why is this even up for debate?

[Tony1951]

A typical example of where a hi viz or something bright is an advantage to cyclists is a driver waiting to pull out from a side road. A cyclist approaching from the drivers right is wearing clothing that is not conspicuous and the surroundings behind the cyclists is a dark hedgerow or similar.
The cyclist easily blends into the background with the risk of driver taking a Quick Look right not seeing them. Many times I’ve had the driver behind me sound their horn for me taking too long, but in the additional 2 seconds spent that has allowed me to see the near camouflaged cyclist.
2 seconds out of my day to not have hit a cyclist. Not a big ask is it. Do drivers still do blind spot checks after they past test.
As you say we all need to be observant. And to aid such observation be conspicuous.

I've got a good driving record. I have always tried to take good care and I never had a claim against me in nearly 60 years of driving... BUT...

About five years ago, on a wet dark night, I almost ran over an unlit, dark clothed, cyclist as I pulled out of a side road. I was pretty upset at having nearly driven over him. I broke his rear, carbon fibre wheel and the rider ended up falling onto on my bonnet. The collision was nothing more than a touch. I saw him suddenly, and he fell onto my bonnet, but it really un-nerved me, because I did look, and didn't see him.

My vision is not the issue. Mostly, it was down to the fact that he had a tiny, dim led light on his helmet, and was looking down at the road as he pedalled up a steep slope, so the light was not in my vision. The near accident was also affected by the driving rain on my windows and the dark, unlit road.

I offered to pay for his wheel and offered multiple times to take him where he was going, but he was adamant that if I paid for his wheel, we'd both go on our way, older and wiser. He lived very near and completely refused help getting home. He was a doctor at the nearby Freeman Hospital and insisted he was completely unharmed.

The incident caused me a lot of thinking about how I could make sure it never happened again. I have sometimes mentioned that two of my motor bike riding friends have been killed in the last decade by terrible, careless driving from other people, both cases, this kind of incident of not looking properly when driving onto a road. I thought I would never be the person to 'not see' a motorbike or other two wheeled rider. I am one myself and I know how it feels not to be seen.

Now I ALWAYS do a double look - not just one. I look, and then look again. I certainly never want to come as close to harming a two wheeled rider again.

 

[volt x]

I've got a good driving record. I have always tried to take good care and I never had a claim against me in nearly 60 years of driving... BUT...

About five years ago, on a wet dark night, I almost ran over an unlit, dark clothed, cyclist as I pulled out of a side road. I was pretty upset at having nearly driven over him. I broke his rear, carbon fibre wheel and the rider ended up falling onto on my bonnet. The collision was nothing more than a touch. I saw him suddenly, and he fell onto my bonnet, but it really un-nerved me, because I did look, and didn't see him.

My vision is not the issue. Mostly, it was down to the fact that he had a tiny, dim led light on his helmet, and was looking down at the road as he pedalled up a steep slope, so the light was not in my vision. The near accident was also affected by the driving rain on my windows and the dark, unlit road.

I offered to pay for his wheel and offered multiple times to take him where he was going, but he was adamant that if I paid for his wheel, we'd both go on our way, older and wiser. He lived very near and completely refused help getting home. He was a doctor at the nearby Freeman Hospital and insisted he was completely unharmed.

The incident caused me a lot of thinking about how I could make sure it never happened again. I have sometimes mentioned that two of my motor bike riding friends have been killed in the last decade by terrible, careless driving from other people, both cases, this kind of incident of not looking properly when driving onto a road. I thought I would never be the person to 'not see' a motorbike or other two wheeled rider. I am one myself and I know how it feels not to be seen.

Now I ALWAYS do a double look - not just one. I look, and then look again. I certainly never want to come as close to harming a two wheeled rider again.

Fact is the cyclist was at fault . As a doctor you'd think he would be more aware than most.

 

[Tony1951]

Fact is the cyclist was at fault . As a doctor you'd think he would be more aware than most.

I think we were both at fault.

He certainly would have done himself a favour if he had been properly lit and dressed in something visible. It was a stinking windy wet night and just across the junction was a brightly lit up care home which was pretty distracting from his tiny glow worm LED pointing down at the road, but I still think on driving out - albeit slowly, I should have seen him.

I don't think it would happen now, because I never ever pull out without taking a double take on whether there is anything approaching. It is very easy to drive on autopilot. If you do, you will sooner or later have an accident caused by missing something like this almost invisible rider.

 

[guerney]

Were this the 1990's, people would be popping ecstasy and dance along behind him thinking he was some sort of mobile rave.

My lights stop them pulling out in front of my bike at junctions, I'll know their approx age when they start dancing throwing shapes and blowing whistles. Some summer night, I'll load my bicycle trailer with 240V amp speakers smoke machine and more frickin lasers, host an impromptu rave somewhere powered by my ebike battery via the cheapo AliExpress 36V-12V converter and inverter I bought in the sale. I've everything necesary aside from extra frickin laser beams. Some raves pull hot chicks.

 

[soundwave]

My lights stop them pulling out in front of my bike at junctions, I'll know their approx age when they start dancing throwing shapes and blowing whistles. Some summer night, I'll load my bicycle trailer with 240V amp speakers smoke machine and more frickin lasers, host an impromptu rave somewhere powered by my ebike battery via the cheapo AliExpress 36V-12V converter and inverter I bought in the sale. I've everything necesary aside from extra frickin laser beams. Some raves pull hot chicks.

 

[volt x]

I think we were both at fault.

He certainly would have done himself a favour if he had been properly lit and dressed in something visible. It was a stinking windy wet night and just across the junction was a brightly lit up care home which was pretty distracting from his tiny glow worm LED pointing down at the road, but I still think on driving out - albeit slowly, I should have seen him.

I don't think it would happen now, because I never ever pull out without taking a double take on whether there is anything approaching. It is very easy to drive on autopilot. If you do, you will sooner or later have an accident caused by missing something like this almost invisible rider.

The law requires a front facing white light, a light on a helmet is not always going to be front facing. As you've said his light was pointing downwards.

I don't have reflectors on my peddles, so I'm braking the law. When I bought the bike they were attached, but they eventually fell off. I doubt they work as well as intended, depending on the heel of a shoe or boot. Still a good light on the bike is what stops us braking the law and making a drivers life easier to see us.

 

[AndyBike]

As a doctor you'd think he would be more aware than most.

You'd be surprised at some of the antics of professionals.

I was in Amsterdam, and about 3am wandering about trying to find my hostel, I asked a random passerby, who then insisted on taking me to it. He nipped off, came back a minute later with a bike, and i piggybacked there on the rack.
I did ask 'Is this bike stolen ?' to which he replied, it was OK because he was a lawyer