Is it safer to flash?

EPTR1

In your opinion is it safer to have your lights flashing or to be constantly on? I am tempted to say that whilst driving a flashing back light catches my attention more. What do you think?

cougie

Split the difference and have one on flash and one on steady.

If you're riding at night - you're a muppet if you just rely on one light.

In the winter daylight I'll ride with one LED on flashing.

Bozman

One steady one flashing on the rear but isn't it law to have a steady/solid front light, if it isn't it should be.

StevieDexter

^^^ Yes it is the law. The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations say you need a steady white front light as a minimum, and the same in red on the back. Basically if you want a flashing light, you should also have a constant one. But I, nor anyother self respecting upholder of the law would stick you on for it unless it was a SERIOUSLY slow day!

wishitwasallflat

Flashing lights always catch my attention more when I'm driving but that said there's a few commuters on my route home from work in the car using super bright fronts on constant and its like a motorbike when you see them. Maybe the bottom line is how bright they are?

oldwelshman

On the front I have two magic shine lights which are fantastic and cars often stop on narrow lanes as they think I am a car, quite funny on hills when I see them wait and I take a minute to get to them going up a hill
On the back I have a red fixed light, and a red/blue/green flashing light and also a blue flashing led light as reserve.
Yes I have heard blue light illegal but several police cars have passed me but never said anything.
I can often hear cars slowing behind me,

siamon

The flashing blue one is a fantastic idea. Where did you get it?

Mettan

On the rear I have a Smart 1/2 watt on flash and another 1/2 watt light on Constant mode - best of both worlds - they're used for both dark and daytime riding - on the front I've got two XML-T6 502b's to see with, with a Cree Q5 for flashing - in the day-time I use my cree Q5 on flash mode - (with daylight there's no glare or anything negative re. drivers (because its daytime) and the Q5 isn't ridiculously bright), BUT, the Q5 on flash still gives excellent ''to be seen'' with light when approaching the multitude of side-roads and junctions on a ride. The cree Q5 is actually a perfect daytime flasher which can be used and switched off at different points during your ride. The XML -T6's on strobe are insanely bright (never use them) - (perfect if your injured when climbing or hiking though )

plowmar

oldwelshman says:-
'On the front I have two magic shine lights which are fantastic and cars often stop on narrow lanes as they think I am a car, quite funny on hills when I see them wait and I take a minute to get to them going up a hill '

How wide is your bike?

redvee

Of the seven rear lights, on the bike one solid, one flash. On my bag, flashing. The four on my helmet are split 50/50 solid/flash. the front has a Cateye EL520 and Knog Gekko on solid when on the lit roads, the Fenix, at present, is solid on the unlit 2.5mile country lane then goes onto strobe pointed at the road for the lit road remainder.

Mike67

redvee wrote:

Of the seven rear lights, on the bike one solid, one flash. On my bag, flashing. The four on my helmet are split 50/50 solid/flash. the front has a Cateye EL520 and Knog Gekko on solid when on the lit roads, the Fenix, at present, is solid on the unlit 2.5mile country lane then goes onto strobe pointed at the road for the lit road remainder.

Blimey, seven???
Don't go riding near an airport you'll have a jumbo chasing you down

Two front and back here. One flashing and one steady. Also means I've got a spare if one packs up.
Always have one rear flashing during what passes for daylight in Winter too.

I do tend to get given a wider berth by cars with the rear flasher on. Might try using them all year round.

racingcondor

StevieDexter wrote:

^^^ Yes it is the law. The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations say you need a steady white front light as a minimum, and the same in red on the back. Basically if you want a flashing light, you should also have a constant one. But I, nor anyother self respecting upholder of the law would stick you on for it unless it was a SERIOUSLY slow day!

I believe the vehicle lighing regs were changed a little while ago in response to some research suggesting that flashing lights were more visible.

Having said that, both is the best answer. Especially on the rear you should always have at least two separate lights so that when one runs out of batteries you don't ride around for an hour invisible to everyone. I use an exposure flare on combi mode (solid but pulsing so it works as a flashing light as well) as well as a couple of cheap disk lights on my bag/pocket.

I generally use one solid light on the front so I don't dazzle drivers.

MichaelW

Some of front lights blink at such a low frequency that you can glance in the riders direction and see nothing for a while.
It is much harder to judge distance using blinky mode.
If you have 2 different lights, both set to blinky, they with flash out of phase in a hypnotic manner.
Blinky mode is probably best used in light, misty conditions.

Paul E

One contstant and one fast flasher on the front and on the back one flasher on the bike and a constant on my rucksack and a high viz band with flashing leds along it on my rucksack too for very bad days.

RowCycle

I have heard something similar.

Flashing catches someones eye more, but steady is better for someone to judge distances.

I suggest you get some portable (battery) christmas tree lights and wrap yourself in them )

Pross

I'd go along with that, flashing definately catches the eye (ooer etc.) but constant is easier to judge and high quality rear lights are so cheap getting two is no problem. Reflective ankle bands are also a great cheap way of getting noticed and spoke lights help with sidewards visibility which I think is one of the biggest problem areas. Some of the super bright front lights on flash mode could cause a problem for other road users, I wouldn't use my Fenix on flash in the brighter setting. I use the Fenix on constant and a cheap Cat Eye light on flash for the front.

giant_man

I have 3 all flashing, two Smart 1/2 watts and one RSP Astrum, the easier they can see you the safer you are imo.

anto164

I use two lights on the front, powerful one for steady beam, and a low power one on flash.

On the rear i use a scrolling LED light which has the advantages of a flashing light with the advantages of a steady light.

MattC59

Hope Vision2 on the front, Niterider CherryBomb (1W) on the back, both on constant, giving me more than enough light to see and be seen by. I also have a white Knog Frog on the front, and a red one on the back, these I have on flashing mode. I have these as back ups, in case the main lights fail, but the flashing also helps with visibility. That said, I suspect that these are somewhat obscured by the brightness of the Hope and CherryBomb !!!

I leave the Frogs on the bike, flashing during daytime rides in the winter.

fossyant

anto164 wrote:

I use two lights on the front, powerful one for steady beam, and a low power one on flash.

On the rear i use a scrolling LED light which has the advantages of a flashing light with the advantages of a steady light.

Just on one the rear - scrolling, so you have one 'iccle LED on at a time - I'd get something bigger as well. Two minimum on the rear in case the batteries go flat.

Two MJ-818 3 watts rears on steady and 2 Smart 1/2 watts here. Even the Martians use sunglasses. :shock:

Topaxci

I agree a combination of fixed and flashing is the best

I have a scrolling one on the rear for a bit of both. I also have 3 other rear lights - one constant and two flashing.
3 on the front bars two flashing, one constant. Plus a front helmet light on constant.
Just for fun I also have two sideways frame mounted flashers.
Combined with a set of bright yellow tyres SMIDSY is not an excuse, it's an admission to blindness.

Duffer65

StevieDexter wrote:

^^^ Yes it is the law. The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations say you need a steady white front light as a minimum, and the same in red on the back. Basically if you want a flashing light, you should also have a constant one. But I, nor anyother self respecting upholder of the law would stick you on for it unless it was a SERIOUSLY slow day!

On my way home last night I saw one of the local Bicycle Police on his Police Mtb and noticed that he had his front and rear lights on flashing mode. Nearly made a citizen's arrest but thought better of it.

oldwelshman

plowmar wrote:

oldwelshman says:-
'On the front I have two magic shine lights which are fantastic and cars often stop on narrow lanes as they think I am a car, quite funny on hills when I see them wait and I take a minute to get to them going up a hill '

How wide is your bike?

its just a normal ribble 853 winter bike, i fit one light either side of the stem.