Originally Posted by
BarracksSi
FWIW, many of today's flashing headlights really aren't any faster. You mention LEDs' low-power modes that are really superfast blinks, but that's a moot point since they appear steady anyway. There are also lights like Niterider's that go bam-bam-bam-bam-bam as fast as you can say it, which I'd never use because they're just too damned annoying (one of my friends has one and I can't stand being near it; I'd hate to be in whatever car that she parks behind at a stoplight).
But, like I said, many flash patterns just aren't crazy fast. As an example, Dinotte's slow on-off is the same frequency as the warning beacons you see in road construction zones. I have a couple Serfas lights that are the same way.
The point about the low power headlight modes is that they are only
perceived as steady. They are not really steady. It is an objective demonstration that there is a flash rate at which an observer will no longer have difficulty in tracking the light.
The slow flashing headlights are for daytime. At least that's what the instruction book for my Nite Rider says. They're there to get your attention, but in the day time they aren't quite so blinding against the daylight background. I would find them annoying to use at night, and would be very annoyed by somebody coming at me with one flashing at night.
All of the rear blinkies I have blink very fast. I tried to count my now slightly long in the tooth Vistalight and even that was too fast for me to get a good estimate of the flash rate.
I would be interested in seeing any real, as opposed to rumor, evidence that there are safety issues with flashing vs. steady rear lights. For all my lights steady is an option, with the cost being faster battery consumption. Until then I'll keep on flashing.
Speedo