Abstract
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 69-77 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Accident Analysis and Prevention |
| Volume | 64 |
| Early online date | 22 Nov 2013 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2014 |
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Keywords
- bicycling
- bicyclists
- overtaking
- proximity
- stereotypes
- experience
- high-visibility
Cite this
The influence of a bicycle commuter's appearance on drivers’ overtaking proximities : an on-road test of bicyclist stereotypes, high-visibility clothing and safety aids in the United Kingdom. / Walker, Ian; Garrard, Ian; Jowitt, Felicity.
In: Accident Analysis and Prevention, Vol. 64, 01.03.2014, p. 69-77.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The influence of a bicycle commuter's appearance on drivers’ overtaking proximities
T2 - an on-road test of bicyclist stereotypes, high-visibility clothing and safety aids in the United Kingdom
AU - Walker, Ian
AU - Garrard, Ian
AU - Jowitt, Felicity
PY - 2014/3/1
Y1 - 2014/3/1
N2 - This study looked at whether drivers overtaking a bicyclist changed the proximities of their passes in response to the level of experience and skill signalled by the bicyclist's appearance. Five outfits were tested, ranging from a stereotypical sport rider's outfit, portraying high experience and skill, to a vest with ‘novice cyclist’ printed on the back, portraying low experience. A high-visibility bicycling jacket was also used, as were two commercially available safety vests, one featuring a prominent mention of the word ‘police’ and a warning that the rider was video-recording their journey, and one modelled after a police officer's jacket but with a letter changed so it read ‘POLITE’. An ultrasonic distance sensor recorded the space left by vehicles passing the bicyclist on a regular commuting route. 5690 data points fulfilled the criteria for the study and were included in the analyses. The only outfit associated with a significant change in mean passing proximities was the police/video-recording jacket. Contrary to predictions, drivers treated the sports outfit and the ‘novice cyclist’ outfit equivalently, suggesting they do not adjust overtaking proximity as a function of a rider's perceived experience. Notably, whilst some outfits seemed to discourage motorists from passing within 1 metre of the rider, approximately 1-2% of overtakes came within 50 cm no matter what outfit was worn. This suggests there is little riders can do, by altering their appearance, to prevent the very closest overtakes; it is suggested that infrastructural, educational or legal measures are more promising for preventing drivers from passing extremely close to bicyclists.
AB - This study looked at whether drivers overtaking a bicyclist changed the proximities of their passes in response to the level of experience and skill signalled by the bicyclist's appearance. Five outfits were tested, ranging from a stereotypical sport rider's outfit, portraying high experience and skill, to a vest with ‘novice cyclist’ printed on the back, portraying low experience. A high-visibility bicycling jacket was also used, as were two commercially available safety vests, one featuring a prominent mention of the word ‘police’ and a warning that the rider was video-recording their journey, and one modelled after a police officer's jacket but with a letter changed so it read ‘POLITE’. An ultrasonic distance sensor recorded the space left by vehicles passing the bicyclist on a regular commuting route. 5690 data points fulfilled the criteria for the study and were included in the analyses. The only outfit associated with a significant change in mean passing proximities was the police/video-recording jacket. Contrary to predictions, drivers treated the sports outfit and the ‘novice cyclist’ outfit equivalently, suggesting they do not adjust overtaking proximity as a function of a rider's perceived experience. Notably, whilst some outfits seemed to discourage motorists from passing within 1 metre of the rider, approximately 1-2% of overtakes came within 50 cm no matter what outfit was worn. This suggests there is little riders can do, by altering their appearance, to prevent the very closest overtakes; it is suggested that infrastructural, educational or legal measures are more promising for preventing drivers from passing extremely close to bicyclists.
KW - bicycling
KW - bicyclists
KW - overtaking
KW - proximity
KW - stereotypes
KW - experience
KW - high-visibility
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84890282318&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.aap.2013.11.007
DO - 10.1016/j.aap.2013.11.007
M3 - Article
VL - 64
SP - 69
EP - 77
JO - Accident Analysis and Prevention
JF - Accident Analysis and Prevention
SN - 0001-4575
ER -