Well - that explains it. Didn't the CTC have a policy that compulsory fitting of lights to bikes at night was strongly opposed, and shold be a matter of personal choice, because it should be the responsibility of motorists to look out for and see cyclists riding at night. Yep - that is about as persuasive as your feeble argument against wearing helmets, backed up by an equally feeble notion that somehow the risk profiles are different between London and other western car obssessed nations.
A bit like "I want the right to have a baby" part of Life of Brian.
No problem with my competence or confidence, or for that matter my ability to assess risk.