To dip or not to dip, that is the question.

[BentMikey]

If you can't dazzle them, then they don't care. It is only the fact that other car drivers can retaliate that makes some car drivers behave. From this you could draw the conclusion that the human race is ultimately doomed.

Yes, that is why there are now 7 billion of us, yes?

 

[col]

Yes, that is why there are now 7 billion of us, yes?

We're still all doomed

 

[Bicycle]

I'm sorry the OP got blitzed as much as that. It does sound like very bad luck. Most of us are quite accustomed to having maybe 5-10% of approaching drivers forgetting their dipswitch until too late.

Over 50% just sounds rotten.

I thought Crankarm's supposition that you might appear to other road users to be on 'high beam' yourself was interesting, but I've very rarely seen a cyclist who sets his or her lights up like that... It just doesn't make sense. To blitz an oncoming driver you'd need to have your lights set shining horizontally or slightly skyward, which does a rider no good.

I think there is a slight unwillingness among some drivers to use their lights responsibly, but they are a minority. Why it is, I do not know. I'm pretty sure it's not the 'it's just a bike and he can't flash back' thing suggested elsewhere on this thread. I drive a lot in the dark and it's not just bicycles who get blitzed.

In fact, I find it less of an inconvenience when cycling, which mat be a function of my being seated higher up.

In days of yore (when I learned to drive) the dipswitch was often a button on the floor, next to the clutch pedal. The business of dipping the lights was somehow 'apart' from all other functions. Also, most cars gave the driver very little information through the binnacle. The hi-beam light therefore might have stood out a little more. Now, even on a cheapo econobox I have illuminated dials for temperature, fuel, oil pressure, oil temp, water pressure, revs and even current speed. Lots of other gubbins is lit up too... window switches, heater controls.... a hi-beam light just starts to merge into the background.

Wow.... that's about all the mitigation I can dream up. Today's drivers are not what they were.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

I suppose if the car driver doesn't respond to my 600lm cree in his face .... i could always switch it to 4 flashes per second?
Hell ... i could put both bar lights to flashing as well, make a right confusing mess of light in his face.

 

[pshore]

... as soon as they dip i do ...

One day you'll meet someone with the same attitude. The end result is you both lose.

Dip, then if they don't, nuke them ! ;-)

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Whilst out on a ride last night (-1c in places) i tried a different tact, which seemed to work.
I just held my arm out across my eyes ... it works quite well as a "tool" to educate the car drivers.
In three instances they dipped quite quickly after realising another road user was being dazzled so much they had to cover their eyes.

I still like blasting the buggers with my headtorch though.

 

[pshore]

There is an explanation other than poor or ignorant driving ...

Its the same thing as a SMIDSY, they look they see, but if you only have a small light you are not registered in the drivers brain as a vehicle. Your light is just background noise, possibly a house light in the distance and then it is only when you get close can a driver see you as a person.

The test would be if you use a flashing front light. Does it get you noticed earlier ?

Personally, I can't use a strobe front light on a dark country lane as I hate only being able to see when the light is on and anyway its difficult to throw shapes whilst on the bike.

 

[fenlandpsychocyclist]

Just going slightly orf topic ... i had a situation a few months back where i hadn't charged both the
bar lights, nor my helmet light.
I resorted to just having one light on, in flashing mode.
It was enough to reduce battery consumption, plus i was able to see enough road ahead with each flash.

 

[totallyfixed]

I've very rarely seen a cyclist who sets his or her lights up like that... It just doesn't make sense. To blitz an oncoming driver you'd need to have your lights set shining horizontally or slightly skyward, which does a rider no good.

Once upon a time you would have been correct, the problem that faces us today is the sheer power bike lights have and that apart for a very few exceptions they are designed for off road use. It doesn't matter where you are aiming one of these lights the overspill that is designed to spot overhead branches is strong enough to blind a motorist.
Surely what is needed is a light that is designed in exactly the same way as a car headlight, not difficult and some do this, ie a dip and main beam.
It does seem to differ though where you are in the country as to the number of encounters with motorists who don't dip. What will eventually happen if bike lights are not regulated is that car drivers will stop dipping their lights at all and you and I know there is only one winner there.

 

[PpPete]

Cree on a rubber bar mount quick flick of the finger job done.

Just got a Cree XML-T6 (900+ Lumens) torch, and dug out an old lockblock mount for precisely doing this. Even pointed down at the road it's so damn bright I have to put my hand over it in the face of oncoming traffic.