In reply to Thelittlesthobo:
> You make a lot of presumtions there
I don't feel I did. I think I reasonably responded to what you actually wrote.
> Your not forcing them to slow down...........How do you know? In most circumstances with a car travelling towards a cyclist with a head torch of decent output all the car can see is the light. In this situation the car has a few thoughts.
Perhaps we have a different understanding of the word force. At least it seems we agree on the meaning of the word dazzling.
> Your dazzling them and reducing their situational awareness............How do you know? Most situations the car has had plenty of time to see the light. Hell even driving at 60mph in the dark coming the opposite direction i have plenty of time to dip my lights on my car so i dare say these drivers dont get caught unawares. I have a button on my lights to dim them 100%/75%/50%. I often do that and look at the verge when i meet cars coming the other way. Its just the considerate way to be.
I know that being dazzled while driving dramatically reduces my situational awareness and I know that the worst offenders out there are bike lights by quite some margin. I'll concede it's possible my eyes are different from everyone else's but I've never come across any evidence to substantiate that.
How do you know when you shine your lamp in the eyes of an oncoming driver what information you're depriving them of, would you be able to see a pedestrian in their path? Are you certain?
> Some people will slow down or stop as you desire..................- I dont desire anyone to stop. Be aware of me on the road by seeing my supa dupa light is all i want. I will happily turn it down or point it away if needs be (I ride with a helmet light plus a bar light. The bar light is much more of a flood so much more sociable).
If you dazzle me to make me slow down you've robbed me of the view I need to drive safely. Since I have no idea if you'll do it again in reality, I tend to stop which is frustrating as hell but safe for you and safe for whoever else might be in the road between us. Personally I think it's rather inconsiderate behavior to put someone in that position.
> Some will plough on regardless of how impaired their vision is.............Well now how is that worse than them ploughing on unaware that i am even there? At least i have made the effort for them to try to avoid me. If i have used a lesser light and they just plough through me, how is that safer?
Because now they're dazzled and less able to accurately see and judge where you and other road users are. There's a gulf between being clearly visible and aiming a 1000 lumen lamp at a wet windscreen.
jk
Post edited at 16:26