Bikes are required to have lights when people are going to ride them after dark. Cyclists must have white lights on the front and red lights on the back. This helps to make the bike more visible, and it also indicates to drivers which way the bike is traveling. In theory, this should always be with the traffic lanes, but the lights are just one more indication that this is happening correctly.
When you buy a light for your bike, though, you may find that it has a setting on it for a solid light or a strobe light. Which one should you use? Is one going to be better than the other?
Flashing lights offer more visibility
If you’re considering the visibility that you present to a driver, it has been found that flashing lights are much more useful. In one study that looked at these lights being used on a straight road, drivers could see the bike rider with a strobe light from three times as far away as they could see that same rider with a solid light. This could dramatically decrease the odds of being struck by a vehicle.
That being said, strobe lights may not be best for your own visibility. If you’re counting on the light to be able to see where you’re going when you’re riding, then a solid light can be better, much like a car’s headlight. This is why many people will have a solid light on the front and a flashing red light on the back.
Unfortunately, even having the proper lights on your bike can’t always prevent accidents. If you do get injured, you need to know how to seek financial compensation.