Safety lights?

[Peter949]

Hello,

Today I went for a mostly quiet bike ride on my Cali II in the Blue Mountain area of Collingwood. I ride with the lights on, wearing a bright orange jacket, and still one car and one truck pulled out directly in front of me - on the very empty roads. For sure they saw me - but pulled out anyway!    I do practice 'Defensive' driving, and ride the speed limit.

I wanted to ask if some time of 'pulsing headlamp' might help? I remember years ago that these lights were available, but does anyone know a good source - or if these pulsing headlights help with safety?   

 

[rodekyll]

If you're sure they saw you, how will blinking your lights change their behavior?

A woman ran over my son on his bicycle in Anchorage.  He was in the bike lane and she passed him and immediately turned right.  She claimed she saw him but figured she could "cut him off before he t-boned her". 

[pehayes]

She claimed she saw him but figured she could "cut him off before he t-boned her".

Happens to me almost daily on my bicycle ride.  People see 'bicycle' and their brain calls up childhood memory data and computes about 8mph.  I'm cranking along at 20mph and they just can't imagine how quickly I will close the gap.

Patrick Hayes
Fremont CA

[nick949]

Hello,

Today I went for a mostly quiet bike ride on my Cali II in the Blue Mountain area of Collingwood. I ride with the lights on, wearing a bright orange jacket, and still one car and one truck pulled out directly in front of me - on the very empty roads. For sure they saw me - but pulled out anyway!    I do practice 'Defensive' driving, and ride the speed limit.

I wanted to ask if some time of 'pulsing headlamp' might help? I remember years ago that these lights were available, but does anyone know a good source - or if these pulsing headlights help with safety?   

There used to be one on my Eldo Peter, before I rewired courtesy of Greg Bender.  I can remember that it caught some people's attention, but not all.  Many car drivers feel so invulnerable and empowered that I doubt it made (or would make) much difference.  Constant vigilance - it's the only way (plus a dose of good luck).

Nick

[Wayne Orwig]

I used a 'headlight modulator' for about 20 years. Yes, it does get you noticed. Yes it does help a little to keep people from pulling out in front of you. No, I do not have hard facts, but with about 45 years on the road, I could tell.
BUT, I no longer use one, and prefer not to. When I used them, TWICE, I had people cross the center line and head straight towards me. Looking at the driver, I could see that they had a blank stare, looking directly at that blinking light and heading for it. Having people drive directly at you like that gets your attention. I also had a person ahead of me, in busy Atlanta interstate traffic, come to a complete stop in the middle of the interstate. I was trapped behind him, as he stared into his rear view mirror at that pulsing headlight. Maybe he thought I was an emergency vehicle. Again, having 70+ MPH traffic try to dodge you stopping in the middle lane on I-85 gets your attention. After those three near death experiences, I decided to add simple driving lights. A simple set of cheap LED driving lights helps a lot, without the confusion factor that the modulator can cause.
 

[Devildog]

I have the Skene photon blaster LED light system which seems to have made a big difference. Haven't had to take evasive action or emergency hard brake since installing them. And they are made here in Virginia.

[twowings]

Some drivers are just plain stupid and SOME actually think that normal traffic laws DON'T apply when the other vehicle is a motorcycle...THEY use the sad, timeworn tactic of "Might makes Right!"...I don't do much urban riding, but even out on the open highway I engage in a stare-down with reduced speed even there's even the slightest hint of danger...YMMV