I do not drive for a living. I am car free for a very long time. I bike up to 500 miles a month often extending my 15 minute mandatory commute to one hour just for fun. I ride in traffic and on narrow heavily traveled neighborhood streets A LOT. I started running a strobe up front last summer along with a rear strobe both day and night - except I turn the front light to steady on after dark (the strobe is just downright rude after nightfall). Front light is 500watts, rear is 300watts - both angled slightly downward.

OK...here is the deal: I have noticed an incredible improvement in the numbers of motorists seeing me and respecting me as a road user since beginning my light experiment. It is actually unbelievable the difference that new light habit has made for me. My only theory is that most road users need a little more warning when approaching a cyclist, or encountering a cyclist at a road crossing and the lights provide that warning. And maybe they think I'm a cop. But the vast majority do not bolt out in front of me and seem to pass with a safer margin. Perhaps they are more worried about my safety because I SEEM worried about safety when displaying a carnival array of lights.

There are still times when I go Ninja in sketchy hoods. Otherwise I am sure I am visible from outer space.

Just my take from behind the handlebars. Be interesting if a few motorist/cyclists with experience SEEING us with out lights would chime in here.

Nice post.