Flashing brights when entering an intersection?

[Mscmkr]

I read somewhere where some riders are flashing there brights on and off when they come up to an intersection if there's anyone waiting to turn left. I was wondering if anyone does this and how it has worked out for them? My only thought is, would someone think you are signaling them to go ahead and turn instead of just making sure they see you? I have been looking into any safe riding tips and this was one of them. Any input would be much appreciated.

Ride safe, mscmkr

[2wheelfun]

Seems like a bad idea to me, might be mistaken for the GO AHEAD signal. I'll flash if at a 4 way stop if we arrive at the same time and it means GO AHEAD. I've never seen a signal that means STOP and wait for me to go all the way through an intersection.

[houndguy]

I have the headlight wired so it flashes during the day.  I try not to use it all the time for that reason. 

Usually I'll use it if the sun is at my back or in a area where I know cars may pull out in front of me without much warning.  The best advice I can give you is look for other signs...are the wheels turned?  Are they moving or locked?  Is the cager on a phone and not paying attention?

Sometimes all you need between a "Mother!" and a "ouchie" is a quarter second. 

[Mscmkr]

I have been really researching rider safety and trying to make myself as safe as possible. I tried this out a few times last night when i was coming up to a 4 way intersection with stop lights. I can see that it really lights up the intersection when I flash them. I'm just not sure how people would take this. I know if your driving in a car and someone flashes there brights they are telling you there's a police officer. Now if I could just read peoples minds that would really help.
     I do think they should allow flashing lights on both the front and back of all bikes. Flashing lights are extremely visible! Coming to an intersection or anywhere else. I'm not sure what the law is on something like that but I'm sure it's not legal. Doesn't have to be a colored light just a standard light would be fine.
     
Ride safe everyone, mscmkr

[2wheelfun]

At night to light up an intersection to warn others your near isn't a bad idea at all for cross traffic. I just wouldn't do it head on they might think your messin with them.

[Chris0381]

Flashing your headlights in the USA usually means you are giving up your right of way. I had a lady pull out on me when I did that when I first started to ride. Maybe in Europe and Asia it signals a warning, I dont know.

I try to slow down at major intersections and then shoulder the scooter once I pass through if I can not accelerate fast enough for traffic behind me.

I will occasionally swerve the bike a bit to make the headlight more visible.

[2wheelfun]

I have been really researching rider safety and trying to make myself as safe as possible. I tried this out a few times last night when i was coming up to a 4 way intersection with stop lights. I can see that it really lights up the intersection when I flash them. I'm just not sure how people would take this. I know if your driving in a car and someone flashes there brights they are telling you there's a police officer. Now if I could just read peoples minds that would really help.
     I do think they should allow flashing lights on both the front and back of all bikes. Flashing lights are extremely visible! Coming to an intersection or anywhere else. I'm not sure what the law is on something like that but I'm sure it's not legal. Doesn't have to be a colored light just a standard light would be fine.
     
Ride safe everyone, mscmkr

They make a gadget you hook up to your brake light to flash like 3 times before it goes steady. Saw them on ebay, it does get your attention faster in my book.

[bluesin]

I was taught   (in MSF Course) that you become more visible by NOT appearing as an immobile AND larger object . This can be accomplished by zig-zagging the bike(rider) left to right/right to left a bit as you approach the intersection. I have , also, seen this mentioned in many motorcycle safety videos (Youtube,etc. ) .

I would NOT count on flashing my headlight I leave that on Highbeam to be seen ( except when approaching on-coming traffic at night ) .

[AMAC1680]

Flashing your headlights in the USA usually means you are giving up your right of way. I had a lady pull out on me when I did that when I first started to ride. Maybe in Europe and Asia it signals a warning, I dont know.

I try to slow down at major intersections and then shoulder the scooter once I pass through if I can not accelerate fast enough for traffic behind me.

I will occasionally swerve the bike a bit to make the headlight more visible.

Yepper. If I flashed  (high beams) here I'd be toast in no time.
The best way to be safe is to keep your head in the game. I don't see how creating "unknown" signals helps.

Be Big,
AMAC

[Yager200i]

I've got the headlight modulator, the brake light modulator, an LED backplate behind the license plate that flashes red with the brake light, and reflective rim tape.

In the near future, I'll be putting six flush-mount bolt LEDs in the front, hooked to the headlight such that they're on whether the low beam or high beam is on (and flashing when the high beam flashes). Four of them will face forward for better lighting, and two of them will light the front wheel well, so people know they're looking at a cycle, and not a car.

The headlight modulator has saved me more times than I can count... people in cars just aren't looking for motorcycles or scooters (especially when turning left from a parking lot into traffic, their attention is divided between looking for oncoming traffic from the left, and from the right, and trying to time it so they don't get hit), but when they see that 6500 K headlight flashing, they know something is coming.

The brakelight modulator has saved me a few times, too. I keep an eye on my rear view mirrors, and pull in the brake to flash the brake light a few times... three times now, people have locked them up because they just didn't "see" me until they saw the flashing light. Most people stop well back from me when I flash... I guess they think it's a cop bike, since all the cop bikes have the same thing.

Of course, it helps that the brake light is an LED with a lens on the end of it that directs a very bright red light right into the eyes of approaching drivers. It's bright enough that you can see it reflecting off things a block back. It's got LEDs around the periphery to give a wide dispersal of red light, as well.

[houndguy]

I was thinking about this earlier.   As long as it a consistent flashing there should be no issue.   It's only a brief flash that I can see it being a issue

[Stig / Major Tom]

 I enter a major intersection with waiting left turn cars every day on my work commute....I practice this:

As I move forward following the cars ahead of me, entering the intersection, I move slightly off of the left bumper of the car in front of me and will often turn on my brights in some low lighting conditions.
I want to be able to see that waitng left-turning car clearly around the car in front ot me - and I want him to see me following the car in front of me. Not too much of a gap from the car in front - so the waiting car has no opening to turn on me, but enough gap to be seen clearly.
I never 'flash' my brights - but I will turn them on for some suspect waitng side-street/side-parking lot cars to be seen.
I always cover the brakes and roll slightly off the throttle entering every intersection with waiting cars.
I can accelerate once clear of the possible trouble - i.e. past their ability to hit me.
I do the same in a car - I never bust thoughtlessly through any intersection at speed. I've refused to ride again in a car with people who actually accelerate when approaching an intersection with cars waiting from every quarter. I'm pressing a hole in the floor of their cars......
I have only @ 25,000 miles total of 2-wheel riding experience...and have been down one time, fairly gently,  for a left turning car (senior citizen turning into a grocery store....I gathered up my bike parts and waited on the hood of his car until he came out) many yrs ago.
Stig

[Chris0381]

"I never bust thoughtlessly through any intersection at speed. "

I watch a lot of LiveLeak and that alone seems to be the issue in many of the videos.

[blue]

if you are at a stop.just wave theam on to go.its a lot safer.

[0BARK4322]

Seems like a bad idea to me, might be mistaken for the GO AHEAD signal. I'll flash if at a 4 way stop if we arrive at the same time and it means GO AHEAD. I've never seen a signal that means STOP and wait for me to go all the way through an intersection.

Plus on that