Commuting - Daylight tail lighting

I've begun to consider better tail lighting after being right-hooked by a van last month on a quiet country road. Fortunately there was only a few hundred dollars worth of damage to the bike and some scrapes and bruises on me.

Although the accident occurred in sunny daylight I've been thinking that if I had a daylight visible tail light perhaps the driver would not have forgotten my presence so quickly. Afterwards he stated that he thought that he has passed me a while back.

The lights that I have been considering for daylight tail visibility are the Lightman Xenon Strobe,

http://www.lightmanstrobes.com/bike.htm

and the more versatile Sparky 3 Way Xenon Strobe light

http://www.eryderusa.com/SP_main.htm

They’re both priced about the same, and I’m leaning towards the Sparky with its greater lighting versatility. Do any of you commuters have experience with xenon tail lighting or either or both of these units. I would also appreciate your comments about xenon strobes for daylight bicycle tail lighting; their limitations, advantages, etc.

Thanks!

I use a night rider tail light powered off the main battery, It's bright, you can see it in bright sunlight.

Better yet, get some flashing front lights. These babies will be clearly visible in their mirrors. I have annoyingly bright blinking lights on the front and back, and they are on at all times when I'm riding.

I always use a rear blinker light even during daylight, I am also thinking of a front one as well for all time use. It's interesting many times people see me in the mall or at work and mention they always notice me with that blinking light.

jfz, I've been somewhat of a broken record on this issue but here goes again: In my view the single most effective safety device a commuter can have is a powerful set of blinking front and back lights that are on at all times.

Especially w/r/t to the front strobe, I see people actually straining to catch a look at me in their mirrors as I pass lines of cars on very busy streets ... they obviously see me approaching from very long distances. Many have passed me and took note of the light as they passed. THEY REMEMBER YOUR PRESENCE and as a result will be far, far less likely to do the classic right-hook.

Further, another classic danger -- people pulling out of driveways and shopping centers directly in front of you -- is significantly reduced by the front blinker.

I see a distinct change in driver behavior with the lights ... a noticeable behavioral change. It's as if the the light creates a parting in the traffic. I kid you not.

I cycled in and around Regensburg, Germany, this summer. And I noticed that the red lights do not blink there. It is just the tail red lights. I liked how it looked especially in the old German city.

On the way back my rear blinker got lost or stolen in one of the airports, so I had the chance to buy the new one - Trelock LS 510. This rear red light does not blink. It has no option for blinking at all. The LBS man says that the modern lights, made in Germany, do no blink. I do not mind it, because I see now that it looks better, and besides the battery lasts long and the light is 220 degrees.

Originally posted by Andy Dreisch
I have annoyingly bright blinking lights on the front and back, and they are on at all times when I'm riding.

What brands? detals?

Annoyingly bright blinking sounds good to me :)

thanks,

Steve

My choice is bright enough to see by day, and large. The local police chief inquired about it at our LBS after seeing me. The RealLite is available at Harris cyclry or directly http://www.necessaryoptions.com/details.htm I can't help feeling that 18 LED's in a 4X6 inch array is more noticable from a wider angle than 10 tightly clustered, even though the cluster may be brighter.

Technically some blinking lights may be illegal in some countries. A flashing red light may be reserved for emergency vehicles only, for example. However, I have not heard of anyone being even reprimanded in Finland for having such a light. All taillights sold here either have a non-blinking mode or are completely non-blinkers (rare).

That Trelock looks nice, Max.

--J

Trelock is good. It can be dismantled with one hand. There is the button on the bottom of it.

I also like that the red light is visible from the side.