Are they correct? Bicycle lights the key to improving safety.

[Drago]

Cycling home at a quarter to midnight last night down the country lanes I was overtaken by my daughter in her car. When I got home she reported that my rear lights (2 x Smart half watt, one flashing, one constant) were like 'Blackpool illuminations' and she saw me over half a mile away. She also said the my front lights (Blackburn Scorch set on flashing, 1800 lumen CREE on constant) were as bright as car headlights.

I would suggest that being seen in excess of half a mile away makes a significant contribution to not dying on the bike.

Perhaps the Australian who summarised the research would like to try my route with no lights, and see how long they live.

 

[ufkacbln]

This is an interesting document

69-80 % of accidents at junctions because one driver "failed to see" the other despite "looking" (LBFS)

That is the issue, drives failing to see even with teh brightest lights.

I have had a taxi pull out on me despite a 1600 Cree on full power, stopping about a foot from his side window

IN this case apparently it was my fault, because he thought I was a motorbike, and that would have been able to brake in time. By riding a bike with inferior brakes it was my fault!

Light do help, but will still not be an answer if the drivers LBFS, or the 70% of accidents caused where the driver fails to give priority

 

[Drago]

That taxi driver was a twot, and there's no defense against them.

 

[ufkacbln]

That taxi driver was a twot, and there's no defence against them.

Did gain him a formal warning and points on his Hackney License when the video was sent to the Licensing Office

 

[Drago]

Excellent. If he'd said "sorry mate, I misjudged that", it would've been much more palatable than trying to blame the victim for the offenders behaviour.