On a rural road, when someone wants to move left to pass me and it is not clear whether oncoming traffic, I will block him if possible. If a vehicle comes from the oncoming direction, the driver passing me has to make a choice: Kill me or be killed. I don't want him to face that decision.

Roughly once a year, I will be on a small rise or hill and I see a car behind me in my helmet mounted mirror that is coming up on me, and I see a car approaching in front, but because of the slope, they can't see each other. When that happens, I get off the road if I can. Alternatively, I have held my left arm straight out with my open hand, palm facing aft. That signals the car behind to wait, and they usually do.

Same here. It never ceases to amaze me how some drivers will risk a blind head-on collision just to save a few seconds waiting behind a cyclist. I’ve had a few close shaves like that as the motorist coming the other way. I’ve even had drivers swerve out to pass a cyclist when they can actually see me coming in the other direction!

I appreciate your input on the Cygolite 350. By all accounts it seems to be a very good light. I also ride reflective ankle straps, day, and night, as well as a reflective green vest.
Here's the thing, there are many MVAs that have occurred in broad daylight, where visibility was not an issue. Simply put, stupid people do stupid things.
I will agree with what others have said, that more visibility does seem to get me more respect on the road, especially at higher speeds.

Bottom line, while increased visibility helps, it's not the be all, end all. ALWAYS maintain situational awareness (whether mirror or radar), and have an exit strategy.

Ride safely!

As a driver, one of the main issue I have with bike lights, is that it's difficult to estimate how far away they are, unlike cars with separate right/left lights, in this case it's the distance between the right and left that immediately gives you a fair approximation of the distance. It's often almost impossible with a bike, until you can see the rider (also bike lights might vary more in intensity, so you can't rely on that either).

Adding reflective bands or tape to the pedals or ankles clearly helps to identify what you are looking at, also gives an idea of the distance, same for a reflective vest.

So maybe a light on the helmet that illuminates the vest would be a good complement to the fixed red rear light... it doesn't need to be very bright since the vest is very close...

In Europe fixed white front light and red rear lights are often required by law, sometimes also reflectors of the same colors, front and rear, as well as on the pedals! many cyclists don't follow these rules, and they are not enforced from what I'm seeing.

I believe German rules are the most advanced for bike lights, but I don't know what exactly is required, except that the lights must be approved (?) maybe someone on this forum lives there?

'S'why I've adopted using both a tail light (Varia radar device affixed behind my seat) and a high-mounted tail light too (secured to my helmet, in a position that puts it facing directly rearward) when I ride, daytime or dusk... I don't intentionally ride in the dark, morning or night. In front it's a white Raveman set to cycle quickly in intensity. Idea is that the high-mounted light will be seen first by vehicles approaching from behind, then the lower once they get closer should there be any inclines between them and myself. The white in front ought to improve recognition of my presence to pedestrians and other vehicle operators as I approach.

I'm a firm believer in making myself readily apparent and visible to others while I'm out and about where others are present.

I really like the Knog Cobber series of lights.
One of the mounting wings is a USB plug built-in for charging.

Then comes the fun part!
Using this USB connection and a PC you can program several modes into the light, controlling flash pattern, rate and brightness.
Then cycle between patterns on the light.

I don’t have to turn off my rear guard light, I just turn it down.

Barry

I wish it was easy to incorporate the modern car tech that has the ability to alert the vehicle operator of a cyclist up ahead. That i think would be a worthwhile install if it could be done without disturbing the existing vehicles electronics....

I have never been there, do not know the rules. But some of my lights meet their requirements. The are constant on, no flashing. Headlight lights up the ground in front of you, not shining into the eyes of oncoming traffic. I think the headlight also has to have a small amount of light directly to both sides, at least my lights do that.

That is a summary of my observations about the German lights I have on my bikes.

My (german) busch+müller Ixon IQ is like this and everytime I encounter someone in the dark I'm glad for the cutoff.
That is not the case for the vast majority of cyclists / e-skateboarders I come upon. I'm usually completely blinded by their round beams and if someone were to be walking on the path beside them, I'd probably run into them.

Yes that's important, LED's can damage retina cells even at powers used for lights at home... I'm also frequently blinded, I try to protect my eyes with my hand, also to show that there is a problem to the cyclist passing me!

And I always turn my front light toward the ground in front of my bike, something like 20-30° maybe, instead of horizontally.