Told tonight that my rear light 'is too bright and illegal'....?

Hinaultscrapcousin · December 2016

There are lights to see with and there are lights to be seen with, you need to be careful not to confuse the two.

A 25-50 lumen light is enough for someone to see you on lit streets.

N0bodyOfTheGoat · December 2016

The Moon Nebula rear light saddle rail clamp on my Wazoo is presumably pointing down by design for a good reason, to reduce light of sight dazzle for motorists (and other road users) behind.

bompington · December 2016

Carbonator wrote:

There are minimum speed limits in the world and they are there for a reason.

Not sure I've ever seen one in the UK

Carbonator wrote:

What vehicles are limited to 45 mph or less?

Have you ever driven a tractor? Or a moped? Or a...

Carbonator wrote:

Thats completely different from choosing to drive at slower speeds and clearly (if they are even looking) see no one on front of you for miles, yet a big snaking line of cars all bunched up behind you.

Something you routinely see with vehicles travelling at or even over the speed limit on main roads - are you suggesting that you should break the limit because other people behind you want to?

Carbonator wrote:

Taking responsibility for your own actions is exactly what I am talking about lol

On this - I agree fully. A more fundamental point than all the rest, really.

bompington · December 2016

My irony meter (set in "really obvious" mode) is twitching just a little bit at the OP strenuously objecting that his rear light isn't too bright for motorists. Said light being branded blinder. Perhaps a clue in there somewhere?

FWIW I would agree that some rear lights are too bright: my criterion for too bright being that it isn't just a bit annoying, but actually dazzles you to the extent that the visibility you need to be safe is lacking.

fenix · December 2016

Carbonator wrote:

cougie wrote:

By that logic then cyclists shouldnt be on the Road too? 60 is only the max speed. You dont have to drive at it.

What about speed limited vehicles too? Ban them?

God forbid drivers actually take responsibility for their own actions eh?

Er, no, cyclists generally share a lane so thats a stupid thing to say.

You don't 'have to' or 'not have to' do a lot of things in life, but it doesn't mean you shouldn't or should!

There are minimum speed limits in the world and they are there for a reason.
Do you think all current speed limits, road laws and markings are perfect then?
i.e. maybe there should be minimum limits.

What vehicles are limited to 45 mph or less?
Thats completely different from choosing to drive at slower speeds and clearly (if they are even looking) see no one on front of you for miles, yet a big snaking line of cars all bunched up behind you.

Taking responsibility for your own actions is exactly what I am talking about lol

People driving stupidly slow must cause accidents.
Sure you can blame the person overtaking, or even the other driver involved, but at the end of the day it was the slow driver that started the whole chain of events and it might just have been better if they 'took a bit more responsibility' for their actions

Round here to overtake a cyclist safely you would be over the white line. Using your logic it'd be better for us cyclists to stay off the roads ?

It's always the responsibility of the overtaking driver to ensure he's doing it safely.

bianchimoon · December 2016

meanredspider wrote:

wishitwasallflat wrote:

Perhaps you shouldnt have overtaken, have you ever considered driving a little slower for everyone's safety? How much of a problem would it be if it your journeys took you a bit longer?

Maybe spare a thought for the cyclists that have to follow such lights...

A guy on our runs use to have a 'blinding' rear light, when it was his turn to lead, impossible to stay close enough behind him as you couldn't see the rear wheel or much else for that matter

fenix · December 2016

I think my See Sense Rear is 155 Lumens ? I use it throughout the days in Winter - so it does need to be bright. I've had no complaints at night either and I don't think its blinding. Will check tonight.

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

Matthewfalle wrote:

wishitwasallflat wrote:

fat daddy wrote:

They might well be too bright ... I followed someone in the rain the other night and his rear was painfully blinding, I struggled to over take as I couldn't see past him due to the intense red reflecting off everything and when I looked over my shoulder to check for cars all I could see was a dark blob burned into my retina

So some lights can be too bright

Perhaps you shouldnt have overtaken, have you ever considered driving a little slower for everyone's safety? How much of a problem would it be if it your journeys took you a bit longer?

Errr - I think he was on his bicycle. Both of them.

All the more reason to stay there and draft then! Seriously if you don't look directly into a very bright single source of light it wont blind you. If in doubt about overtaking, no matter how you are traveling wait for a safe opportunity.

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

NapoleonD wrote:

cause me to stop and wait for them to go past.

Now that is a sensible choice in such circumstances - if in doubt ... wait.

fat daddy · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

All the more reason to stay there and draft then! Seriously if you don't look directly into a very bright single source of light it wont blind you.

Man I wish the internet wasn't full of people that when you put forward a situational experience they start telling you what you "should" have done without actually having been there.

Stay and draft .... at 7mph uphill .... yeah ok

If you don't look directly into the light ..... it was raining and night time, it didn't matter where you looked if you looked forwards, the light was blinding, it was a single file bike lane, with parked cars to one side and moving traffic to the other, I didn't really have option of riding along looking 90deg to my direction of travel, the reflection of this light in the wet was completely disorienting ... we are not talking like someone with there fog lights on infront of you we are talking person coming towards you with lights angled upwards blinding

the only option was to swear a lot and grimace and try not to cycle into him as I passed OR drop well back ... and seriously, I am not doing 7mph all the way home.

so yes you are absolutely right he had all the right to be an arse and blind people, its up to everyone else to try and avoid him and say nothing ... but really is there any need, when he could have just as well used normal lights that don't endanger him

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

Sorry if I gave that impression but I'm not trying to tell you (or anyone else) what you should, or should not, have done. All I am trying to do is present the argument that if anyone travelling on a road, by any mode, finds themselves in a situation where they feel that overtaking someone is not safe - but - go ahead and overtake anyway they are foolish. If in doubt wait for an opportunity which is safe - if they don't want to wait then it's their choice and they should not blame anyone else.

the only option was to swear a lot and grimace and try not to cycle into him as I passed OR drop well back ... and seriously, I am not doing 7mph all the way home.

How could you be sure that there would be no safe opportunity for you to pass before you got home? Did you know where the rider in front was going? How do you know the rider in front would not have speeded up once over the hill (for example I can manage 15.5 mph average over 50 miles but I know I am way slower than most people of my age on hills but manage that average speed by compensating on the flat). Were there no junctions or crossings between you and your home where you both might have had to stop or take different routes? If not how far were you from home?

As you say I dont know the exact circumstances but it does appear that you chose to overtake when you didn't think it was safe too - I am sorry but I do doubt the wisdom of that choice.

I would also say, based on my own experience, there is no need to divert your gaze by 90 degrees to avoid glare there are other less drastic options. I also find it hard to believe that a Knog blinder could have created such a devastating light field. I've seen a few of them in action and would class them as moderate - perhaps the OP could take a pic of their light on a wet day and we can see how big the field is?

fat daddy · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

How could you be sure that there would be no safe opportunity for you to pass before you got home? Did you know where the rider in front was going? ?

I don't, I didn't and as I clearly said "the only option was to swear a lot and grimace and try not to cycle into him as I passed OR drop well back "

where and what he was doing is kind of irrelevant, the debate is can rear lights be "too" bright and yes in my experience any light that stops people from looking forward at the vehicle in front, causes disorientation and pisses other road user off IS too bright.

would you be happy driving a car and not being able to look past the car directly infront of you to see what ahead because their rear lights are blinding ?

would you be happy passing cars on a motorway and not being able to see what the car you were over taking was doing as all they have become is a blur of light ?

I dunno maybe you would, but there is no need for a light that disorientates other road users and stops others from having a clear view of the road and the vehicle in front

bompington · December 2016

The Highway code says you must turn foglights off when it's not foggy. I'd say that some rear bike lights are much worse for dazzle than foglights.

keef66 · December 2016

bompington wrote:

The Highway code says you must turn foglights off when it's not foggy. I'd say that some rear bike lights are much worse for dazzle than foglights.

And the situation is a million times worse in the rain. Wet glasses or windscreen refract the light in many directions and create a dazzling glare. It's a pet peeve of mine when in a queue of traffic and the driver in front sits there with his foot on the brake pedal blinding me with his high level brake lights.

wishitwasallflat · December 2016

would you be happy driving a car and not being able to look past the car directly infront of you to see what ahead because their rear lights are blinding ?

Yes I would be - I can't think of any instances where I have felt the need to see beyond the car in front of me, except when contemplating overtaking. When doing that, if visibility was at all a problem, for any reason, I would never try to overtake and would just wait until it was safe.

As to being blinded - for me this is not an issue because I always drive, or cycle, at a safe distance behind the car, or bike, in front of me, at all times. If a car's (or a bike's) rear lights were blinding me I would back off, because, by definition, I wouldn't then be at a safe distance behind them. I would rather go a bit slower, and accept it would take a bit longer to complete my journey, and be safe.

Arguably anything that makes road users slow down is a good thing.

would you be happy passing cars on a motorway and not being able to see what the car you were over taking was doing as all they have become is a blur of light ?

Yes I would be (and am) - when I am overtaking someone on a motorway I don't look to my left at them, I look ahead in the direction I am driving in. I have no idea what cars I overtake look like, as I overtake them, because I don't look - Why would I?

there is no need for a light that disorientates other road users and stops others from having a clear view of the road and the vehicle in front

This I agree with but I wouldn't class a knog blinder as that type of light. I use a cateye rapid x2 and a lezyne micro drive rear - both are brighter than knog blinders and I have had no problems at all. Indeed the only time a driver has stopped to comment was when a driver said the lights were great and it was good to be able to see me so well. He said he wished more cyclists would stop wearing all black outfits and use decent lights.

I also run two 501b type torches as front lights and as I keep them angled on the road, again, I have never had any problems, nor complaints. The only driver comment I have ever has was when a driver told me they thought I was on a motorbike but couldn't understand why I was so slow if I was!

I would agree there are some insanely bright lights designed for MTB trails that need some modification to have a beam pattern suitable for roads, but, we aren't discussing those, we are discussing a knog blinder.

apreading · December 2016

I only run my rear lights on high during the day or in well lit areas that it needs to be brighter to be noticeable. The darker the roads are, the less brightness you need from a light for it to be seen. At night, my rears are generally on their lowest setting and set to flash. Works perfectly well and maximises battery time.

Again, the max setting on front lights should be used with caution - most of these powerful lights only need to be on a medium setting to see the road very well. The only time I need the highest setting is if there is a car coming towards me that blinds me with their lights so that I cant see the road past them. Then you need to be careful about where it is angled.

Flashing front lights should only be used if they have a proper flash mode and not the strobe that you get on just about all of these chinese lights - that mode is just dangerous. And a flashing front is to be seen, not to light the road, so doesnt need to be super-bright.

slowbike · December 2016

I have a knog blinder on the back - one mode is practically unusable - it's the quick flash - it cycles around the 4 leds very quickly and its very disorientating.
I don't use mine in constant mode because I want a longer run time - I just chose a slower flash and run it alongside my Smart R2 light on a disparate flash mode.
Which is fine for commuting home with vehicles passing me - but if riding in a group the knog has to be turned off because its too bright for anyone to follow me.

As for front lights - I'm currently running a Cateye Nanoshot+ and a Volt700 - the Volt is the main light - running 1/2 power and I suplement it with the Nanoshot+ if drivers don't dip or I need more light and there are vehicles in front of me - otherwise it's like running the car on beam ... antisocial at best!

bompington · December 2016

keef66 wrote:

bompington wrote:

The Highway code says you must turn foglights off when it's not foggy. I'd say that some rear bike lights are much worse for dazzle than foglights.

And the situation is a million times worse in the rain. Wet glasses or windscreen refract the light in many directions and create a dazzling glare. It's a pet peeve of mine when in a queue of traffic and the driver in front sits there with his foot on the brake pedal blinding me with his high level brake lights.

Had an extended test drive in a Nissan Leaf recently. As an electric car it has automatic transmission and so you need to keep your foot on the brake to avoid creep.
The alternative is to put it in Park - for which it has an electronic joystick shaped like a stubby gear lever: as I agree with you on the annoyance of brake lights, I did this whenever I stopped at junctions. The only snag was that for a long time, I simply couldn't work out how to get it back into Drive. It looked obvious - push the lever to the right: but nothing happened. I quickly found a workaround though - after all, I'm a longstanding Windows geek - just reboot the car!

If you think it's annoying to have someone sit in front of you with their brakelights on, you should see people's reactions when the lights go green and the guy in front gets out, locks his car, unlocks it and then gets in again to drive away :oops: :oops:

PS - if any of you ever find yourselves in a Nissan Leaf - you have to push the lever right and hold it there for a second or two. I worked it out eventually.

Anonymous · December 2016

bompington wrote:

Carbonator wrote:

There are minimum speed limits in the world and they are there for a reason.

Not sure I've ever seen one in the UK

Carbonator wrote:

What vehicles are limited to 45 mph or less?

Have you ever driven a tractor? Or a moped? Or a...

Carbonator wrote:

Thats completely different from choosing to drive at slower speeds and clearly (if they are even looking) see no one on front of you for miles, yet a big snaking line of cars all bunched up behind you.

Something you routinely see with vehicles travelling at or even over the speed limit on main roads - are you suggesting that you should break the limit because other people behind you want to?

Carbonator wrote:

Taking responsibility for your own actions is exactly what I am talking about lol

On this - I agree fully. A more fundamental point than all the rest, really.

Sorry Bompington, but the first three replies to my quotes make no sense.

1/ I said in the world, not UK.
The point was that maybe we should have them.

2/ Tractors and mopeds are not restricted (at least not in the same way) and they are vehicles that cannot go faster, not one that can with a driver that won't!
Its a different situation when you are behind a tractor anyway. They are usually on a short journey or pull over now and then.

3/ No I am not suggesting that.
Its a completely different situation.
Why try to make it look like I think that.
The point was that I want to drive at the speed limit (oh go on, make a silly comment about that now :roll: ).

4/ The first three were not fundamental points. Two were facts and the other a question, and they were all replies to something you did not quote.

But hey, if you like idiots driving really slowly or doing one of any number of other tw4t things then enjoy your next journey with them.

The original point was not to aggravate people driving 2 tons of metal at high speed, and I still think thats a better idea than hoping everyone of them is a saint having a good day.

Anonymous · December 2016

Fenix wrote:

Round here to overtake a cyclist safely you would be over the white line. Using your logic it'd be better for us cyclists to stay off the roads ?

It's always the responsibility of the overtaking driver to ensure he's doing it safely.

There is nothing wrong with crossing over the white line, you just do it safely!
Even if its a solid white line on your side you can still cross it (when safe) to overtake a slow moving vehicle.

I guess the reason is that its a much shorter overtaking distance and it will need to be done far fewer times (which links into my point that its better to cut down overtaking generally by driving closer to the speed limit and tempting less people behind you to do it).

A bike is far easier to overtake than a horse and cart.
Bikes normally have a secondary position, not primary.

If more people knew these things you would not get idiots trying to squeeze between you and the solid white line!
I bet people on here have done that!!

I think slow moving is defined as 10mph or less.
Although how you would know exactly what speed the other vehicle is doing is tough unless you actually slow down right behind it (which may not be the safest way to eventually overtake it).
If a cyclist is going uphill I think its fair for a driver to class them as slow moving, so why so many people squeeze past you when nothing is coming the other way just shows how many idiots drive a car.

Nothing I have said has anything to do with it being better for cyclists to stay off the road.
You just do not understand what I have said.

Of course its the responsibility of the person overtaking to make sure they are doing it safely, but you know what they say about accidents ........... they happen

thomasmorris · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

would you be happy driving a car and not being able to look past the car directly infront of you to see what ahead because their rear lights are blinding ?

Yes I would be - I can't think of any instances where I have felt the need to see beyond the car in front of me, except when contemplating overtaking. When doing that, if visibility was at all a problem, for any reason, I would never try to overtake and would just wait until it was safe.

The thing is, there could be many safe opportunities to overtake, if it wasn't for the bright light which stops you from seeing whats in the opposite lane, whether that be traffic, or unlit hazards in the road.

It's just a bit anti-social really. Past a certain point I don't think brighter lights are making you more visible, only reducing the ability of other road users to assess the road conditions around you.

I think everyone agrees you shouldn't overtake unless you are sure it is safe.

slowbike · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

would you be happy driving a car and not being able to look past the car directly infront of you to see what ahead because their rear lights are blinding ?

Yes I would be - I can't think of any instances where I have felt the need to see beyond the car in front of me, except when contemplating overtaking. When doing that, if visibility was at all a problem, for any reason, I would never try to overtake and would just wait until it was safe.

I suggest you go and take some driving lessons then - and if you apply the same logic to group riding then please don't ever sit on my wheel.

You should ALWAYS look ahead - well ahead preferably - otherwise you're just reacting to the immeadiate vehicle in front - this is what leads to long tailbacks on motorways for no reason other than one person touches their brakes, the following car brakes a bit harder and so on ... if we left a bit of space and looked well ahead we could anticipate the vehicle in front slowing down and ease off before we had to touch the brakes.

Tashman · December 2016

wishitwasallflat wrote:

I can't think of any instances where I have felt the need to see beyond the car in front of me, except when contemplating overtaking.

I hope I never encounter you on the road then, reading the road ahead is a basic roadcraft skill so that you can anticipate what traffic will do, unfortunately one that is practised very little

haydenm · December 2016

Is the legislation regarding lights not to do with the brightness of light that shines above the level parallel to the ground, or is that just with cars? My super bright front lights usually stay on the lower setting (still quite bright) on the road in order to save power for the off road or unlit faster moving bits, and even then they are pointed downwards.

fudgey · December 2016

Slowbike wrote:

I have a knog blinder on the back - one mode is practically unusable - it's the quick flash - it cycles around the 4 leds very quickly and its very disorientating.
I don't use mine in constant mode because I want a longer run time - I just chose a slower flash and run it alongside my Smart R2 light on a disparate flash mode.
Which is fine for commuting home with vehicles passing me - but if riding in a group the knog has to be turned off because its too bright for anyone to follow me.

As for front lights - I'm currently running a Cateye Nanoshot+ and a Volt700 - the Volt is the main light - running 1/2 power and I suplement it with the Nanoshot+ if drivers don't dip or I need more light and there are vehicles in front of me - otherwise it's like running the car on beam ... antisocial at best!

Mine was on the rapid flash mode, and it was raining, and to be fair to the guy he was not right up my chuff.
maybe next time in the dark i will use the nightrider-esc mode or the slow flash.
i thought flashing lights were seen better than steady ones (i also have an led light that is on constant)

regarding the front lights, this section of road has some big pot holes along it, and early this year i hit a defect in the road a little further on casing me to fall off at 18mph, breaking my bike and hurting myself while using the 500lm on full brightness.
So no chance am i not going to use bright lights - but i am not an arse hence moving over to let cars pass on narrow roads, and having the front lights angled to about 10' in front so i can see the road surface and to try not to blind oncoming traffic.

fudgey · December 2016

do you crash a lot?

wishitwasallflat wrote:

would you be happy driving a car and not being able to look past the car directly infront of you to see what ahead because their rear lights are blinding ?

Yes I would be - I can't think of any instances where I have felt the need to see beyond the car in front of me, except when contemplating overtaking. When doing that, if visibility was at all a problem, for any reason, I would never try to overtake and would just wait until it was safe.

As to being blinded - for me this is not an issue because I always drive, or cycle, at a safe distance behind the car, or bike, in front of me, at all times. If a car's (or a bike's) rear lights were blinding me I would back off, because, by definition, I wouldn't then be at a safe distance behind them. I would rather go a bit slower, and accept it would take a bit longer to complete my journey, and be safe.

Arguably anything that makes road users slow down is a good thing.

would you be happy passing cars on a motorway and not being able to see what the car you were over taking was doing as all they have become is a blur of light ?

Yes I would be (and am) - when I am overtaking someone on a motorway I don't look to my left at them, I look ahead in the direction I am driving in. I have no idea what cars I overtake look like, as I overtake them, because I don't look - Why would I?

there is no need for a light that disorientates other road users and stops others from having a clear view of the road and the vehicle in front

This I agree with but I wouldn't class a knog blinder as that type of light. I use a cateye rapid x2 and a lezyne micro drive rear - both are brighter than knog blinders and I have had no problems at all. Indeed the only time a driver has stopped to comment was when a driver said the lights were great and it was good to be able to see me so well. He said he wished more cyclists would stop wearing all black outfits and use decent lights.

I also run two 501b type torches as front lights and as I keep them angled on the road, again, I have never had any problems, nor complaints. The only driver comment I have ever has was when a driver told me they thought I was on a motorbike but couldn't understand why I was so slow if I was!

I would agree there are some insanely bright lights designed for MTB trails that need some modification to have a beam pattern suitable for roads, but, we aren't discussing those, we are discussing a knog blinder.

fenix · December 2016

+1 on what slowbike says - always look well ahead. I don't trust the driver in front to be paying attention.

How people sit 10 feet behind a van on the motorway is beyond me. They have next to no time to react to anything.

Same thing happens on smaller roads - cars driving so close to the car in front that they have no view of the road. We don't see this when we cycle - but try running on the road and face traffic and its bloody scary how crap the driving is.

slowbike · December 2016

Fudgey wrote:

Slowbike wrote:

I have a knog blinder on the back - one mode is practically unusable - it's the quick flash - it cycles around the 4 leds very quickly and its very disorientating.
I don't use mine in constant mode because I want a longer run time - I just chose a slower flash and run it alongside my Smart R2 light on a disparate flash mode.
Which is fine for commuting home with vehicles passing me - but if riding in a group the knog has to be turned off because its too bright for anyone to follow me.

As for front lights - I'm currently running a Cateye Nanoshot+ and a Volt700 - the Volt is the main light - running 1/2 power and I suplement it with the Nanoshot+ if drivers don't dip or I need more light and there are vehicles in front of me - otherwise it's like running the car on beam ... antisocial at best!

Mine was on the rapid flash mode, and it was raining, and to be fair to the guy he was not right up my chuff.
maybe next time in the dark i will use the nightrider-esc mode or the slow flash.
i thought flashing lights were seen better than steady ones (i also have an led light that is on constant)

Try the slow flash or the constant - I've used mine on club rides (in the dark) and the rapid flash was commented on ... so much I turned it off and stuck with the Smart R2 - the Smart R2 has also received comments - during TTs where I can be seen by the chap behind for so long that it's demoralising that he's not catching me!

Fudgey wrote:

regarding the front lights, this section of road has some big pot holes along it, and early this year i hit a defect in the road a little further on casing me to fall off at 18mph, breaking my bike and hurting myself while using the 500lm on full brightness.
So no chance am i not going to use bright lights - but i am not an ars* hence moving over to let cars pass on narrow roads, and having the front lights angled to about 10' in front so i can see the road surface and to try not to blind oncoming traffic.

Ok - I don't know your roads or how often you use them - I'm fortunate in only having a 10 mile commute down a main road and I know all the potholes - well - the couple that I need to avoid - and the drain covers - a few more.
But one answer for you would be to ride that bit of the road a bit slower if you can't use your full brightness - not sure how pratical that is - because you might just piss off a few more motorists by going more slowly!

micrographia · December 2016

On unlit roads there is a big difference between riding in a group and riding solo. If angled to effectively illuminate the road ahead then your front light dazzling oncoming road users shouldn't be an issue on a solo ride, regardless of brightness. OTOH I reckon that it's always better to err on the side of being visible with your rear. If a driver complains at least you can be sure that they know that you're there! I turn rear lights down on group rides though - blinding the riders behind you is just plain dangerous for everyone. You would soon be asked to tone it down if you were dazzling in a group though surely?

I run a Lezyne Super Drive 1200XXL up front, on group rides run in race mode switchable between 1200 and 250lm depending on pace, conditions and whether I'm on the front or not. I'd rather annoy oncoming traffic than face a club mate who's just ridden into a pothole I didn't see early enough to call out. Bog standard cherry bomb out back - bright blinky solo, medium steady on a group ride.

EEM

Thick Mike · December 2016

apreading wrote:

I only run my rear lights on high during the day or in well lit areas that it needs to be brighter to be noticeable. The darker the roads are, the less brightness you need from a light for it to be seen. At night, my rears are generally on their lowest setting and set to flash. Works perfectly well and maximises battery time.

Again, the max setting on front lights should be used with caution - most of these powerful lights only need to be on a medium setting to see the road very well. The only time I need the highest setting is if there is a car coming towards me that blinds me with their lights so that I cant see the road past them. Then you need to be careful about where it is angled.

Flashing front lights should only be used if they have a proper flash mode and not the strobe that you get on just about all of these chinese lights - that mode is just dangerous. And a flashing front is to be seen, not to light the road, so doesnt need to be super-bright.

Very much this. ^^^^^^

You need a brighter "be seen" light when it's daylight because your pupils constrict and allow less light into your eye, plus your light needs to contrast with brighter surroundings. The opposite is true at night.

It is counterintuitive. I saw the same misconception regarding backlighting on a Garmin recently. The backlight needs to be brighter in daylight and dimmer at night. (Like the dashboard lights in your car).

Told tonight that my rear light 'is too bright and illegal'....?

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