Day / Night visibility is an issue for everyone, not just bicyclists. Its because every driver is different and will key in, fixate on and notice different things. I end up using a single solid red taillight on my bike.
My motorcycle has a module in it that allows some pulsing of the taillight. The rear red light is steady on low all the time, when I push the brake peg the light then gets bright and flashes fast for 2 seconds and then stays steady bright. Not really possible for a bike, but it works great on a motorcycle. Haven't been hit yet : ) plus "loud pipes save lives" I'm a fireman for a long time now, and we have a huge issue nationally with drivers fixating on our parked apparatus and plowing into the back of the trucks. My Department has had only two duty deaths in more than 70 years, but one of them was a lady driving through and emergency scene with probably 4 firetrucks and multiple police cars, all with lights flashing. She drove over two firemen and one cop, killing the cop and one of the firemen. I'd say there were (conservatively) 25 to 30 rear facing strobes lights pointing back at her at the time, most likely way too many and caused confusion/fixation. Heck, police tactical flashlights have a strobe feature to disorient assailants. What we have found is that we still have LEDs and strobes all over the trucks but the top left rear light is a steady amber light. Like on a city service truck. Its been found that amber has the best driver recognition and connotation of caution to the public. Sorry, but when drivers don't see other cars, don't notice motorcycles with 90-100dB exhausts and even hit 50', 25 ton firetrucks, we are all screwed. Ride defensively. Hell, we've been setting records around here so far this year in drugged up people driving the wrong way on highways and old drivers hitting BUILDINGS. I think we've all been on those group rides either early morning or dusk where we come upon a group of cyclists with their red blinkies all flashing. Its like an epileptic seizure waiting to happen. If I could, I'd run an amber rear light with a slow pulsing dim to bright. Don't think anyone makes it yet though, someday. Scott On Wed, May 4, 2016 at 1:21 PM, Lungimsam <[email protected]> wrote: > I read a BQ article that discussed the uncertainty of using more or less > lighting and reflectivity while bike riding in order to be safer and more > easily seen on the road. > At first thought, more would make sense being safer, but the article > talked about more, or the type of lighting/reflectivity contributing to > target fixation. > Also mentioned "visual clutter", as well as daytime/nighttime playing a > role in what could be used for maximum visibility. > > Very interesting, but frustrating, as there is no exact evidence yet that > shows more or less or what type is better. > > -- > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > "RBW Owners Bunch" group. > To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an > email to [email protected]. > To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. > Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. > For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "RBW Owners Bunch" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at https://groups.google.com/group/rbw-owners-bunch. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
