To return to the original post, I wouldn't personally choose to have the flashing LEDs in the mirrors but I do think that similar but steady LEDs could be a good idea. One reason why other road users pull out in front of us is that we don't 'loom' in the way that vehicles with a larger frontal area do, especially at night when most of us just have a single headlight. This means that it's very difficult to tell how close we are and how rapidly we are approaching. If there are two, widely spaced lights, rapidly getting more widely spaced, it's clear a vehicle is close and approaching fast. With a single motorcycle headlight, it's very difficult to tell how far away it is and how fast it's approaching. Instinct probably leads people to believe it's further away than it really is. Therefore, imho, something that gives the bike a wider night time profile and allows the bike to loom as it approaches has to be a good thing.
Just got into work after my 4 days off as this is where I do most of my forum work (cushy job) in my down time, I was shocked to see 4 pages worth of comments, first thing I thought was “sh!t I’m going to get slated here” but having read through it I was glad to see the flack was aimed elsewhere, sorry for the collateral damage it may have caused,. To clear up a few points of How and When I use these WHITE strobing lights, I used them the other day as said while filtering through almost stationary traffic on my commute home, and this is IMHO only, they do work for the majority of other road users, the flashing strobe catches your eye quicker than a full beam that gradually creeps up on you, but you still have the minority that are not going to see you even if you have a Blue flashing strobe, that’s where the tunes come into their own, unless you’re a Deaf young lady texting her friends but that’s another story, how this helps is you can cancel out the drivers that have seen you as they pull over slightly, this allows you to concentrate on the ones that have stayed there and what they are going to do, and I’m always aware of the gaps being filled by the last minute late lane changers they are the ones that get you, when I do catch up to others (Bikers) that are filtering I knock them off before they think I’m something I’m not and just tuck in on the end and follow through let someone else up front part the waves. All in all I’m happy with them they do the job they were intended for, “keeping me a bit safer” while ridding home. Guvs. Note. As for being welsh, well someone has to be; I was born in Guernsey but brought up in Wales (The Rhondda) so I’m lucky I could pretend to have dual nationality, that’s French & Welsh as no one here would like to be English with the world cup coming up!! LOL
Some riders and I speak from experience seem to think filtering is over 40 At 20mph or less at least you have a chance of stopping when a driver does decide to turn without seeing you Non bikers don't expect to see a bike coming between them When I filtered I did upto 20 mph with both feet ready to save me Even had a BMW stop me going past but I had clocked he may do so and avoided his door At 40 plus no chance So I think everybody involved should do their bit Keep yourself safe and don't be an idiot like the other idiot because when they clash it's a disaster
I'm only joking, once the rugby world cup is over we'll all be best of friends again with everyone. Guvs.
Hi Vis's: sometimes, just sometimes - they are a necessity and having read all the above comments I don't think anyone will disagree with this one:
