Old 09-17-19 | 07:29 AM
  #20  
DrIsotope's Avatar
DrIsotope
Non omnino gravis
 
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 8,552
Likes: 1,739
From: SoCal, USA!

Bikes: Nekobasu, Pandicorn, Lakitu

Originally Posted by Paul Barnard
It happens with frightening regularity. Motorists run into emergency vehicles with their flashing lights energized. Why? Is there a lesson we can apply to our irritating or annoying lights?
No, there isn't. It's unclear as to whether or not phototaxis is a thing in humans, but target fixation absolutely is. Every ambulatory movement taken by a human being absolutely relies on target fixation, whether that be a point in our vision, the source of a sound, or any other stimulus.

The biggest danger to a cyclist is the driver that doesn't see them. Conspicuity is important. If the flashing of a taillight irritates a passing car for the 2 seconds it takes them to pass, well frankly, good.

Bicycle taillights are brightest directly on-axis for a reason. From ~8 feet to either side, they're not nearly as bright-- visible, but not blinding.
__________________
DrIsotope is offline  
Reply