Slow Moving Vehicle triangle reflector sign used as driveway marker?

[dave1949]

I have to agree with motownbrowne that sometimes strobes are just too powerful. They force your eyes to try to adjust from brilliant to dark too much resulting in reduced visual ability at night and they take away depth perception.

Night vision often declines as we age, I know mine has. When I approach a police cruiser with a giant flashing light bar at night, I can't see anything well but that light bar. It's difficult to see with certainty that there is a clear lane to use, or is there something or somebody I am supposed to be avoiding?

Another example is a local crosswalk with flashing amber lights so bright they obliterate my ability to see people who may be in the crosswalk--which is illuminated less than the brightness of the warning flashers--meaning they are in a relative shadow.

I've inherited some of the night vision issues from my Mom. She has avoided driving at night for many years now (she's 88) and I suppose I will do the same.

 

[oosik]

Hey - I would much rather see the strobe on a bicycle than nothing at all and have an accident. You would be surprised how may joggers, walkers & bikers wear black or dark clothing and no reflective stripes at night.

Maybe they should have a slow moving vehicle reflective triangle pasted on their hinney.

 

[PILOON]

Judging by the bicycles I see on the roads around here no laws apply to them, lighting, traffic signs or pedestrian crosswalks.
Mobile phones and texting seems to be allowed as well, that is for those that are not connected to I-pods.

 

[kco]

I am another who appreciates cyclists who use strobes and high-reflective gear. Our rural roads have no shoulders and are popular with town cyclists. There are often groups of a dozen or so who go on loop tours around our quiet, winding roads.

As far as I know they are expected to operate under the same traffic laws as motorists. Of course they often don't do that. It can be a bit frustrating to get stuck behind them on a winding stretch where it is unsafe to pass, but they have as much right to the road as the rest of us. And they usually will pull into single file if it is safe to do so and they are sure there is no on-coming traffic.

 

[Sodo]

The road I use to get home (in Seattle) is used by a lot of bicycle commuters, and its been that way for years. A normal headlight and a red taillight are prudent, and visible to me. Reflective gear is good too, but not too much.

These new super-bright, emergency flashing strobes (front white and rear red) are dangerous to everyone around, including the cyclist. And even moreso when the cyclists are close together or riding abreast. If you feel that blinding drivers somehow increases your safety, maybe you should think again about what is your ultimate goal. To be seen, or to be safe. When you overdo it you don't get both. Maybe get in a car sometime on a dark rainy night and witness it yourself.

Think of this normal situation. Cyclist or pedestrian, with normal (or no) lights on the left. A group on the right with emergency flashers. The guy on the left is in a dangerous situation.

Every driver only has so much attention to spread around. It's not fair for cyclists to take it all for themselves.

 

[Threepoint]

Today on the way home I counted four SMV signs used as driveway markers. I feel kind of annoyed at this, especially on a winding road at night. I think there is an unlighted tractor on the road when I see one.

Is it common in your area? How do you feel about it?

Bruce

View attachment 415415

Bruce, I'd say you're right to be annoyed! Using SMV signs for that purpose is illegal in Virginia. https://vacode.org/46.2-1081/ See para. D. My guess is that folks see them in the hardware store or TSC and think "Hey, that'd make a great driveway marker," without thinking through the potential consequences.

 

[Sodo]

My guess is that folks see them in the hardware store or TSC and think "Hey, that'd make a great driveway marker," without thinking through the potential consequences.

Or they see the neighbor doing it.

 

[Clay45]

I can see where they would make a great driveway marker. I think I'd let them be. They may be within their rights but the dang cyclists choking up the roads is a nuisance and by default if hit by a moving car the driver will be presumed guilty of something without strong evidence to the contrary.

Rights are wonderful things when used with respect towards others.

 

[mjarrels]

I have had one on my mailbox for probably 15 years, never been charged by Va. law enforcement and mailbox has never been hit by a snow plow!

mark

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm not sure what the laws about the triangles are in this state, but a lot of truckers use the on the end of their loads of logs. I must have at least 6 that I've picked up off the road.

I've never had a problem with the strobed cyclists, but there aren't many people riding them around here and most have no lights whatsoever. Dave's complaint about the police strobe isn't the first I've heard; the last time was when I happened to have my CB on while passing a state trooper at a traffic stop and the trucker behind me was complaining that the strobe had blinded him.