What Is Biomotion in Hi-Vis Clothing? How Reflective Tape Helps Drivers See Your Crew

A reflective vest helps at night, but the tape layout decides how far away a driver recognises you. In a 2017 closed-circuit study by Joanne Wood and colleagues, drivers recognised pedestrians in a standard reflective vest from 184.5 m. Adding biomotion markers stretched that to 319.1 m, which is about 135 m of extra braking room. The vest was the same in both conditions. Only the tape layout changed.

The tape on the torso gives a driver a bright patch, and the tape on the wrists, elbows, knees and ankles gives the driver a figure that swings and bends like a person. Biomotion workwear uses the second layout. This guide explains how the tape works and how to pick a garment that meets AS 4602.1:2024.

What Is Biomotion in Hi-Vis Clothing?

Biomotion is the short form for biological motion. It describes how the brain identifies a living figure when there are a few moving points of light. Lights on a person's shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles will help you identify a walking human with no body outline visible. This is the principle that Biomotion clothing uses by placing retroreflective tape on those joints.

Tape on the torso signals to a driver that something reflective is ahead. Tape on the limbs tells the driver a person is there and which way that person faces.

In a closed-road study published in Human Factors in 2005, Joanne Wood, Richard Tyrrell and Trent Carberry tested drivers at night. In the hardest condition (low beams, black clothing, oncoming glare), drivers recognised only 5% of pedestrians. But without glare, they recognised 100% of pedestrians in biomotion retroreflective clothing, at distances up to 220 m for younger drivers on high beam.

Operators of trucks and forklifts judge situations in fractions of a second. The operator gets more time to slow down when he recognises a figure like a person that moves.

How Does Reflective Tape Improve Visibility?

Fluorescent fabric and reflective tape function in such a way that they keep us safe 24 hours a day. Fluorescent fabric absorbs invisible light to make neon colours look bright during the day and at dusk. But it stops working once it gets dark. Now, reflective tape takes over. It uses tiny built-in beads. The tape acts like a mirror that bounces light from car headlights straight back to the driver's eyes. Each material only works half the time, so we need both to protect us around the clock.

Different Hi-Vis Vest Tape Configurations

Layouts vary with the garment and the requirements. Many Australian vests pair an H pattern on the front with an X on the back.

Configuration	Layout
X-back hi vis vest	Diagonal bands cross the back so reflective material shows even when the wearer faces away. The term comes from the NSW rail industry.
H pattern	Two vertical bands joined by a horizontal band over the chest or back.
U-back	Bands curve into a U shape on the back.
Vertical tape	Parallel bands run down the front and back.
Shoulder and arm tape	Bands on the shoulders or around the sleeves add upper-limb movement.
Hoop and band	Horizontal rings around the waist, arms or legs.
Combination	A torso layout paired with arm and leg tape for fuller biomotion.

A vest on its own covers the torso only. Pair an X-back vest with taped pants, or choose a shirt or jacket with limb tape, and the wearer shows both torso and limb movement. WorkArmour's hi-vis vests and biomotion range are made to be worn together.

Solid vs Segmented Reflective Tape: What's the Difference?

Solid tape is a continuous reflective band. Segmented tape is a row of small reflective sections with narrow gaps between them. Both can meet the retroreflective requirements of AS/NZS 1906.4, so the choice depends on the work.

Feature	Solid tape	Segmented tape
Surface	Continuous band	Small sections with gaps
Breathability	Lower; can hold heat	Higher; fabric flexes between segments
Flexibility	Stiffer	Moves and stretches with the garment
Typical use	Vests and outer layers where durability matters most	Active or warm-weather garments such as pants and shirts

WorkArmour's Rugged Cooling Stretch Segmented Taped Pant is one option for crews working in heat.

Why Are Reflective Tape Patterns Used Around the Arms and Legs?

Walking has a steady rhythm with arms and legs swinging in opposite directions. Tape on the limbs makes that rhythm visible from a distance, and a driver recognises it as a human.

In the 2005 study, drivers on low beams recognised a walking pedestrian in biomotion markers at 3.4 times the distance of a pedestrian in a vest carrying the same amount of retroreflective material. The tape was the same.

That advantage counts wherever people share space with moving machines: roadside work zones, rail corridors, loading docks and busy warehouse aisles.

Biomotion Hi-Vis Clothing vs Standard Hi-Vis Clothing

Feature	Standard hi-vis	Biomotion hi-vis
Tape placement	Mostly on the torso	Torso plus arms, legs or both
What the driver sees	A bright shape	A moving human form
Movement cues	Limited	Visible from limb tape
Best suited to	Daytime and lower-risk tasks	Night work, low light, vehicles and plant
Common garments	Vests and shirts	Shirts, pants, coveralls and jackets

Biomotion and Australian Hi-Vis Standards

AS 4602.1 sets the conspicuity requirements for garments worn by people exposed to moving traffic, plant or equipment in high-risk situations. Fire-service garments fall outside its scope. Biomotion tape became part of the standard in the 2011 edition.

Standards Australia published AS 4602.1:2024 on 28 June 2024, and it replaced the 2011 edition. It introduced levels within Class N and Class D/N, based on the amount and placement of material on the arms and legs. It also covers trousers and the lower half of coveralls explicitly for the first time. AS/NZS 1906.4 separately covers retroreflective materials.

The tape layout drives night recognition, and the fluorescent background drives daytime visibility. Class then tells you when to wear the garment. Class D is for day use, and Class N is for night use, and a D/N garment covers both.

Some biomotion garments, such as WorkArmour's X-pattern biomotion cotton shirt, are labelled night use only. They suit after-dark tasks and do not replace a day-rated garment.

How to Choose the Right Biomotion Hi-Vis Vest

Factor	What to check
Workplace environment	A vehicle yard and a rail corridor place different demands on a garment.
Required visibility level	Read your site's PPE policy for the class and, under AS 4602.1:2024, the level.
Tape configuration	X-back or H pattern for the torso, with arm and leg tape for fuller biomotion.
Tape type	Solid for durability, segmented for heat and stretch.
Garment coverage	A vest covers the torso only, so pair it with taped pants or choose a garment with limb tape.
Comfort and movement	Check fit and fabric weight. Tape must stay in position, and the garment must not snag.
Compliance	Confirm the label cites AS 4602.1:2024 and AS/NZS 1906.4, and ask the supplier for certification.

Conclusion

Biomotion works because it shows drivers a person. A torso-only layout shows a patch of colour. You should match the tape layout and garment coverage to your site; you should also check the label against AS 4602.1:2024 after matching the tape layout.

WorkArmour supplies biomotion shirts, pants, coveralls, jackets and hi-vis safety vests, with free shipping over $100 and same-day dispatch before 11 am.

Shop the biomotion range or call 03 8787 5984 to talk through your crew's requirements.

Got a question? Contact our team here.