Flashing Lights and Bright Jerseys: Do They Really Make Cyclists Safer?
Out on the road, especially during long solo rides, I’ve often wondered what really catches a driver’s eye. Is it the rhythmic flash of a rear light? The highlighter-yellow jersey flapping in the wind? Or is it just dumb luck that I’m seen and not sideswiped? Cyclists have long been told to "make yourself visible," and for good reason. Unlike the 2-ton metal boxes that dominate our roadways, we are small, quiet, and easily overlooked. But does the growing arsenal of visibility tools we strap on — from neon kits to strobe lights — actually make us safer? Let’s break it down. The Power of the Flash Flashing rear lights — especially during the day — are now almost standard on serious cyclists’ rigs. And for good reason. Studies have shown that a flashing rear light during daylight hours can reduce the chance of a collision by as much as 19%. It cuts through visual clutter in a way a static object simply can’t. Think of it like a cyclist waving their hand in the visual periphery ...
