Good post. I would add a few observations from my own extensive commuting in the dark.
- Hi-viz (neon yellow) gear really works. I can spot joggers and bikers wearing neon yellow at least 1/2 mile a way, and it works in daylight, dusk or dark. There is a reason why most highway crews wear it these days.
- Reflective ankle straps are great. The movement catches people's eyes, and they are visible from the side as well as front/rear.
- Reflective bits don't do a bit of good if drivers don't have their headlights on, and a lot of drivers forget to turn on their lights when it's dark or think they are saving gas or something by not running their lights. This is another strong argument for wearing hi-viz clothes and using powerful lights.
- Strobe lights give me epileptic seizures and probably do the same for many drivers. I hate them and rarely ever use for that reason.
- Helmet lights are incredible and are probably the best tool for preventing drivers from pulling out or turning in front of you. All you have to do is look at a car and you get their attention. The light doesn't even have to be that powerful.
- Redundancy is your friend. Always have backup head and taillights in case batteries go dead, you forget to recharge them, a bulb burns out, etc.