Originally Posted by
graywolf
"I did not see him", is the first lie they think of. Being a lie, no amount of lights is going to make any difference. The fact is that the truth "I was paying no attention to my driving" is never going to be admitted. A headlight and a decent rear reflector is adequate for being seen if the driver is paying attention, and a million candle power strobe isn't if he isn't. So put all those lights on if you like lights, but never think they will protect you or should be the law.
They should be the law if you are riding during darkness. I don't know about 4 like this, or the multiple blinkies that I run... But there are a lot of ninja cyclists (rear reflector only) in my area. When I'm in the cage going to work I am always on the lookout for them because I know they ride the same route I do when I commute on the T2000.
I can tell a blinkied cyclist is up ahead from like a mile away, literally. Reflectors bring that distance down to hundreds of feet, at best.
I agree that if someone is totally in their own world and not driving safely that 100000 lights won't prevent them from hitting you, but they sure get a lot more attention than a reflector (which is easy to miss along with all of the driveway reflectors, parked car reflectors, reflective signs, etc, etc)
In other words, you are dead wrong. A blinkie attracts more attention than a reflector by far. What I want is to attract attention. If I am so well lit and strobing from behind that I get every driver who comes up behind me to say "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT" I know they know I'm there, at least.