Originally Posted by
SmallFront
I don't get why blinding motorists with a bright headlight is seen as a safe practice, merely because "it gets their attention". In Germany they have strict rules for bicycle lights, and for good reason. There is nothing worse than meeting a bunch of mountainbikers (or runners, for that matter) coming out from the forest with their gigawatt headlights on, when I try to bike my daughter home. I am not the only one annoyed and blinded, all the cars in both directions are likewise blinded as each mountainbiker (or runner) looks to both sides before crossing the road.
That behaviour will get headlights banned for good, and I hope that the people who think it is perfectly fine to blind fellow road users will find it equally fine to be blinded by a car's high beams while they themselves are operating a motorvehicle. In fact, I find it to be an extremely antisocial behaviour. Headlights (as in helmet lights) have their place, but that place is not on the road.
Okay, rant over, lol.
OK, in America we have no "strict rules for bicycle lights," and somewhat poor motorist training... so while it seems dumb to "blind motorists;" bear in mind that a typical excuse for avoiding any repercussions after a collision with a cyclist is the statement "I didn't see the cyclist." Rather hard to deny seeing a cyclist if the lights from a cyclist hit you right in the eyes.
I wish it were not so, but some motorists require all but being hit over the head with a large stick before they acknowledge that cyclists belong on the road.
Sure, it would be nice to treat all road users with courtesy... but it just doesn't happen.
Now that said, I would recommend NOT aiming lights at drivers or other road users unless one can determine that there is a "recognition issue."
BTW SmallFront... what is the typical training period for motorists in Germany?