In message <
[email protected]>, James Annan <
[email protected]> writes
>Danny Colyer wrote:
>> James Annan wrote:
>>
>>>But do you think that 'confusing and difficult to interpret' is hazardous? I'd have thought that
>>>something that demands attention would be substantially safer than something easily ignored.
>>
>>
>> 'Confusing and difficult to interpret' means increased brain processing time, distracting from
>> other aspects of driving.
>
>ITYM 'distracting the driver from picking his nose and listening to the radio' (and that's assuming
>he's not doing anything worse). I take that as a good sign. I am greatly encouraged by drivers (and
>cyclists, too) saying how annoying and distracting the flashing lights are. It means that the
>cyclist is grabbing their attention.
<snip>
I don't find flashing red LEDS distracting or annoying, I chose my words carefully.
I can find flashing LEDS used alone 'confusing and difficult to interpret' because it can be hard to
work out where the bike (if that's what it is) is, how it is moving etc. This is not good IMO.
What is required surely is to firstly notice the light (s) etc., and then to be able quickly
interpret what is seen as being a bicycle or whatever, then you are able to take the correct action
(you may not of course, but that's a different matter)
A flashing light as well as a steady light may help in this process (though I'm not convinced). As
single flasher doesn't do it for me.
>If drivers 'noticed' cyclists with steady lights then maybe you would have a valid point.
>
I've travelled many miles at night, on unlit and well lit roads, in all sorts of traffic. On a bike
with at the most 2 steady rear lights, mostly one until recently I have never been hit at night. I
don't think I'm passed too close to by any more drivers than I am in the daytime, in fact I would
say less often.
The two instance s I can remember of being actually hit from a vehicle behind have both happened in
the daytime, one when it overtook me too close and it's mirror clipped me - the driver knew I was
there - he had slowed down first, he was just being a selfish git.
the second was when a car almost hit the bike going on to a roundabout - he actually hit the
panniers, but just missed the actual bike and me - he too had seen me, but was careless (rather than
deliberately dangerous) aFAICT he thought I had carried on onto the roundabout, but I had stopped,
he was I think concentrating more on the traffic on the roundabout and realised to late that I was
still there
--
Chris French, Leeds
