Consumer Reports tests bicycle safety gear

Cars kill more than 5,000 pedestrians, bicyclists and joggers each year and the vast majority of those accidents happen after the sun sets.

So Consumer Reports has tested items that are supposed to make you more visible.

Special reflective clothing and accessories are supposed to make you easier to see, but some are better than others.

As night falls, it's tough to see people along the side of the road and it can lead to serious accidents.

Greg Cohen was hit while jogging at dusk. He's learned that to be safe, you have to be seen.

"Wearing something bright or highly visible is the difference between getting back to your home that night or winding up in the ER," says Cohen.

Lots of products promise to make it easier for drivers to notice you at night.

Consumer Reports assessed reflective jackets, bike shirts and an inexpensive safety vest. There was even a button-down shirt made with reflective thread.

Some of the clothing stood out from the rest and is easy to see, but some just blends into the night.

The Betabrand shirt with reflective thread looks easy to spot on the company's website. But Consumer Reports found it's not visible from 300 feet - that's the distance it takes for a car to stop if it's going 60 miles per hour.

"It's really important that the garment you wear can be seen from both the front and the back. And the more reflective the pieces, the better," said Pat Slaven of Consumer Reports.

This $180 bike jacket is easy to see coming and going, but it didn't outshine this safety vest, with its big bright strips. And it's inexpensive - around $15.

You can up your safety game with the addition of accessories like a battery-operated wristband or a reflective ankle band.

Consumer Reports found they are all highly visible from 300 feet. And when they move up and down as you're biking or running, they really stand out.

Consumer Reports also checked out iron-on reflective tape. It only costs about $4, and you can put it on your own jacket, your backpack or anything you or your kids might wear at night.