Originally Posted by
RapidRobert
Of course you can "glance away", but many many don't, and have their head mounted lights pointed high (as the "mad scientist"). My description of "inconsiderate" is from the perspective of an oncomming driver or other cyclist for the many like him. Bike hgeadlights are very quickly overcomming car headlights.
The notion that size of shadows doesn't affect depth perception at night is absolutely ridiculous. Sorry, but that's just a fact. And sorry if I didn't mix it into a little apple sauce for you, but it's true. And how do YOU know what tan oncomming driver has seen before you decide to shine your headlight into their eyes "to get their attention"? What if you're wrong? YOU want a temporarily blinded driver comming around the corner behind YOU? I don't.
Definitely don't need to get in a shouting match here. You're entitled to your views, and I'll even respect your scientific superiority over mine in lighting regards.
Still, if you ask endurance mtn bike 24hr racers if they'd rather have just a low-mount light, or a low-mount light AND an equall or greater powered helmet light, every single one of them will choose both. That's good enough for me.
And also, to date, I haven't heard of overpowered bike lights causing accidents of any sort amongst motorists. Fatalities, definitely zero. Even with cyccomute's 10,000 watt retinal burners. However, the number of serious injuries and fatalities from cyclists who weren't seen properly due to insufficient lighting is significant. Hard to argue that we cyclists constitute a threat to a car because of our overpowered lights. (Which are also in general puny compared to a high-beam car light.)
And BTW - here in LA, it's REALLY EASY to tell that you need to "flash" a motorist. Most common scenario that happens EVERY DAY at night on my post rush hour commute home - car on the side of the road, preparing to pull into the lane. Even with my 200 lumen handlebar lights, the cars are so busy looking into the street to get their moment to make their turn that more often than not, they overlook how fast I'm coming. One flash into their eyes while they're still stopped or inching into the street is enough for them to look carefully at how fast I'm coming. I consider this critical in a high-traffic area like LA where there is heavy washout of your bikelights by other cars driving beside you.