Originally Posted by Maelochs

Re: fire trucks .... trucks Not painted red were involved in a lot fewer collisions. Maybe that doesn't matter to some folks but ...

By the way three separate studies were mentioned, for those who think all the articles were referencing the same study .... and all found that red and orange can disappear in low-light conditions, and that fluorescent green vehicles were in the fewest accidents (per capita.)

This was not a case pf people watching video and pushing buttons,. This was an actual count of accidents involving emergency vehicles, and it was found the adjusted for proportion, red vehicles got hit a lot more. Three studies addressed the issue of emergency vehicle color starting int he late-'60s /early '70s and the latest in the past several years ... all had the same conclusion. Red and orange are least visible---invisible---in low-light conditions. People still paint fire engines red due to tradition .... because people are stupid.

Sorry some people think science matters ... but a lot of people don't. Oh, well. Darwin still has a job, passing out those awards.

Originally Posted by MoAlpha

Interesting discussion. One thing I can say with confidence is that what works in isolation on an empty road gets lost in light clutter when there's traffic. This may be one reason the cops use blue and why a contrasting color might make sense for cyclists. I experienced this one evening at a busy intersection, when an oncoming driver made a turn on red while was I making a left and nearly nailed me. We had a brief discussion after I stopped screaming, which made it clear that he missed the pinpoint of my fancy, high-intensity LED headlight in the mass of oncoming traffic. I assume the same thing can happen with red tail lights.

Anyone who has navigated a boat into a busy, lit-up, port at night will also have experienced this. One can miss huge ships at short range and blinking navigational lights can be simply invisible, even when you know exactly where they should be.

Originally Posted by Alan K

In our area, winters are long, days are short, and with this stupidity of changing the clock, we are always returning from work when it is pitch black. So uncivilized or not, if we wish to pay our bills (instead of using our welfare system where others foot our bills), I have to ride in dark. Choosing the path that isn’t busy with commuters using automobiles is the they to safety. In my case, I don’t mind adding extra 10-15 min to my bicycling time, as I avoid drivers singularly focused on making good time through running the “pink” lights (which often red as they enter the intersection).

Originally Posted by genejockey

Hence, flashing.

Originally Posted by PeteHski

When driving today at dusk I came across a cyclist with a rapid flashing red tail light and reflective socks. It was a very effective combo. Unmistakable as a cyclist from long range. I didn’t even notice what colour his jacket was!

Interestingly I also saw another cyclist with a very sliow flashing tail light and that was much less effective. The flash on/off period was about a second which made it look partially invisible.

Finally I saw a third cyclist with no rear light and dark clothing going in the opposite direction. Hope he made it home!

Originally Posted by spelger

call me crazy but i think he was joking about the uncivilized bit.

Originally Posted by MoAlpha

I guess… Not a solution for a headlight that’s being used for illuminating the road.

Originally Posted by Alan K

Those of us who use their bikes when it might become dark, tend to be well prepared for such occasions. It’s not terribly complicated to have two lights, as in the photo below:

Originally Posted by MoAlpha

How very wonderful for you and the rest of Those of Us.

Originally Posted by seypat

The lights that really get my attention are the headlights on females in high beam mode. Steady is nice, but even better if they're flashing me!

Originally Posted by aliasfox

I’ve had drivers who assume I’m closing at a much slower rate than I am, and I’m pretty sure I had my front flasher going.

Originally Posted by Bob Ross

But I'm not sure ^^^that phenomenon has anything to do with lights, blinking or steady. Automobile drivers seem to consistently underestimate how fast cyclists are moving. Especially when the cyclist is coming towards them and they are trying to make a left turn in front of that oncoming traffic.
:angryface:

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I have had similar encounters .... downhill at a good clip with drivers watching me come, then deciding to pull out just as I get there .... I think drivers first see the cyclist as a possible threat, like a car or truck, then realize it is just a bike, not a threat ... then look at the rest of traffic, and if they see no threats, pull out .... ignoring the fact that they, themselves, are threats.

Who knows? Reasoning skills can be found lacking even in calm, stable environments ... in the rapidly changing scenario on a roadway, expecting people to think sensibly is a poor gamble.

Originally Posted by rsbob

The combination which caught my eye while driving at night was a cyclist, or bike rider, with two reflective bands on his ankles separately going up and down with a very bright blinking light on their seat post. From a half mile back, could tell if wearing hi-vis.

I believe the research says a white or light colored helmet is also more visible to motorists. If I want sick, I’d feel motivated to look it up

Originally Posted by Maelochs

The next big cycling safety device will be a compact but ridiculously powerful 5G transmitter so cyclists show up on the cell phones of all drivers withing a quarter-mile radius.

Originally Posted by seypat

The lights that really get my attention are the headlights on females in high beam mode. Steady is nice, but even better if they're flashing me!

Originally Posted by Alan K

Agreed; may be, just may be, the bicyclists also need to start looking at these situations a little differently. Rather than griping about the irresponsible, illogical and idiotic drivers among the like-minded people, assume that drivers really are what bicyclists think of them - the next step then becomes a matter of self-preservation. Who has more to lose; is not losing your momentum* worth risking your limbs and even life?

[* I have heard this argument from more than one bicyclist in person - cars have brakes, all they need to do is to use them to slow their car down a little so I can clear in my momentum, which takes my strength to pedal my bike - why can’t they appreciate it. Or something to that effect- ]

Originally Posted by Maelochs

I think you need to think better.

I have been cycling on the road, in traffic, for more than 50 years.

Fairly obviously I am not dead.

Pretty obviously I have figured out How to ride on the road in traffic without dying.

Further conclusions I leave to you.

Originally Posted by Alan K

Please provide a credible evidence that you are not a ghost who has figured out how to type.