"Moth effect" - blinking or steady tail lights?

[Duck on Wheels]

I'm not riding this time of year. I walk as much as I can, but also drive some. And as a driver I am veeeery grateful for bikers/walkers with flashing lights. And also reflective strips. It's scary when suddenly a dark figure appears just 10 feet in front of you, only visible as a shadow in the lights of an oncoming car. Even a teensy steady bike light (maybe running out of power) helps some, but a flashing one helps more. And folks with a reflector vest, bright yellow with big reflective stripes on it, can be seen from as far away as my own lights, or those of a vehicle ahead of me, can reach. I do NOT veer over towards them. In the dark, they're competing for attention with other spots of light -- oncoming vehicles, street lighting (which in some cases can distract as much as it lights up), xmas decorations. What's unlit tends to disappear into the void. And remember that, even with your lights on, you're invisible to oncoming traffic when you come out from behind some other vehicle. So I slow down so as to have better stop time when the inevitable surprises appear in the dark, but boy do they scare me sometimes. Case in point a few days ago: Black-clad biker, with no lights or reflectors, and no helmet, swerves out from behind a parked vehicle on a largely single-lane road (due to parking on one side) and head-on into my lane! He was darned lucky I was going slow and managed to stop!

[IFjane]

Very interesting thread. I had not heard it called the "moth effect" but it makes sense. I have always used a blinking light but maybe now I should try a steady one? I don't know. I rarely ride in the dark but use mine during the day.

Something else to consider is that there are more and more drivers out there who are driving sleepy. I have read stories of cars pulled off the highway because of a flat tire or something, and a zoned-out driver slams into the rear of the car because he didn't realize it was stopped.

We are taking our lives in our hands when we get out there with 2000 lb. missles whizzing by us, so I think it really doesn't matter what we do - just have a light on & bright clothing to make ourselves as visible as possible. Any light, blinking or steady, is better than no light.

[Zen]

I have read stories of cars pulled off the highway because of a flat tire or something, and a zoned-out driver slams into the rear of the car because he didn't realize it was stopped.

It happened to me but I was the crashee, not the crasher.

Totaled my brand new Yugo. Yes, Yugo.

[rebeccaC]

this is certainly an old thread

A steady light allows a driver to perceive depth more easily for a better positional reference of a bike rider.
I saw revolights on a bike a few months ago and was impressed. It's a kickstarter company. Not good enough battery life for what I need though.

http://revolights.com

[OakLeaf]

If someone's target-fixated on me, I'm not sure how much difference their depth perception makes. They correct when (and if) they notice what they're doing. They don't make a decision that they've gotten close enough and now it's time to stop steering towards me. You learn a lot from being a pedestrian that cyclists with their backs to overtaking traffic never see.

It's pretty obvious to me that a blinking light is more noticeable than a solid one. Pay attention some time when you're behind someone in low visibility conditions, motorized or not. Or what about those radar signs that strobe at you when you're doing more than 10 over the limit? They get your attention pretty good, eh.

I think there are good arguments for motorcyclists to be as invisible as possible, because with a motor and a throttle and good attention and skills, we can get out of most trouble that we let ourselves get into. Not so much for bicyclists. The same as with my hi-viz clothing, I choose to be as visible as possible, even though I'm well aware of the risks of target fixation. At least 20% of motorists will do the right thing when they see me. That's about the same percentage as target fixate, but it's a much higher percentage than those who target fixate AND don't correct in plenty of time. As I say so often, I choose to be visible for two reasons: first, as a courtesy to motorists who ARE paying attention, and second, for the benefit of my loved ones if something does happen, since almost universally when a non-motorized road user is struck, the authorities and/or juries make it their fault, and wearing the wrong clothes and gear is the #1 way we are blamed.

[DebW]

I use a solid light in nighttime conditions but a blinking light in dusky/rainy/poor visibility conditions. Though for most true nighttime riding (going home from work every day in fall and winter) I use a helmet light of which the rear light can only blink, and put the bike's taillight on solid. I've had drivers tell me I was very visible and they wished all cyclist were as visible.

[Crankin]

I have a large solid, car type rear light on my Guru, which is standard equipment and required in most European countries. However, when I am riding early in the AM, in the real dark (fall/spring) I also add a blinkie, attached to my rear bag or my back. I keep my front light on solid until it is clearly dawn and the sky is all light. Then I might keep it on flashing for awhile after that. In the fall, actually starting in late August, I will use my front light on flashing mode if I am riding in the late afternoon, as I live in a very shaded area and the shadows are horrendous. Sunset might not be for 2 more hours, but I have been driving home from work and have passed many, many cyclists who are almost invisible.