In fact, I think it's EASIER to judge, the fixed frequency of flash means you can very easily (if subconsiously) identify a bike slowing or accelerating by the relative position of the flashes.Hell, if flashing lights are hard to judge speed on someone had better alert the emergency services.
It's not the flashing per se (though I don't agree that it helps to judge distance) - it's the brightness. Superbright lights are awful to look at in the dark and far worse if they're flashing. As a result, Mr Driver isn't actually looking at you as much as he could/should be.
Just possibly, the emergency services have flashing lights to get you out of their way rather than just for visibility or to help speed perception - they all have headlights like the rest of us. If they were safer we'd all have them, hey ?
"[i]Same here. I saw a lot more idiotic driving than cycling in yesterday's fog, as usual. But we don't go on and on and on about that at great and massively patronising length, do we? Because it's normal and we expect it, even though driving like a **** is much more dangerous to other people than anything you can do on a bike. Shame.[/i]"
I dunno, I go on about it and I know plenty of others do.
But if you take the population of STW we're generally cyclists. So in that context, surely it makes sense to point out the stupid things that a lot of people do when on a bike? As cyclists we're mostly acutely aware of the stupid things they do when they're in a car.
"[i]It's not the flashing per se (though I don't agree that it helps to judge distance) - it's the brightness. Superbright lights are awful to look at in the dark[/i]"
Also, some flashing lights simply flash too slowly. I know I've glanced in the past and not seen a light, then glanced again and there it was. If you've only got an on-off flasher, then unless it's a really high frequency one you carry a risk of being missed by people who are only glancing once.
Despite having a rear light on yesterday I did have a near miss on a short section of road between trails - the van driver concerned had no lights on but, more importantly, was texting on his mobile. He kind of acknowledged he was in the wrong but it fell short of an apology.
Anyways, does this argument always have to come down to a them/us blamefest? Surely if everyone took responsibility for their own actions and safety the roads would be a better place? If we all actually paid attention to the Highway Code drivers would drive to suit the conditions and cyclists make themselves more visible.
To blame a motorist simply for not seeing someone who, in effect, is camoflaged is as pointless as blaming a cyclist who chose not to use hi-viz/lights.
Totally agree with the OP -
We went out in the car early Saturday morning and saw several groups of roadies, most dressed head to toe in black, riding with no lights.
The financial arguement is a nonsense - you can buy a flashing LED bike-light from poundland...
£25 gets you a nice set of road lights, spend £50 and you'll be seen from the moon.
I think you owe it to those who care about you to put one something bright and stick a light on either end of your bike.
I ride with a Smart Lunar R1 - rain or shine, day or night.
£16, and you can see it from miles away.
To blame a motorist simply for not seeing someone who, in effect, is camoflaged is as pointless as blaming a cyclist who chose not to use hi-viz/lights.
This. I got moaned at by Mrs Kryton this morning after nagging her to turn the car lights on (immediately after leaving home but immediately before a roundabout - she was about to it, apparantly), only to have a short conversation 5 minutes later about a cyclist coming toward us going hammer and tongs in all-black gear, no reflectives or high vis,, no lights head down on the drops and no helmet - this was about 7.45 so still quite dull an gloomy this morning.
We saw him (against a backdrop of hedgerows) about 50ft before he passed us (opposite direction).
I drive and I ride, Nobby is right - instead of being "them and us" if we all did our part whilst in any kind of vehicle we could reduce the problems. However some people are to macho/much of a hurry/ignorant/selfish/defensive/offensive/don't care* regardless of which vehicle they are on/in*.
*delete as approporiate.
Yep, as above I always have a rear light on my bike. The situations when I use it are more than just "it's dark";
- dark conditions obviously
- changeable conditions when dipping in & out of trees on a sunny day
- murky, low contrast days
- mist/fog
- low sun
- daylight, but raining
- etc...
If in doubt I will put my rear light on. It weighs very little and the batteries last for ages.
Same considerations when driving, really. I drive a (normally dirty) dull grey car. It blends in. If I feel that visibility is not great, I stick my lights on. Simple.
But if you take the population of STW we're generally cyclists. So in that context, surely it makes sense to point out the stupid things that a lot of people do when on a bike?
It's a good debate. With the world going by so much more slowly on a bike, and all of your senses intact, I truly think most people don't realise the position they put themselves in as cars approach at speed, windscreens fogged up, wipers blazing away, while the drivers try to find Smooth Radio, or that can of Fanta they dropped under the seat.
But cyclists stereotyping cyclists isn't really helping anyone.
Back to the usual chaos and violence on this morning's commute now that the holidays are over.
I'm going to miss sitting at the traffic lights and looking at the display of flashing lights from the pack in front of me when the sun gets going, though. Looks like a psychedelic xmas tree having a nervous breakdown. 😀
