It's the main reason I've started using them, however more for being seen when entering areas under tree canopies on bright days. I'll try and demonstrate with a street view on one of my rides, which are mostly rural.Psamathe wrote: ↑27 Sep 2021, 4:52pm But on quite bendy country roads where you might be the only cyclist around might they be more effective to highlight your presence to a less attentive driver (I appreciate that responsibility is on drivers to be fully attentive and it's not the responsibility of cyclists to make-up for drivers with their thoughts far away from driving - but they do exist and I'd rather not be the individual who suffers the outcome of such a driver ...).
Ian
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.82910 ... 312!8i6656
When entering this on a sunny day from either end it's like entering a tunnel. As a motorist or cyclist you are looking at a wall of darkness on approach. You just cannot see cyclists unless they have DRL's. You may see a silhouette. It certainly makes me feel less vulnerable.
Recently my elderly father in law ran into the back of a car that had stopped under a canopy of trees on a sunny day. I viewed the dashcam footage, he had five seconds to react but just didn't see it. In his words 'it all went black'. You could argue he shouldn't be on a road but as a cyclist we have no choice in who's driving, who's wearing poundland sunglasses etc.
This is a sad case and may well have been discussed on here. Driver who hit and killed cyclist said victim "seemed the same colour as the shadows"
https://road.cc/content/news/198371-dri ... ore_news=1
Notwithstanding the onus is fully on the motorist to drive to the conditions, I just wonder if this cyclist had a bright rear light it would have differentiated them from the shadows to a driver who clearly wasn't paying proper attention. The coroner Indicated the trees and clothing were factors in the collision, I'm not saying I agree with his assertions as I said the onus should be on the motorist to drive to the conditions but we all know that doesn't happen.