I have been using them for two seasons. I get about one year out of the batteries. They can turn on automatically when it is raining out. I keep mine on steady and flash the tail light if I am realy worried about getting a drivers attention. I was following one oy other ride partners when he had all three blinking and he looked like a construction zone. Having the bar ends angled down has not been a problem with mine, the LEDs are big and actualy project a beam up against the wall if you back your bike against the wall.