Drivers fascinated by blinkies?

[Amanda P]

I've been using one of those Smart 2-LED rear lights lately. It's very bright, and has quite a funky random flash pattern: both LEDs flash together, then alternately, then randomly, then they take it in turns to dim and brighten, then back to both together and so on (or something like that).

Just lately I've had a number of drivers who've driven along behind me for far longer than necessary before overtaking. I wonder if they're kind of mesmerised by the flashing, or are just taking their time, to have a good look at it.

It's welcome if it makes folk think about how or when they pass, but it can be a bit nerve-wracking to be followed for a mile and a half on quiet roads, as one chap did yesterday.

Anyone else noticed this?

 

[potsy]

I have the same light Phil and have only recently started using it on the 'disco' flash that you describe.
It is very good and eye-catching isn't it?

Can't say I've noticed any extra interest in my rear end though

 

[BentMikey]

I sometimes get this with my Dinotte on flash. My neighbour (a copper) thought it was a traffic car on reds only the first time he saw me.

[media]
]View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwJwMMwThjQ[/media]

 

[mickle]

I experienced this when I rode a bike which had four colours of 3M reflective tape on the inside surface of its rims - I think they become a bit mesmerised by the light show. Perhaps mesmerised isn't the right word. It's to do with the way that humans process visual stimulus. Anything which is out of the ordinary or unexpected registers more strongly on our conciuosness.

 

[sdr gb]

Some hypnotists use flashing lights as a way of putting people into a trance. I remember reading somewhere that drivers can become fixated on the flashing blue lights on emergency vehicles.

Perhaps this explains it.

 

[Moodyman]

Some hypnotists use flashing lights as a way of putting people into a trance. I remember reading somewhere that drivers can become fixated on the flashing blue lights on emergency vehicles.

Perhaps this explains it.

I find it's mostly female drivers that take extra time overtaking, so I persuaded myself that they must be fixed with my legs.

 

[Davywalnuts]

Am sure Adrian has two of them on his saddle pack and its awesome and has often got me staring into a trance. But however, are a great rear addition.

However, this driver patience has really been noticed by me this week since buying and installing these in addition to my normal front and rear lights http://www.wiggle.co.uk/fibre-flare-micro-flare-duo-combo-set/ on the rear stays (x2) and front forks (x1) and the whole attitude of change has been striking.

Maybe am seen sooner, maybe am seen as a respectful road user, I dunno, but either way, I do feel safer and more illuminated especially from the sides.

Ill try and post a picture tomorrow if wanted.

 

[mr_hippo]

I tghink its a form of 'target fixation', sometimes called 'target fascination'.You become too focussed on an object that you cannot take your eyes off it and are drawn towards it. Ever driven on a deserted motorway at night and seen tail lights in the distance and feel yourself drawn towards them?

I believe the term was first coined by WWII RAF pilots and wanted to see if they had hit their target, sometimes with fatal results

 

[TheSandwichMonster]

I have a Smart Lunar 35 set to flash (forward facing) on my bars. As it's a "be seen" light, I have it angled up higher rather than pointed down at the road surface and as a result, it's very noticeable when bouncing back off the reflective coating of road signs. Quite often I've noticed drivers see the flashing before realising where it's coming from, slow down and pull in slightly thinking that I'm some form of emergency vehicle.

 

[Davidc]

One of the (research based) reasons the Germans have a ban on flashing lights is the mesmerising and distracting effect they have on drivers.

I don't have one of those new Smart lights but around town (lit roads) I now have one of the Smart Lunar 1 (1w type main LED) plus Smart Superflash (1/2w type main LED) and the dynamo light (0.4w input to a steady LED).

With both flashers on, and obviously unsynchronised, drivers see them and react, though not quite as Uncle Phil describes. If only one is on, usually because I haven't changed the batteries soon enough, I'm sure I get given less time and room than with the whole lot going.

On dark country roads I usually have 2 steady lights and one flasher at the back.

I rarely use flashing lights at the front, mainly because I find them annoying.

 

[Bicycle]

Although I have a flash option on most of my lights, I prefer not to use it.

When I'm driving, I find flashing bicycle lights can be a slight distraction in some light conditions.

Also some front flashers, if not angled slightly downward, shine straight in at driver's eye height.

I realise that this may well suggest that the flashing lights are having some positive effect (in that I do notice them), but they are not my favourite flavour.

One of my kids (with whom I have the odd evening ride in these dark evenings) likes the 'flash' function and uses it, but as I'm often just behind him I'd really rather he didn't. That makes me sound a grumpy old git, but it's really not a big deal. I'd rather he rode than didn't - and I'd rather he was illuminated than wasn't, so I just let him get on with it.

Amusing observation: We were chatting to a local police officer when I met him from an evening event the other day. He clipped a red light onto the collar of his sweatshirt and the copper expressed surprise, saying he'd "never seen one of those". I'm sure I've had something similar for a good ten years.... They really aren't that rare, are they?

The police officer also noted that neither of us was wearing a helmet. No admonishment, but he had a sort of 'joke cross' voice on. I just chuckled and said it was up to my son and I'd rather he was on a bike than in a car. Most kids being picked up were very local, but everone else got into a car...

 

[mickle]

There was a cool rear light on the Cateye stand at Eurobike this year - I don't know if it's available here yet - which pulsed rather than flashed. It was much easier on the eyes and got me wondering if it might be interesting to time the pulses to mimic a heartbeat. The resting heartbeat of a pregnant mother might have a calming influence on approaching traffic for example.

You could even have it driven by the rider's heart rate monitor.

 

[Melonfish]

I've been using one of those Smart 2-LED rear lights lately. It's very bright, and has quite a funky random flash pattern: both LEDs flash together, then alternately, then randomly, then they take it in turns to dim and brighten, then back to both together and so on (or something like that).

Just lately I've had a number of drivers who've driven along behind me for far longer than necessary before overtaking. I wonder if they're kind of mesmerised by the flashing, or are just taking their time, to have a good look at it.

It's welcome if it makes folk think about how or when they pass, but it can be a bit nerve-wracking to be followed for a mile and a half on quiet roads, as one chap did yesterday.

Anyone else noticed this?

See rather then think its the light the narcissist in me would assume they were admiring my finely toned arse rather then the pattern given off by the light.
but thats just me

 

[albion]

I have a Smart Lunar 35 set to flash (forward facing) on my bars. As it's a "be seen" light, I have it angled up higher rather than pointed down at the road surface and as a result, it's very noticeable when bouncing back off the reflective coating of road signs. Quite often I've noticed drivers see the flashing before realising where it's coming from, slow down and pull in slightly thinking that I'm some form of emergency vehicle.

Possibly.


However I would certainly investigate whether they are just pulling due to being blinded.

 

[Amanda P]

... got me wondering if it might be interesting to time the pulses to mimic a heartbeat. The resting heartbeat of a pregnant mother might have a calming influence on approaching traffic for example.

You could even have it driven by the rider's heart rate monitor.

The Smart light I linked to does have a pulsing mode. It reminds me of ET's 'heart light' in the film. I might try using that and see what sort of response it gets. (Unless it's a lot cleverer than I think, though, it just pulses at a fixed rate, however fast I go).

I might add that I use two other rear lights, with at least one on steady ('cause it's a dynamo one) on this bike - I've found when driving that it can be quite hard to judge the range of a single blinking light. Plus the extra lights give me some redundancy - I commute partly on a road on which failing to be seen in very good time would be quickly fatal.