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Permalink Reply by Minh on January 2, 2012 at 10:38am

Just read the link Brendan Posted http://www.mybikeadvocate.com/2011/06/should-you-flash-motorists-mo...

And I have my anecdotal evidence too...

From my experience driving and biking in the extremely brightly lit city: bicyclists with the brightest flashing lights and light colored/reflective clothing are the people I see. I only see them for a few seconds before I pass them anyway, but at least I know they are there. I've come across too many cyclists where I don't notice them until I'm just a few yards away because they are wearing dark colored clothing and have an extremely dim steady light or extremely tiny flashing light (Knog lights just can't compete with street lights.) I can see tiny lights being useful in the suburbs but not in the city.

On the LFP the guys that piss me off the most are the dudes with the 4000 lumen head lights attached to their helmet blinding anyone they look at. Do you really need 3 headlights that are as bright as the sun? I wish they'd use some fucking common sense.

ilter said:

Minh, was there any info on the speed of flashing ? There is a big difference IMHO between blinking rate of car flashers for instance and that of a planet bike superflash in blinking mode. To me the first is tolerable where the latter is hypnotising.

Minh said:

From a study:

Brake Light Flashers

The human eye recognizes dynamic flashing lights more quickly than it recognizes static solid lights. To that end, the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (www.msf-usa.org) suggests that you pump your brakes each time you stop, therefore increasing the visibility of your motorcycle to drivers behind you.

Additionally, The Hurt Study tells us:

The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.

So, it's important to add visibility to the back of your motorcycle, especially while braking, and one of the best ways to do so is to flash your brake lights.

But, who is going to remember to do that? Thankfully, you don't have to. Motorcycle brake light flashers are modules that are installed into a motorcycle's brake light system and flash the brake light automatically when the brake is applied.

Motorcycle tail light flashers are legal in all 50 states and Canada, however in several states they are restricted to certain flashing patterns. Check out state specific motorcycle laws.

Where did you get your information Kelvin?

Kelvin Mulcky said:

Imagine two cyclists riding side by side, one has a blinking tail light, one with a steady rear light. How does a flashing light make one rider more safe?

Have you ever been suprised by a cyclist with a steady tail light? Like "whoa! if only that light would have been flashing, I would have seen the cyclist faster!" -  I doubt it.

Ever ridden behind someone with a PB Superflash and been blinded by the seizure-indusing flashing pattern?

Ever been blinded by someone one the LFP with a flashing Magicshine (or equivalent) coming in the opposite direction?

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