Blood on the streets

This morning I got stopped by the police on Vauxhall Bridge.

-Hi, we’re stopping all cyclists in light of the recent cyclist fatalities, to make sure that you’re making yourselves as safe as possible. Obviously it’s great that you have lights on and are wearing a helmet, but have you considered wearing a hi-viz jacket?
-No, I’ve got really bright lights, reflective material on my coat and my bike, and I position myself in the road so that I can be seen.
-I just think that if a driver wasn’t wearing their glasses then they might not be able to see you.
-Do you not think that a driver driving around half-blind is more the problem??
-Well, we’re just here to talk to cyclists. We don’t know yet why so many cyclists are being killed but there are a lot of bad cyclists out there.
-There are a lot of bad drivers too, perhaps you should talk to them as they’re the ones doing the killing.
-Okay, well, get some hi-viz.

I’m fucking furious. Is victim blaming now policy??

had a similar discussion with my parents last night. i don't wear hi-viz but i always wear a helmet, have a backpack with reflective stuff on and have pretty decent lights. my stepdad was talking about the reduced visibility he has when driving a van but in my experience if a cunt isn't going to see you, hi-viz is not going to make much of a difference. and the idea that all cyclists NEED to be clad in bloody fluro lends itself to an attitude that it is the cyclist's responsibility to make themselves safe regardless of lane drifting, non-indicating, inattentive and aggressive vehicular arseholes.

but yeah, lowest hanging fruit etc... :(