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I think bright lights would have prevent this..

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I think bright lights would have prevent this..

Old 02-18-13, 02:49 PM
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I think bright lights would have prevent this..

IMO, I think strong and bright lights would have prevented this..

It was obvious they weren't seen.

https://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2...5721#c74275721
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Old 02-18-13, 02:58 PM
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I believe the driver was looking down in his cab, so unless your lights are mounted on the floor of his truck I don't think so.
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Old 02-18-13, 02:59 PM
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Originally Posted by cehowardGS
IMO, I think strong and bright lights would have prevented this..

It was obvious they weren't seen.

https://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2...5721#c74275721
We'll never know what really happened or if lights would have helped.

That being said, yes, please do use lights to make yourself visible. I ride with lights both at day and at night.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Commodus
I believe the driver was looking down in his cab, so unless your lights are mounted on the floor of his truck I don't think so.
Bright lights would have made the bike noticed BEFORE the driver looked down. From their description, the driver looked down right as he was close to the riders, and when he came up, he was on them. It was obvious that he didn't see them BEFORE he looked down. Bright lights would have made the driver aware of their presence before he looked down.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by cehowardGS
Bright lights would have made the bike noticed BEFORE the driver looked down. From their description, the driver looked down right as he was close to the riders, and when he came up, he was on them. It was obvious that he didn't see them BEFORE he looked down. Bright lights would have made the driver aware of their presence before he looked down.
i think that if you really believe that ever brighter lights keep you safe, you will always make these kinds of assumptions.

tell me, what kind of lights were the couple using?
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Old 02-18-13, 03:05 PM
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Originally Posted by cplager
We'll never know what really happened or if lights would have helped.

That being said, yes, please do use lights to make yourself visible. I ride with lights both at day and at night.
I agree on both points. I see you also believe that lights both day and night go a lot to INCREASE our safety.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by Commodus
i think that if you really believe that ever brighter lights keep you safe, you will always make these kinds of assumptions.

tell me, what kind of lights were the couple using?
Don't know if they were using lights or not. Sounds like they were not using lights. I am just guessing on that..

They are not assumptions, they are what I have found out from actual experience. When I ride WITHOUT lights opposed to the when I ride with lights, the reactions I get from cars is NIGHT AND DAY. My rightaway is almost always taken if I have no lights. On the other hand, with lights, brights lights too, they go overboard to give me my rightaway. Nobody had to tell me that, I found that out myself. That is why I am a firm believer that brights lights makes us/me safer in traffic!!
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Old 02-18-13, 03:13 PM
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Originally Posted by cehowardGS
Don't know if they were using lights or not. Sounds like they were not using lights. I am just guessing on that..

They are not assumptions, they are what I have found out from actual experience. When I ride WITHOUT lights opposed to the when I ride with lights, the reactions I get from cars is NIGHT AND DAY. My rightaway is almost always taken if I have no lights. On the other hand, with lights, brights lights too, they go overboard to give me my rightaway. Nobody had to tell me that, I found that out myself. That is why I am a firm believer that brights lights makes us/me safer in traffic!!
don't get your panties in a knot, arguing about something i haven't even mentioned. the assumption i referred to was bolded in the post i quoted.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:21 PM
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The driver was picking up a cap from the vehicle floor when hitting them, so it is still possible that he did see them beforehand but didn't expect the car to veer into them when he bent over to pick up the cap.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Commodus
don't get your panties in a knot, arguing about something i haven't even mentioned. the assumption i referred to was bolded in the post i quoted.
I ain't got no panties!! Also, I am not arguing. What you have in bold, I would feel safe betting 1000 to 5. If he had saw them before he looked down, most likely he would have done two things or both. First, move away from them, second, don't look down until after he has passed them. When I drive, and I am getting ready to do something while I am driving, such grab something off my seat, touch the radio, anything that would take my eyes away from up front, if I see something needs my attention, I put that movement on hold until I have passed. I have a lot of miles under my belt, and I am talking from experience, not here-say. I fully agree that all I am saying is just my opinion too.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:27 PM
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Originally Posted by vol
The driver was picking up a cap from the vehicle floor when hitting them, so it is still possible that he did see them beforehand but didn't expect the car to veer into them when he bent over to pick up the cap.
I will agree that it is possible he saw them before he looked down, but in my opinion, I am saying most likely he didn't.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by cplager
We'll never know what really happened or if lights would have helped.

That being said, yes, please do use lights to make yourself visible. I ride with lights both at day and at night.
Could you recommend a good tail lamp for daytime use? In my case it would be powered by a hub dynamo.

Last edited by Ekdog; 02-18-13 at 03:33 PM. Reason: Added the last sentence.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by cehowardGS
I ain't got no panties!! Also, I am not arguing. What you have in bold, I would feel safe betting 1000 to 5. If he had saw them before he looked down, most likely he would have done two things or both. First, move away from them, second, don't look down until after he has passed them. When I drive, and I am getting ready to do something while I am driving, such grab something off my seat, touch the radio, anything that would take my eyes away from up front, if I see something needs my attention, I put that movement on hold until I have passed. I have a lot of miles under my belt, and I am talking from experience, not here-say. I fully agree that all I am saying is just my opinion too.
I agree the described scenario is possible.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:41 PM
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Does a white front light make difference in broad daylight? I tried a couple of times with a strobbing one in bright daylight, and I doubt it made difference, as the daylight is so bright, so I turned it off. I use an amber light in the rear during the day.
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Old 02-18-13, 03:51 PM
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Originally Posted by vol
Does a white front light make difference in broad daylight? I tried a couple of times with a strobbing one in bright daylight, and I doubt it made difference, as the daylight is so bright, so I turned it off. I use an amber light in the rear during the day.
I think it does. I go white blinky up front during the day. When I leave work on my daily commute, I have go to the subway. The subway station has big parking lot with lanes. When I travel down the main drag in the parking lot with no lights, cars will come out and take my rightaway everytime. When I have the lights on, they not only don't take my rightaway, but they wait for me way, way ahead. In other words, cars almost a half block to a full block away, which have time to pull out in front of me without me being close, but because of my attention grabbing lights, they wait.

Also, on the cars in motion where the driver does a fast right/left look, I see them jam their brakes, because they have picked up my lights coming their way.. And almost everytime I DON'T turn my lights on for in the subway parking lot they jump/turn in front of me. Never happens with the lights..
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Old 02-18-13, 04:06 PM
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Comments well taken. One scenario when front light definitely helps in daylight is when an upcoming vehicle (such as a bus) makes left turn in front of me at an intersection, they notice me and slow down. Without the front light, they should still see me, but it seems I would not be making the "loud" assertion of my existence and right.
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Old 02-18-13, 04:18 PM
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See, I wonder if they had rear view mirrors. They can be pretty useful for watching traffic approaching from behind. It's very rare, but every once in a while I bail out to the gutter/shoulder/even up the curb if it looks like an approaching car is approaching a little to close.
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Old 02-18-13, 04:19 PM
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Originally Posted by vol
Does a white front light make difference in broad daylight? I tried a couple of times with a strobbing one in bright daylight, and I doubt it made difference, as the daylight is so bright, so I turned it off. I use an amber light in the rear during the day.
I find that cars are much less likely to pull out in front of me during the daytime if I run a flashing front light. I also find that cars generally give me more room when passing when I have rear lights.
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Old 02-18-13, 05:10 PM
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I'm not sure anyone makes a dynamo powered taillight bright enough that it would be considered daylight visible. Nor do they flash. You would have to build your own, it seems.

A bright light may have prevented this but I regularly see drivers doing things that no light can protect people from. Thankfully, no one is in their path most of the time. I think the resistance here is it the original post borders on placing some fault on the cyclists rather than just discussing ways things like this might be prevented. The only thing it seems safe to assume is that the driver should have been performing his obligation of paying attention to the road.

Sad to hear. They sound like they were wonderful people having a great trip.
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Old 02-18-13, 05:21 PM
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does anyone catch hell from other bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about the brightness of your lights?

i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.

i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
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Old 02-18-13, 05:40 PM
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Originally Posted by cplager
I find that cars are much less likely to pull out in front of me during the daytime if I run a flashing front light. I also find that cars generally give me more room when passing when I have rear lights.
That is what I have been saying all along. Sure, we might get hit, but when running lights daytime and night, are chances are better when we are seen, and less likely to get hit..

Sheesh, I want all of us to reach the ripe old age of 100!!
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Old 02-18-13, 05:43 PM
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Originally Posted by tpolley
does anyone catch hell from other bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about the brightness of your lights?

i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.

i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
I read a lot of flak in the forums about bright lights, but 99% of it deals with the bike trails and MUPS, which in my opinion is nothing like balls out rush hour traffic with cages..To tell the truth if I did run a light on the trails(daytime), it would NOT be of the same power as my commute lightS. It would be small blinky, or no light. The trails and MUP are a different ballgame than riding in traffic. My opinion.
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Old 02-18-13, 05:46 PM
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Originally Posted by tpolley
does anyone catch hell from other bicyclists, pedestrians and motorists about the brightness of your lights?

i have a minewt 350. 350 lumens. it's not the brightest light out there, but it's pretty effing bright. i have it on strobe any time i'm on my bike, day or night, well, night i have it on solid, whether i'm on the road or on a multi use trail. i've found that 90% if i'm coming up behind a pedestrian they'll see my strobe out of the corner of their eyes, or they'll see reflective signs flashing in front of them and turn around to see me coming.

i've also received complaints from oncoming traffic, cars, pedestrians that my light is too bright. i don't have it aimed way up, i have it aimed about 10-12 feet in front of me. i guess i'd rather piss some people off than run someone over, or be run over.
IMO, can't be said or put any better!!
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Old 02-18-13, 05:47 PM
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I can attest to what others here have said about cars and bike lights.

Without the lights on my trike, auto drivers don't "see" me, and more often than not come close to hitting me. With the lights on, most every driver gives me plenty of room, with the exception of the few inattentive idiots who --in my opinion-- shouldn't even have a licence to drive. seriously, Why is it here in the US we grant driving privileges to kids that can barely walk and chew gum at the same time?

A dollar to a doughnut says this couple didn't have lights on their bikes and would probably be alive had they taken that precaution.
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Old 02-18-13, 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by Doohickie
See, I wonder if they head rear view mirrors. They can be pretty useful for watching traffic approaching from behind. It's very rare, but every once in a while I bail out to the gutter/shoulder/even up the curb if it looks like an approaching car is approaching a little to close.
Good point on the rear view. If they had a hint that danger was moving up on them fast, they might could have taken evasive action. The driver must really have been out of it, to take both of them out.. Almost like a bowling ball shot.. My bets are the driver never seen them at all. When he came up he was on them or already ran over them.
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