Advocacy & Safety - Too much lighting

I made a post on another forum about the lighting on my bike and received the response "That setup is more likely to get you hit." They never responded to my inquiry as to why but I figured I'd ask here to see if there was any reality to that comment or it was just a random comment.
I ride a Fuji Touring bike for commuting and shopping and carry arkel panniers on the back, until I save up for my xtracycle/freeradical.
I have reflective tape on my downtube, chainstays and fenders and a slightly reflective clearcoat. A reflective whitewall comes on my Marathon Plus tires a thin stip of reflective material is on my bar tape and the required reflector front and back and two in the wheels. Wrist bands at night that can light up so people can see me signal, not like I think they see me signal or at all when riding. Reflective triangle on my bags.

For lights I have a
Front:
Dinotte 200L (Upgraded 5W light) - Not blinking at night/blinking during the day
Cateye 300 headlight (backup in case the dinotte goes out) - Not blinking
Rear:
Dual PB Superflashes - Not blinking
Dinotte Taillight - Blinking
Helmet:
El-Wire in grooves of helmet (neon green string) http://www.technomoves.com/e-wire_page.html - Not blinking.

Yes it is a bit much but I have contant lights that are bright that allow people to track me easily and reflectors that can be seen from every direction. I do have more lighting/reflective gear then all the cyclists I have seen over the last month _combined_. It is rare to see one with even a single rear single LED blinkie and seeing someone this morning with a headlight on the other side of the road was a complete suprise! Short lived though as I lost them in the mirror since they had nothing facing rear at all.

Is there something bad about this setup? I have had a similar setup for years and no one ever driven into me from distaction everyone seems to give me an early and wide bearth. The big downside so far is I make an easy target for slushies and soda bottles.

There was a study done a few years back concerning cop cars and thier likelihood of being hit by drunk rivers during roadside stops late at night. I can't remember the name of the study or the exact results, but I remember that it was clear that drunks fixate on flashing lights, and too many of them could make you more of a target.

What was clear to me from the study was that riding on a Friday or Saturday night after dark was far more dangerous than any other time. Flashing lights or not.

Az

I believe recently they have been talking alot about the police lights in Dallas which is down the road from where I live. I believe at least one officer was recently believed to be killed in that way. He had pulled over a vehicle and then got rear ended.
Friday/Saturday and any Special Event nights are definately nights I avoid.
When I commuted in Connecticut riding past Fairfield University on Friday night or at the end of terms is something I went far out of my way to avoid. Now that I live right by Texas Motor speedway I keep off the roads on race weekends. I just generally feared being run over intentionally not neccessarily attracting drunks to my rear blinky.

Purely anecdotal, but I get WAY more clearance when I ride with lights at night than I do during the day. Yes, some drunk drivers fixate on bright lights, but I don't think you can use that as a logic to not ride with bright lights as the vast majority of those driving are not drunk.

However there is too much of a good thing. I think when you have such bright lights that the driver can no longer even look in your direction as they approach, you are creating a dangerous situation as they now have to pass you while looking away.

I personally have not encountered this while passing a bike, but I have been blinded by those super bright blue headlights from oncoming traffic. As they approach I have to look away. Should that person veer into my lane I would have done nothing to avoid an accident as I cannot even begin to look at the oncoming car.

I have friends that call me "The Christmas Tree Cyclist" when I ride at 5:00 am and it's pretty dark still, I go out with many lights because I'm paranoid of being hit but a distracted driver and figure the lights would call any drivers attention and would be more precocious and not hit me.

Maybe I'm being a little too paranoid and should chill out some what?

There was a study done a few years back concerning cop cars and thier likelihood of being hit by drunk rivers during roadside stops late at night. I can't remember the name of the study or the exact results, but I remember that it was clear that drunks fixate on flashing lights, and too many of them could make you more of a target.

What was clear to me from the study was that riding on a Friday or Saturday night after dark was far more dangerous than any other time. Flashing lights or not.

Az

The flashing lights on cop cars are much much brighter though, at least to me. When I pass a cop with flashing lights at night I have to shut one eye else I'll get those black spots in my vision for the next mile or so... vry dangerous.

I'm a christmas tree, too.

illuminite jacket, + (illuminite headband, gloves & helmet cover in the winter)
f nite rider classic + led flasher
r planet bike flasher + cateye 1000
r helmet flasher
frame & wheels covered in 3m scotchlite tape.
f & r refelectors.

drunks notwithstanding, in my experience the more lighting & reflectivity I add to my bike the more clearance I get.

I run and bicycle at night and I found that the more lit up you are
the more vehicles tend to steer toward you until the last minute
I think its because they are curious and want to see what you are.

I have have even placed my reflectives on the side of the road at night
and driven in my car to see how far off I could tell what it was.
I had no problem seeing and Identifying the reflectives from up to 1/4 mile away.

I just don't understand why if they can tell what you are they still have to drive right at you
with they're high beams on no less.

Weird....

However there is too much of a good thing. I think when you have such bright lights that the driver can no longer even look in your direction as they approach, you are creating a dangerous situation as they now have to pass you while looking away.

I personally have not encountered this while passing a bike, but I have been blinded by those super bright blue headlights from oncoming traffic. As they approach I have to look away. Should that person veer into my lane I would have done nothing to avoid an accident as I cannot even begin to look at the oncoming car.
+1

For lights I have a
Front:
Dinotte 200L (Upgraded 5W light) - Not blinking at night/blinking during the day
Cateye 300 headlight (backup in case the dinotte goes out) - Not blinking
Rear:
Dual PB Superflashes - Not blinking
Dinotte Taillight - Blinking
Helmet:
El-Wire in grooves of helmet (neon green string) http://www.technomoves.com/e-wire_page.html - Not blinking.

Looks about right to me :)