process. Knowing my rights is far less important to me than knowing how to maximize my safety by not doing stupid things. > [@MostlyUseless](#): > > I deal with this issue constantly when cycling to work and have developed a theory. The no-light cyclists (ninjas) and pedestrians as they are riding or walking get their night vision. To them, the world is a pretty brightly lit place. As a car driver, you never really get your night vision and the world is a pretty dark place. > > I think that this is less an issue of stupid, not that there isn’t plenty of that, but one of the perception of how lighted the pedestrian is. It sounds good, but only if you believe that these individuals have never been behind the wheel of a car and witnessed just how difficult it is to spot a cyclist/pedestrian who has no lights and is dressed in dark clothing. It’s like the old trope of hearing a recording of your own voice and realizing that you sound (to others) nothing at all like what you sound like to your own head - except in this case, your life and limb depend on understanding how _others_ perceive you. ---
**Author:** ![MostlyUseless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@MostlyUseless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MostlyUseless)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/13 "2014-10-21T15:40:47Z")
A solid point there, but I have found many are not very perceptive. A few weeks ago, I damned near hit a guy making a cell call while standing in the apex of a hard turn onto a pretty major interstate. Dark clothes and literally standing in the road. I suspect alcohol may have played a role. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/14 "2014-10-21T17:52:23Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > …The 15-year-old girl…wearing all black clothing about 40 minutes before sunrise, in the rain. > > … Warning signs your daughter might be a goth. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/15 "2014-10-21T19:16:34Z")
[quote=“The Great Sun Jester, post:3, topic:701949”] Nevermind … whether or not they’re in the crosswalk. [QUOTE] In Massachusetts, pedestrians always have the right of way. Many pedestrians take this to mean “I can skip blithely into the street anywhere I want to!” And they do. More than once a woman pushing a baby carriage has popped out from behind a parked car on a main street and put her stroller in front of my SUV. No red light. No crosswalk. Just between cars whenever. Scares me to death. I cannot imagine the amount therapy I’d need if I accidentally hit some idiot’s BABY. I like babies, usually more than adults. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2014, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/16 "2014-10-21T20:53:35Z")
> [@robert\_columbia](#): > > Warning signs your daughter might be a goth. …from ‘Emogoblin’ to ‘Hemoglobin’ in 0.0125 seconds… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/17 "2014-10-22T00:28:05Z")
> [@bengangmo](#): > > I have seen a couple of cases in New Zealand Yeah, but is NZ peopled entirely by entitled narcissists? I was always under the assumption Kiwis were like the English, only more reserved & reclusive, less likely to put their own interests into the hands of complete strangers. Could be wrong. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/18 "2014-10-22T00:50:43Z")
I almost hit a cyclist in black bicycle shorts, a dark shirt, black helmet with no reflective stripe, and _no reflector on the back of his bike_. He didn’t have reflectors on his pedals, I assume because he had the click-on pedals, but the one missing on the back of the bike was probably the one that would have saved me in court, if I had hit him, because it’s legally required for a bike on the streets (and an adult-sized bike isn’t allowed on the sidewalk). It was after dark, and I don’t mean dusk. It was dark, and it had been overcast all day, so, not even moonlight. I saw him when I was about 10 feet behind him, mainly because _the shadow he made in my headlight_. Fortunately, I was center lane, he was far over, and I have a compact car, so the worst that would have happened if I had never seen him was that I would have clipped him with my mirror, but it was almost like he was daring cars not to see him. If some big SUV that was a lot wider than my car, or a city bus came along, he would be pizza. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/19 "2014-10-22T00:53:31Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > Johnny Invisible Pedestrian > > Not For Blind Kids! Probably my all-time favorite SNL skit. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2014, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949/20 "2014-10-22T00:59:42Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Probably my all-time favorite SNL skit. Annnnnd…[I found it!](http://vimeo.com/77732818) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dress-appropriately/701949.md?page=2)