this post was submitted on 19 Feb 2026
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Fuck Cars

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Didn't really expect much from DrivingUk but honestly the amount of downvotes shocked me. God forbid people go out at night dressed normally without full on high vis.

Reddit Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/drivingUK/comments/1r8fkfo/comment/o65j18p/

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[–] pedz@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Deer, raccoons, and the billion animals killed every year should also do more to be visible.

[–] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Or you know... just snap on one of these on your arm when you go out in the dark. Or have something similar dangling out of your coat pocket.

And before I'm accused of anything. I bike and walk far more than I drive.

[–] pedz@lemmy.ca 1 points 20 hours ago* (last edited 20 hours ago) (1 children)

To me this is defending motonormativity.

I also walk and bike at night, sometimes on multiuse paths with pedestrians, dog walkers and cyclists. Dogs don't have lights and are sometimes unpredictable. You know what I do when I'm cycling on a shared path, instead of expecting everyone to flash like a christmas tree? I slow down! This way I can react before hitting a pedestrian or a dog. I'm the one going much faster than them. I'm the one that has to be careful.

Once I nearly got hit by a truck passing me on a countryside road. It was day time but it was also raining. I was wearing a bright orange t-shirt. But apparently I wasn't visible enough?! In all the cases. I'm sure it was my fault for existing and not taking all the necessary precautions to make sure I can be seen from space and avoid getting hit.

I don't carry reflective hardware and flashing lights with me just in case I have to walk somewhere in the dark. Sometimes I'm walking a few km in my sister's town in the dark or in the rain. Sometimes I'm walking in another city, or country. I'm not carrying "safety equipment" with me everywhere I go just because some idiot motorists wants to go the speed limit in the dark without regard to other road users, or animals. Whatever happens, it will always be my fault for being there outside of a car anyway. Did I have headphones on? Maybe I was wearing dark makeup? I came out of nowhere! Or maybe I was not walking or cycling at the right place or at the right time.

Motorists are the one that drive a multi ton lethal vehicle, sometimes in the dark, and everyone not in one is expected to take precautions against them.

Motonormativity.

EDIT: Wear reflective gear if you want to. It's not a bad idea. But it SHOULD NOT be expected.

[–] Atomic@sh.itjust.works 2 points 19 hours ago

Alright buddy, you do you. I'm quite content with a small reflective star hanging out of my pocket at night. It's not an inconvenience, and I'm happy that cars can see me in the dark from a long distance away.

And don't go blame the dog. You're the one holding the leash. There are dog collars with reflective material in the collar BTW.

I don't know where you live, I can't speak for that, but I live in Sweden. It's pretty dark during winter. We get 6-7 hours of sunlight over the winter solstice.

Here, It is expected that you make sure you can be seen. That doesn't mean you need to walk around in a hi-vis vest.