Max, this is a great thread/dialog all the way around, love to hear all of the differing pros/cons!
Nothing like a hot topic and lots of opinions
My references are specifically related headlight modulators (thread hijack???)
Well, it is a fork off the conversation, but certainly related.
It is not my intent to annoy other drivers BUT how often do we hear "I didn't see you", so IMHO, sometimes just being seen is enough. We all, I hope, wear helmets (ATGATT), etc as 'safety' gear when in reality it is 'accident survival gear', it does not make you any safer riding. My thought is that things that I can do to decrease my chances of having an accident, and not having to test my accident gear, is worth it. YMMV
Headlight modulation (or any flashing from lights) does create motion, and that is MUCH more effective than just plain light at gaining attention. Sometimes it is unwanted attention though (as testament to the way people behave when encountering them). I personally think that if a modulator is used, it should be only in the daytime (that is duh) and only with the lowbeam light. But I still think there are far better options.... even with modulation.... some of them are also generally unknown and probably not legal. For example, one option is a 1 Hz or 0.76 Hz white strobe in tandem with the low beam on solid. I have experimented with this and I believe the "wink" is enough to stand out, but without being overly annoying or blinding. At the moment, the test lamp I have been using is not bright enough.
I would like to know more about the dazzle/blindness that you suffer from, as I have never experienced it in daytime but have a horrible time driving at night. How long does it last, etc... on forum or PM.
Some people are getting stuck on the word "dazzle/blinding" and thinking that is the big thrust of the argument, and it is not. It has to do with masking the size, shape, position, distance, etc of the bike behind an intense light. That, in and of itself, can cause several types of safety issues. "Blinding" is not necessary.
However, it is true that people can become momentarily (seconds) partially visually incapacitated by bright lights, even in the daytime. Several people I know have expressed to me that this happens to them. Different people have different "recovery time" for the eyes to adjust from one level of light to another. It is not limited to only night time driving, but can happen all over the full spectrum of lighting conditions.
Like you, I also have some trouble at night, but nowhere near as badly as my best friend, who can't ride anymore at night and has to be careful even in a car (and no, he is not that old). It has gotten worse over the years, but partially because headlights have become so much more powerful. It doesn't help that an
incredible number of headlights are very improperly adjusted. And even something as simple as having dirty lenses can cause a huge amount of scattering light (this is why many European countries require cars to have automatic headlight washers).
Hope this info helps.
