Out of the hundred lights that I bought since 2006, about 16 had some other mode. I have no control of the mode sos/strobe: likely, I will never use it, likely I will never even imagine I will ever use it.. But, in a pinch any non steady mode could save a life. I do not buy the distressing aspect. After all, people willingly get into strobe situations when they go into bars and party. it is like the person that spends all day staring at a computer screen, working outside, or television then complains they're going to drive off the side of the road because somebody has blue tinted lights on their car.
This is true; people willingly get into strobe situations - but that's not what we're talking about. We're talking about an individual in a crowd. At the very least, you're being extremely rude to every other person in your vicinity, and sometimes crowds don't respond well to individuals upsetting the crowd. I'm not saying what will happen, but trying to help you see what
could happen. Does that make sense?
As for 'not buying the distressing aspect': what you do or don't believe doesn't matter much to the people you're strobing. In my experience nearly 100% of the people that I've demonstrated strobe for get extremely agitated, even knowing that it's coming. Again, I'm not saying what will or won't happen, but rather sharing my first-hand experience with the forum.
My personal opinion is that strobing a crowd is extremely rude, has the potential to turn ugly, and I can easily see a person getting charged by police for 'public disturbance' or something along those lines for doing so. You're free to have your own opinion, my friend.
it seems to me like this is a situation much like a radio in your car. If it becomes a problem you request the person turn off the radio. You don't go around arresting everybody using a radio to require assistance.
I'm sorry, but I don't think that analogy fits whatsoever. Perhaps a bullhorn would be a better one? Can you see how using a bullhorn in a crowd for you (an individual) to find your family (a small group of people) in a large crowd of people (that are there with nothing to do with you whatsoever) may return a sub-optimal result?
You should be mindful of breaking down in trying to save myself from getting hit by an oncoming driver or having some unforeseen event where you will be relying on this for your livelihood.
I completely agree that roadside situations are inherently dangerous and you would do well to help make yourself visible, but as another forum member said in another thread, '
Disorienting the driver barreling towards you is not the way to go about this!!!' A flare, a glowstick, a diffuser-equipped flashlight, a blinking flashlight, your vehicle's own blinking hazard lights (that is what they're there for, LOL), even just a flashlight on the road - all of these are much better solutions than strobing an oncoming driver. Your vehicle's built-in reflectors would be better than strobing. Strobing is just a
bad, bad idea on the road; and I have no doubt whatsoever that you could face police charges for that - again, not saying that you will, but that you
could.