Originally Posted by
jsharr
My concern with turn signals is lane positioning. You are far right and signal a left turn. A motorist will see a flashing light to the far right and assume you are turning right, setting you up for disaster as they move left and pass you, realizing too late that the flashing light was on a bike that they just hit after misinterpreting what they saw in the dark.
I have not found this to be the case. Granted I am only one data point. The signals that you posted do not seem to be as wide as the handle bars which I think they should be. The critical component in an always on, large rear taillight and wide enough spacing of the signals. Most rear bike blinkies while they are bright enough they do not have enough surface area in my opinion.
When I redo my signals in the next couple months I will post pictures. I still use hand signals and I definitely look over my shoulder but after I get the driver's attention I can put my hand back on the handlebars and let the signal continue to communicate where I am going.
The signals have worked for me and I can see how a driver could confuse them. In my experience I have had more drivers understand what the signals meant than drivers who thought a left hand turn signal meant that I was about to turn right.