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> Blinking lights makes the bicycle driver more visible. [citation needed]. They sure are annoying to look at, but I doubt about the improved visibility. Drive
by TeMPOraL 2y ago
> Blinking lights makes the bicycle driver more visible.
[citation needed]. They sure are annoying to look at, but I doubt about the improved visibility. Drivers are used to tracking positions and velocities of steady light sources - like those from cars, traffic lights, barriers, reflected lights, etc. Blinking lights are harder to track and are unusual; they seemingly should draw attention, but other than bicycles, they tend to show up on stuff like ads, Christmas lights, broken light fixtures, etc. - that is, things safe to ignore.
- thecopy 2y agoThis is related to inattentional blindness, where car drives dont notice motorbikes since drivers are used to looking for two lights - not one: https://motolight.com/inattentional-blindness/ https://motolight.com/inattentional-blindness/ In the same manner, a single bicycle light might not register as a vehicle in the minds of car drivers. By blinking the light the short-circuit is broken - or so the theory goes.
- lhomdee 2y agoCan confirm this anecdotally. When I use my bike light in blinking mode, drivers are more careful around me every time. When I use the non-blinking mode, there have been times when drivers have clearly ignored my presence and I’ve had to wave my hand in front of the light to simulate blinking to get their attention.
- lupire 2y ago"ads, Christmas lights, broken light fixtures, etc" are not safe to crash into
- TeMPOraL 2y agoThey are not. They are also not on the road.