As a driver I do find it alarming sometimes to catch sight of an unlit cyclist in the periphery of my field of vision.
Even with efficient wipers and largely clear windows, this can be more of an issue in the rain, as droplets on the unwiped parts of the screen conspire to hide the hard-to-see.
Nonetheless, I am nervous at the prospect of Draconian measures against unlit cyclists.
Few seem to be killed or injured and one rarely hears of them causing (or believed to be the cause of) accidents.
They are a pain and a niusance, but so are many other road users.
I quite enjoy having somebody to have a middle-age tut of disapproval at.
And... I remember well that in the days of those old metal lamps with the big, single block light in them... my battery was often flat and unreplaced.