mjr wrote:Jdsk wrote:gregoryoftours wrote:With a helmet light I can always stop people if they try such funny business. I have it pointed slightly down in normal use, but just tip my head back a little when people decide that a person on a bike is a bit too non-consequential, and that always works.
My helmet lights are much less bright than that. Couldn't dazzle anyone. [...]
Good. Dazzling drivers is both illegal and pretty stupid because many of them will drive blind, possibly straight into you or another rider.
I don't think that they need to be/should be bright enough to dazzle, that's not the objective.
Sometimes I find it necessary to momentarily nudge a road users brain to register my existence rather than continue to pull out in a dangerous manner, for instance. Whether they really haven't seen me or I am simply not enough of a presence to them, then I will choose to make myself more visible and tangible to them for an instant. A bit like flashing headlights it is noticeable but not dazzling.
It is safer for me that way and I'll continue to do it as a last resort. I've had close calls at roundabouts and junctions with good visible road position (and good wide beam lights) but no ability to direct my light. I've had none that got anywhere near as hairy when I was able to direct my light to influence behaviour.