@lazybloke, - not so much anger as puzzlement . . . And I am beginning to wonder if my low-light vision is significantly better than some people’s.
A day or so ago I was travelling south through the Combe Down tunnel. There is a gentle curve at either end, connected by a long straight, the best part of a mile long I guess. As I came onto the main drag, I could clearly see a jogger at the extreme far end. As I say, the best part of a mile away. Now admittedly they were wearing a light top, but this brings me onto my next point of puzzlement.
You say runners are visible, but people behind them may not be. Well, that is true outside of tunnels too, but sticking to the subterranean, I can see that a clearly visible individual or group might distract your attention from a darker person or group in relative shadow behind them. But here is my difficulty: - I have myself experienced that very situation many times, but I am able to see the oncoming group sufficiently far ahead that there is plenty of time to scan the shadows behind them for less well lit traffic. Unless of course, the lead group is using a Very Bright Light, in which case all bets are off
As for recumbents being uniquely at risk from dazzle, remember that relatively few people use proper ‘shaped beam’ lights. Most emit light in a circular beam, so that the risk of dazzle is similar from any angle unless the light is pointed sharply downwards. I have found dazzle to be just as much a problem on upright bikes and no worse on recumbents.
From comments on here, I am coming to the not unreasonable conclusion that some people see better in the dark than others and I happen to be lucky. I am less convinced however, of the value of sticking lights on everything, as this is not only distracting, but can actually make it harder to see ‘between and around’ said lights. (I think this applies to some extent on the roads too, but that’s another debate!).
There is also however, another possibility: I can see to the end of the mile straight. Let’s assume a person with poorer vision can see half that distance, or let’s even go further and assume a person who can only resolve objects a quarter of that distance away. That’s still roughly a quarter of a mile. If that doesn’t givesufficient time to anticipate, then perhaps, just perhaps, somebody is going a teeny bit fast for the conditions?
