Several times in recent weeks I have been temporarily blinded whilst driving due to the strength of lights used by a cyclist coming towards me. And with a number of cyclist now wrongly choosing to wear the lights on their heads it is worse because if they turn their head towards you... FLASH!
And the bright, fast flashing rate of some of the other lights is an outright distraction to other road users!
From the NZTA website:
When considering lights it is important to be mindful that:
- Headlights should be attached to handlebars and pointing down.
- Your lights can be a hazard if used incorrectly. You must not use cycle lighting equipment in such a way that it dazzles, confuses, or distracts so as to endanger the safety of other road users.
So, if you are a cyclist wearing your light on your head, please move it down to the handlebars and point it downwards.
If you are a cyclist with a stupidly strong, or ridiculously distracting flashing light - please consider changing it. I am sure you guys don't like oncoming cars with their lights on full.
Case and point was the cyclist I saw 3 nights ago who was wearing a light on his head that was so strong it lit the entire 3-storey face of the building he was passing!!