Originally Posted by
jakereed
While on the subject of headlamps on bikes, I have a question for those that use the LED type. I use a four LED headlight and it has several settings I can choose from, steady, and blinking modes. I keep mine on the steady mode, which uses the battery power twice as fast, but I find that others with similar headlights that use the strobe or blinking mode very annoying when approaching from the opposite side of the road. I guess they are more noticeable, but I think they are distracting to other traffic on the road. I think it's fine and preferable for the tail lights to blink, but not the headlights.
I'm wondering what others think, and what mode they use, Strobe or steady light?
Blinking headlights are actually Illegal in some if not all jurisdictions, a blinking lamp should be amber in colour, with a steady white light beside it. In some jurisdictions, red blinking lamps are also illegal, which is why many European made cars have amber turn signals. However AFAICT nobody makes a flashing bicycle lamp in amber.