The purpose of a blinking light is to attract attention. The more ambient light that is present the brighter the lamp needs to be. An 80 lumen blinkie in full daylight isn't going to garner as much attention as it does at duisk or night. That's because their isn't enough contrast to draw as much attention. My opinion is that you need at least 200 lumen to help draw attention in the day. Of course I'm sure that the flash/stobes used on Police and other ERV is likely more than 10 times that and that for just a single strobe. Of course I'll add I see no reason to use a super bright light on a MUP ( if others are present ) but only because you have less chance of being struck by a car. During the day if I'm on a road where I feel I need added attention, not only will I turn the helmet flash on but I have a setting on my Gloworm X2 called "Beacon". It's basically a slow flash but when it flashes it is using the full output of the lamp ( about 1200 lumen, this is an older model ). I rarely use it but it's there if I feel I need it.

Lately I've been reviewing some of the newer lamps being put out by Gemini. Gemini has incorporated a "momentary Flash" button onto their new "Wireless" remotes. When I first received these I wasn't too interested in the flash feature. Lately though I've begun to see how useful of a feature it is. I've used it now on a couple road rides and it has a remarkable effect on traffic. I mount the Gemini's on the helmet in place of the torch so when I need to flash it all I have to do is hit the remote button once and I get a super ( single ) burst of light. If I toggle the button I get as many bursts of light as I want.

Just last night I was using my Gemini Duo on the helmet for a MTB trail ride and had to ride back to my car on a short stretch of paved two lane road that goes up a long mile long hill. Last night was a beautiful moon lit night. While riding on the road I didn't use my main lights but used only a small torch which I had mounted on the bars. Climbing the long hill is slow arduous process, especially after a MTB trail ride on a warm night. After 12:00am there is little traffic on this rural road. The road has wide shoulders and I have two good rear blinkies protecting my back so I feel pretty safe. When no cars were around me I started playing with the remote flash feature of the Gemini Duo ( also on the newer Olympia ). Goodness! Damn thing lit up the entire road like you wouldn't believe. I started thinking that if a car approaches from head on and has high beams on all I have to do is hit this remote once and it should get an immediate reaction. Sadly no cars were using high beams last night. That was when the idea dawned on me; Why don't I use this feature when cars approach from behind? The idea being that when the car is still behind me I light up the entire road ahead ( including all the little reflective road signs that light up like beacons ). Wow! this worked like a charm, especially when there are reflective signs right close to me. I actually had a car tap his brakes at me in acknowledgment after he passed. Of course with my excellent rear lights I really don't have to do this but I figure anything I can do to increase awareness of my presence can be a positive thing.