Originally Posted by
chasm54
Flashing lights get noticed more than steady beams, as others have observed. What hasn't been mentioned is that front lights are even more important than rear lights.
Being rear-ended by another vehicle, though devastating, is quite rare. Last I looked it accounted for only about 3% of cycling fatalities. Being hit from the front, by vehicles turning across your lane, or pulling out in front of you at an intersection, is far more common. So having a flashing light at the front makes even more sense than having one at the rear.
I run strong lights up front, and have noticed how cars have STOPPED crossing in front of me, pulling out in front of me, and otherwise taking my rightofway. That is because of the strong lights up front. In the daytime, I run blinky up front. Blinky all the time in the rear..
I hear a lot of people whining about bright lights on bicycles. To them I ask, how many accidents have happened because somebody got blinded by bicycle lights opposed to how many bicyclists have been killed/maimed from not being seen??? A no brainer if you ask me..