Whether you've broken down at the side of the road, are walking, running or cycling in conditions with poor visibility or are on a motorcycle or horse, it's important to make sure that you can be seen. If your children walk to school, it's good to know that they're as visible as possible to traffic.

How to make yourself visible

You don't have to be covered head to toe in high vis clothing to be safe. Even just a few accessories can make a big difference.

The main thing to think of when making yourself visible is contrast. This mostly means in terms of colour or brightness, so stripes of high vis can really stand out against darker surroundings, and similarly reflective ones against unlit parts. Wearing high visibility strips on parts of yourself which move (like arms or legs) is a really good way to make yourself visible as well as letting the driver know that you're a person walking, running, cycling or whatever you happen to be doing.

When to wear high visibility clothing

You'll also need to have a think about when you're going to be wearing high vis clothing. Fluorescent colours work best during the day, when the vivid shades show up against drab backgrounds and don't blend in, but at night-time it's best to have areas of reflective material that can show up when lights shine on them. The glowing reflective areas really contrast with a night-time background and make you much more visible to anybody approaching. Of course, using lights is a good idea if you're out at night and a legal requirement if you're cycling at night - take a look at our buyer's guide to bike lights for more information.

Types of high visibility clothing

When it comes to high vis clothing, you're not just stuck with the simple (but effective) waistcoat. Simple slap straps, Sam Browne belts (which go over the shoulder and around the waist) and arm/leg belts are nice and compact for easy storage and create contrasting strips of colour (or reflectivity) to your outfit. You can also use high visibility stickers to customise your own or your kids' clothing - especially useful if they want to wear backpacks with their favourite characters on!

Of course, a high vis jacket or vest is the simplest way to ensure that you're visible when outside and can be thrown on over the top of normal clothing. Children's high vis vests are an affordable way to keep your child visible in the winter months when they might be walking to or from school when the weather takes a turn for the worse.

To help make sure you stay safe when it gets dark, be sure to take a look at our range of high visibility accessories and clothing.