Driver shares video of 'blinding' cycle light

nbrus wrote:

A super bright bicycle light is far more dazzling than car headlamps on full beam in my experience. Just look at the bright bicycle headlamp picture in this article and notice that it isn't even dark yet ... there are no stars in the sky and clouds are still visible.

astoundingly the sky and clouds are visible despite the articificial supernova that passes for the bicycle light, is it possible that you only believe that it isn't dark yet due to the light's effulgence?

beezus fufoon wrote:

nbrus wrote:

A super bright bicycle light is far more dazzling than car headlamps on full beam in my experience. Just look at the bright bicycle headlamp picture in this article and notice that it isn't even dark yet ... there are no stars in the sky and clouds are still visible.

astoundingly the sky and clouds are visible despite the articificial supernova that passes for the bicycle light, is it possible that you only believe that it isn't dark yet due to the light's effulgence?

I'll try making things simpler for you ... if a light looks that bright when it isn't fully dark yet, then its going to look a lot brighter and be a lot more dazzling once it is dark. There, hope that was simple enough.

nbrus wrote:

beezus fufoon wrote:

nbrus wrote:

A super bright bicycle light is far more dazzling than car headlamps on full beam in my experience. Just look at the bright bicycle headlamp picture in this article and notice that it isn't even dark yet ... there are no stars in the sky and clouds are still visible.

astoundingly the sky and clouds are visible despite the articificial supernova that passes for the bicycle light, is it possible that you only believe that it isn't dark yet due to the light's effulgence?

I'll try making things simpler for you ... if a light looks that bright when it isn't fully dark yet, then its going to look a lot brighter and be a lot more dazzling once it is dark. There, hope that was simple enough.

yes, but surely exactly the same can be said for a 1200 lumen full beam car headlamp?

Personally, I find that any light being shone in my eyes will momentarily dazzle me for about half a second, it's just not something I'd choose to write home about.

beezus fufoon wrote:

nbrus wrote:

beezus fufoon wrote:

nbrus wrote:

A super bright bicycle light is far more dazzling than car headlamps on full beam in my experience. Just look at the bright bicycle headlamp picture in this article and notice that it isn't even dark yet ... there are no stars in the sky and clouds are still visible.

astoundingly the sky and clouds are visible despite the articificial supernova that passes for the bicycle light, is it possible that you only believe that it isn't dark yet due to the light's effulgence?

I'll try making things simpler for you ... if a light looks that bright when it isn't fully dark yet, then its going to look a lot brighter and be a lot more dazzling once it is dark. There, hope that was simple enough.

yes, but surely exactly the same can be said for a 1200 lumen full beam car headlamp?

Personally, I find that any light being shone in my eyes will momentarily dazzle me for about half a second, it's just not something I'd choose to write home about.

Car headlamps have a more focussed beam than bike lights so they don't dazzle as much, even on high beam. They also aren't as bright as some mountain bike lights and the blue-white colour of LEDs is more dazzling than the neutral orange-yellow of filament bulbs. LED car headlamps are a different matter as those are quite dazzling though thankfully they are also quite rare.

BehindTheBikesheds wrote:

God knows how I and many others managed not to crash into anything/one at night when I had an Austin Allegro, oh that's right, I didn't drive it like a cunt and was looking out for oothers/driving at a speed i could stop well within the distance i could see to be clear. Car lights now just encourage you to go faster at night and blinding most while doing so. I rarely ever have the need for full beam, I just adjust my speed accordingly.

Its basically an arms race. Having driven an Allegro and a load of late 70s/early 80s cars I don't recall being able to see less than I can now. Everyone was in the same boat, there was less traffic, and less dazzle. Around town it was common for people to drive on sidelights only - coupled with streetlighting and low speed limits this is more than enough. 

Biggest issue (as a driver) for me is oncoming dips being as bright as full beams, and being dazzled in my mirrors by 4x4s/vans with high mounted headlights. Even dipping my rear view mirror isn't enough.

And don't get me started on drivers not dipping because you're a cyclist, its bloody lethal (and an offence).

brooksby wrote:

I've never yet seen bike lights which were any brighter than car lights. Just saying...

I have. Just saying... Largely irrelevant if either are adjusted properly and have reasonable beam pattern.

fukawitribe wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I've never yet seen bike lights which were any brighter than car lights. Just saying...

I have. Just saying... Largely irrelevant if either are adjusted properly and have reasonable beam pattern.

It happened to me - I admit - that after a ride in a forest I sometimes used to forget to turn the lamp's angle towards a tarmac (2x Cree LED).

The drivers signaled me with their full beams not to dazzle them. 

velo-nh wrote:

Video is unavailable.. but from the screenshot, the cyclist's light looks only marginally brighter than the red LED brakelights of the vehicle next to it.  I fail to see the issue.  Strobes are abnoxious at night.. but very useful during daylight.  So.. don't use them at night.  Problem solved.

 

Also you can in no way judge the brightness of any source from how the image is exposed on a cheap dashcam. As soon as the source gets too bright for how the image is exposing it clips - pure white rather than any detail. It could be a few times brighter than the middle exposure point or hundreds. You can see the same effect in the shop windows (although they glow orange as the camera is daylight white balanced) but I bet the bike light is considerable brighter than they are.

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

So blinded was he, that he continued on his way with no problems. 

Funny how one cyclist with a bright light is newsworthy but when you're down a country lane and drivers can't be arsed to turn off their full-beams because....you're not a car......it wouldn't be worth a feature. 

This is one of my main annoyances now it's dark all the time, drivers don't see you as worth a flick of a lever and just blind you with 10x the light any bike light will be putting out. 

Yep, this story is no different to a pedestrian using a torch, don't see a real problem. How many people do these pavement cyclists kill or injure with their lights?

So "blinded" was the driver that they went to an optometrist and relinquished their licence?!

I've had a couple of drivers deliberately drive at me on full beam on my side of the road, because they've probably taken dislike to my 300 lumens on a quiet local back-road. Shame I didn't feel I had enough safety margin to flick them onto 1500 lumens.

The number of motorised vehicles with malfunctioning lights now though, worrying! Still, at least they'll fail their MOT... Oh, loads of them still on the road regardless.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Yep, this story is no different to a pedestrian using a torch, don't see a real problem. How many people do these pavement cyclists kill or injure with their lights?

So "blinded" was the driver that they went to an optometrist and relinquished their licence?!

I've had a couple of drivers deliberately drive at me on full beam on my side of the road, because they've probably taken dislike to my 300 lumens on a quiet local back-road. Shame I didn't feel I had enough safety margin to flick them onto 1500 lumens.

If they had an old car they are likely idiots who don't realise they are driving around on full beam. 

If they have a new car the car adjusts the headlights automatically so clearly it is not recognising your bike lights as  a vehicle. 

I would switch your light to 1500 lumens as their car may recognise you as a vehicle, or at least get those idiots to stop using  full beam.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

The number of motorised vehicles with malfunctioning lights now though, worrying! Still, at least they'll fail their MOT... Oh, loads of them still on the road regardless.

You clearly know nothing about how MOTs are generallly done.  

The garage normally does an MOT which your car may fail. They then service the car and then redo the MOT the car passes.  

Headlights and other bits like signals can fail regardless of when the MOT is done.  It is your job as a driver to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy regardless of when the MOT is.

Bluebug wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Yep, this story is no different to a pedestrian using a torch, don't see a real problem. How many people do these pavement cyclists kill or injure with their lights?

So "blinded" was the driver that they went to an optometrist and relinquished their licence?!

I've had a couple of drivers deliberately drive at me on full beam on my side of the road, because they've probably taken dislike to my 300 lumens on a quiet local back-road. Shame I didn't feel I had enough safety margin to flick them onto 1500 lumens.

If they had an old car they are likely idiots who don't realise they are driving around on full beam. 

If they have a new car the car adjusts the headlights automatically so clearly it is not recognising your bike lights as  a vehicle. 

I would switch your light to 1500 lumens as their car may recognise you as a vehicle, or at least get those idiots to stop using  full beam.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

The number of motorised vehicles with malfunctioning lights now though, worrying! Still, at least they'll fail their MOT... Oh, loads of them still on the road regardless.

You clearly know nothing about how MOTs are generallly done.  

The garage normally does an MOT which your car may fail. They then service the car and then redo the MOT the car passes.  

Headlights and other bits like signals can fail regardless of when the MOT is done.  It is your job as a driver to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy regardless of when the MOT is.

As it goes, I know quite a lot about MoT testing. I think you just missed my sarcasm... Some people like to state that bikes should have to pass an MoT, etc. as it would stop these sort of issues.
Drivers are supposed to check their lights before every journey. Clearly many of thm do not take their responsibilities seriously.
The drivers were deliberately switching to full-beam and then coming at me on my side of the road while they negotiated a parked vehicle on their side of the road.

Bluebug wrote:

ChrisB200SX wrote:

Yep, this story is no different to a pedestrian using a torch, don't see a real problem. How many people do these pavement cyclists kill or injure with their lights?

So "blinded" was the driver that they went to an optometrist and relinquished their licence?!

I've had a couple of drivers deliberately drive at me on full beam on my side of the road, because they've probably taken dislike to my 300 lumens on a quiet local back-road. Shame I didn't feel I had enough safety margin to flick them onto 1500 lumens.

If they had an old car they are likely idiots who don't realise they are driving around on full beam. 

If they have a new car the car adjusts the headlights automatically so clearly it is not recognising your bike lights as  a vehicle. 

I would switch your light to 1500 lumens as their car may recognise you as a vehicle, or at least get those idiots to stop using  full beam.

ChrisB200SX wrote:

The number of motorised vehicles with malfunctioning lights now though, worrying! Still, at least they'll fail their MOT... Oh, loads of them still on the road regardless.

You clearly know nothing about how MOTs are generallly done.  

The garage normally does an MOT which your car may fail. They then service the car and then redo the MOT the car passes.  

Headlights and other bits like signals can fail regardless of when the MOT is done.  It is your job as a driver to ensure your vehicle is roadworthy regardless of when the MOT is.

....woosh!

Bluebug wrote:

If they have a new car the car adjusts the headlights automatically so clearly it is not recognising your bike lights as  a vehicle. 

I would switch your light to 1500 lumens as their car may recognise you as a vehicle, or at least get those idiots to stop using  full beam.

This. Shine it IN THEIR FACE. Then their car will recognise it. Just like the cyclist in the video. Ideally get hold of one of the silly laser helmets and find a way to boost the power of the laser on it.

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

So blinded was he, that he continued on his way with no problems. 

ahh, but it does clearly say (twice) that it "could have resulted in a nasty accident." So you dismiss the prophecies of the Huddersfield Daily Examiner at your peril - this cyclist is the wickedest man in Netherton, according to his mother, and regularly cries out, "let the mayhem commence!" every time he switches on his bicycle lights - So I suggest you pay more heed to the fantasies of chaos lurking in the apparently sleepy town's visions of apocalyptic doom, lest you find yourself riding alone one dark winter's night and singled out for daily examination!

Flying Scot wrote:

I dont understand these aresholes that think that riding along with something akin to a camera flash is in any way assisting safety, you cant even place the bike, the flash could be coming from anywhere and it will distract most drivers.

And those other twats with a million lumens on their helmet that turn round to look at you.....

I have a low intensity front pulse lamp, rather than a hard flash, and a more powerful single beam, aimed down and left.

Dont kid yourself that more light is better, in the rain especially, its actually worse, it just lights up the droplets on windscreens and visors.

This isn’t exclusive to cycles of course, the lamp overkill at a many roadworks doesnt help either.

yeah but it comes from the whole SMIDSY thing doesnt it, everytime someone hears an instance where a motorist claims not to have seen a cyclist in the dark, their response is to up the lumens so motorists cant possibly claim not to see you if you are chucking out more light than a lighthouse and it just begins this never ending competition to go for brighter and brighter lights.