Bontrager announces new rear light - specifically designed for daytime use

Well I have one of these for mostly semi-rural roads in the daytime and it's a great light, you can see it from a huge distance and I have noticed cars mostly giving me a wider berth and hesitating behind me rather than just forcing their way past and I seem to be getting less close passes. A cheap smart light just isn't bright enough for the daytime. It also has a really good adjustable mount and a great saddlebag clip rather than the usual crappy ones that bounce off. Any brighter than this would be too bright, I think. My only complaint is that I can't see how the light can possibly be removed from the clip bracket if I ever want to attach it to the seatpost.

'f Bontrager were in the business of driver education, then I'm sure they'd be pouring money into whatever R&D would be needed to produce courses that would teach drivers to pay attention... But they're not, they're in the business of making cycling accessories, so they're pouring money into an element of the problem that they can assist with.'

They're pouring money into something which will make them more money, not into solving a problem.

If Bontrager were in the business of driver education, then I'm sure they'd be pouring money into whatever R&D would be needed to produce courses that would teach drivers to pay attention... But they're not, they're in the business of making cycling accessories, so they're pouring money into an element of the problem that they can assist with. How big that element is doesn't really matter, as the other elements of the problem are not really within their remit.

Yeah, fuck Bontrager! How dare they try to design a solution to a danger that is much smaller than another danger.

They remind me of those asshole medical professionals that are trying to cure HIV. Don't they know that its an infinitely smaller danger than the very real cardiovascular dangers that cause the vast majority of deaths. Grrrrrr. Me so mad. Grrr. etc.

First of all unless this light has a replaceable battery (there is no mention of one in the specification - I checked), this light and like all USB rechargeable lights, has a predetermined maximum-life, I believe this is likely around two to three years. Lithium-ion technology batteries are no exception because they age (largely irrespective of how they're used), after which the light's operating time per charge will decline appreciably. Then it's time to buy a new light. Even though the rest of the light should be working perfectly.
Secondly, 65 Lumens is not remotely bright-enough for daytime use. I believe it will be barely noticeable on a sunny day. Without knowing the beam geometry, it's impossible to know whether it would be illegal at night, except if it dazzles - which is always illegal.
It will likely be useful in fog.
At sunset and sunrise - cannot tell.
It's likely better than nothing. But beware. If you care for the environment - do not buy.

I run a light that is over twelve times as bright as this (over 800 Lumens on maximum) and it's still not bright-enough on a sunny day, but it has a separate battery pack and it was a lot more expensive than this light.

I have no affiliation with any bicycle light manufacturers or suppliers or the bicycle industry apart from as a user of their products.

This lot couldn't even keep on the road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs0iwz3NEC0

Would anything protect cyclists from their driving?

New Product! I'm as disgusted as the lot above.

Who do these manufacturers think they are?

I rather doubt it'll do much about the 'sun's too low' rear enders, unless it's also capable of cleaning the rear of drivers' windscreens as they approach..

I have two red frog lights on the back of my bike, they fit on any of my bikes and can be switched from bike to bike in seconds. I've had them two years and I use them in flashing mode pretty much daily and haven't had to change the batteries yet. Total cost from Chinese eBay site, £5.
Having been knocked off by someone turning right across my path whilst in a day glow jacket white flashing and constant lights on the front of my bike it is my opinion that it makes no difference, if the driver doesn't look then they'll never see you!!
Imo too many people cyclists, drivers and pedestrians alike go rushing around completely oblivious to their surroundings. It's endemic of today's society.

I have two red frog lights on the back of my bike, they fit on any of my bikes and can be switched from bike to bike in seconds. I've had them two years and I use them in flashing mode pretty much daily and haven't had to change the batteries yet. Total cost from Chinese eBay site, £5.
Having been knocked off by someone turning right across my path whilst in a day glow jacket white flashing and constant lights on the front of my bike it is my opinion that it makes no difference, if the driver doesn't look then they'll never see you!!
Imo too many people cyclists, drivers and pedestrians alike go rushing around completely oblivious to their surroundings. It's endemic of today's society.

Here's my daytime light;
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005GPLYHW/ref=pd_aw_sbs_sg_1?refRID=0DY...

Cost me 10 quid, the price seems to have gone up a little. Batteries last ages and if you look directly at it in daylight it will still burn out your retinas. I think you're paying 30 quid for the Bontrager name.

you could ride around with a mobile signal jammer. Although it may have the opposite effect and cause the idiot to spend longer on the phone trying to get the thing to work.

http://www.jammer4uk.com/mini-portable-cellphone-jammer-j260apro-p-22.ht...

The article doesn't say the rear light will eliminate all cycle accidents! It clearly states its purpose is in helping to prevent those 40% of accidents cyclists suffer from being hit from behind. How any rear light would help prevent cars not giving way at roundabouts is beyond me and I'd image most cycle light manufactures. As a cyclist, you're very much responsible for your own safety.

Sounds like a good product
Last weekend a chap pasted me climbing up our local hill climb, you normally notice the bike when someone passes you but on this occasion I noticed he had his back light switched on. He was a lot move visible as he disappeared into the distance so I think I will be getting one of these lights when I can find a local bike shop stopping the product .

Are we solving the wrong problem?

Being seen in the daytime is dependent on the driver in the first instance having her or her eyes on the road, not on a hand-held device, as was the case with Daniel Squire's death.

I think far more casualties will be avoided by finding a way to stop drivers from using a mobile phone behind the wheel.

I'm in - mostly would use for rural daytime riding on lanes where you are often in/out of deep shade. Drivers are usually courteous but sometimes school run maniacs just too preoccupied. No roundabouts, left/right turners I will see/hear coming. So has its applications

Whilst it is perfectly reasonable to want to run as bright a rear light as possible either during the day to warn cars or at night when riding on unlit country roads, I hate being stuck behind someone who is running a high output rear light at night during my urban commute. I find it distracting and obscures my vision of the road (and thus traffic) ahead. I've been in situations where up close I can't look straight ahead due to the brightness of a rear light. In this sense, I think powerful rear lights on bicycles can be dangerous (or just very annoying) for other cyclists. From an engineering perspective I'm not sure what the solution is. From a personal PoV I either overtake or drop back, but still blindingly powerful rear lights are imo a pain in ****.

Also, I'm in agreement with the comments about the nature of accidents I see. Usually, there from drivers (or cyclists) not looking or proceeding without appropriate caution. A massively bright light won't help in this cases. I have had near misses and been hit from behind so I'm not saying don't run a rear light.

Pretty sure the main cause of death for cyclists in the US is still from being hit from behind so seems like a good idea if it works.

I agree with you on that Halfwheeler but I'm still a firm believer in good rear light for daytime riding. I run an 80 lumen See.Sense whenever I go out on the bike. Some drivers are such morons that I feel that everything I do helps.

Main dangers for cyclists;

1. Cars overtaking and immediately turning left.

2. Cars turning right across the carriageway in front of oncoming cyclists.

3. Cars not giving way at roundabouts.

4. Cars passing too close to cyclists out of pure spite/impatience/frustration (delete as appropriate).

This light would not be worth a flying fuck in any of these situations.