Re: Flashing lights , a good thing?

Stevie D wrote:


If I was to stare continuously at the flashing light, I would after a
few seconds get a better idea of how far away it was - but in the
meantime, would very likely have driven off the road or hit something
much closer to hand.

It takes a moment for your eyes to focus on anything and get a fix on
the distance. When that something is appearing and disappearing at a
moderate frequency, it isn't visible for long enough continuously to
do that in any one illumination cycle, and it will move (not
necessarily in a perfectly straight or smooth path) between
illuminations, and the discontinuity means that it takes much, much
longer to get a fix on the distance than if it were a steady light.
Combine that with a driver's need to continually scan across his full
field of vision, meaning he is unable to focus on any one object for a
long time, and it's easy to see why drivers find it difficult to gauge
the distance of a solitary and moving flashing light.


Am I missing something here? You seem to be discussing flashing lights as though they are the only illumination that allows you to see and place a cyclist.

My car is equipped with lights, which are quite bright. When I am driving towards a cyclist, these lights illuminate the reflectors on the bike (including those amber ones on the pedals) and also any reflective clothing that he might be wearing.

I find that the flashing LED ceases to be the sole source of light returning from the target long before I am close enough to the cyclist to present a danger. I can therefore work out position / speed / size in plenty of time to react.

Perhaps some of you chaps should try turning your lights on.
.

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