banerjek

Just recently, I started running a Cygolite Expilion 680 in front in daylight flash mode even in good visibility conditions.

I've only been doing this a few weeks, but drivers seem to be much less inclined to right hook, left cross, or pull in front of me. It even seems to motivate slow pokes to go faster when I catch up with them from behind. Bombing down hills is more fun.

Just wondering if others also notice a difference or I'm experiencing placebo effect? I'm guessing the effect would be little to none in rural areas, but on busy streets, it appears to help enough that I'm thinking of running this thing full time.

qclabrat

it helps when I'm in a car and see a rider on the other side, if a car is coming the other way behind them, I can anticipate the will likely cross over my side, i now alway ride with front flashers, especially in bendy roads

Velo Vol 

No.

SirHustlerEsq

Late evening, yes.

Johnny Mullet

I hardly use my front light unless it's dark and then it's on solid mode instead of blink mode.

RollCNY

As a driver, I can say that even small front flashers on cyclists are highly visible. I can say as a bicyclist, when I got hit the last time, my front blinky was on, and pointed right at the gentleman who decycled me.

johnny99

IMHO - flashers catch the attention of drivers, but steady lights give them a much better idea of your location and direction of travel. Don't use flashers alone, especially on dark streets. Front lights are very useful at intersections.

mcours2006

I think I would use the flashers in front more often if it didn't distract me so much. It's like having a strobe light in front of you the whole ride.

Good point by Johnny99, though, about location and direction of travel.

Mark Stone

Heck yes. I also have a Cygolite product (Trion) on my bars, and in daytime flash mode there is a huge difference in how cars respond when I'm approaching the intersection(s). It is marked.

PaulRivers

As a driver, an appopriately powered front blinker definitely helps see a bike. "appropriately powered" is that line where you can see it from a fair distance, but it's not bright enough to be distracting.

xuwol7

YES, they do if you have the right front flasher.
I run a front Cygolite Metro 400, (the daylighting lightning flash gives a 500 lumen strobe), and a rear Cygolite Hotshot.
I have been told many times that I am seen and cars really react and give me a lot of room.
I also wear a yellow hi-viz vest which helps.
Yesterday I had 3 different cars pass me (with a lot of room) and gave me a wave and a thumbs up.
Me thinks this a good sign.

chasm54

Yes they make a lot of difference. In fact, I recall reading some research that indicated that a front light was even more important than a rear in keeping you safe.

Most cyclists are hit from the front, not the back, by vehicles that pull out in front of or across them. Having a flashing front light, even in daylight, is an attention-grabber.

linnefaulk

I saw a cyclist today riding with his lights on in the middle of the day. It seemed unnecessary until we got to a shady part of the road. Without his front light, he would have just been another shadow.

TrojanHorse

I use mine on blink mode when the sun gets low in the sky. I don't generally bother during the day (although I should, really) and at night I run it solid.

It absolutely makes a cyclist more visible and it absolutely helps prevent some types of collisions. I've had cars wait and not right hook me when the blinker is going. Maybe they were just considerate but it doesn't seem to stop drivers most of the time when I don't have a blinky.

Chris Pringle

Front and rear blinkers always at daytime and switch to solid lighting after sunset (or if I'm riding in a group.) I agree with others, after riding with lighting all the time, I believe it does make a huge difference in regard to safety.

halfspeed

Might get you noticed.

Ghazmh

I use a small Serfas light blinking whenever I ride day or night and only use my NightRider 650 when the sun sets.

Jaeger99

I've always run a daytime flash front. I find I spot other cyclists running a daytime flash from a much greater distance than those that don't. I see no negative and can't conceive of how it could be anything other than a positive in making you more visible to others.

chaadster

+1, but yet, I usually don't use one because having one does not change my behavior. I still assume cars don't see me, and approach dangerous situations with thoughtfulness, care...and a contingency plan.

Carbonfiberboy 

Another heck yes. I've been running a front flasher in daytime for years. I can't see it, so it doesn't bother me. Even a small one helps. As others have said, it's big deal on roads where there's shade. I also run a rear flasher in the daytime. Again, there's no downside. I mostly run USB lamps for regular training rides. For epic rides I go battery. I prefer a quick flash - too long a period between flashes disorients the approaching driver.

anotherbrian

While I haven't used it for a couple years I experienced the same when using the Dinotte amber headlight (the single LED model -- 140?) on its most annoying blinking mode (three short, one long?). I think oncoming drivers got confused enough by the amber color and it's brightness that they were like deer in the headlights and would just freeze. 1/4mi away and they wouldn't cross in front of me.

Not sure why I stopped using it, but it worked so well I should put it back on the bike.

f4rrest

For the full effect, use a Blinky and a Pokey.

Long Tom

I don't leave home without it.

That zillionaire woman in Cali that got killed on a downhiil for want of a sub-$100 flasher kinda sealed it for me.

Jaeger99

It's not an either / or proposition. You don't need to change your behaviour, nor should you. You can still take a cautious and thoughtful approach to riding in traffic, AND be more visible to drivers. Win,win.

Oldhead

This
As a motorcycle rider and a cyclist I use this approach, but I still use my light in the day time to try and avoid the contingency plan