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Please see below
for some reviews
and testimonials
about the Safe Turn Indicator:
Safe Turn: the fully-automatic indicator for
cyclists
Environmental and health factors have been a
catalyst for increased numbers of cyclists in metropolitan cities
with bike sales exceeding that of cars in places like Australia in
recent times. With more recreational and commuter cyclists sharing
the roads with automobiles it follows that rider safety - and
technology that enhances it - is more important than ever. The Safe
Turn Indicator is a small, portable, automatic bicycle light
indicator for your glove or wrist that alerts drivers and other
cyclist that you are about to turn.
The compact (40 mm/1.6 in) and lightweight
(19g/0.67oz) Safe Turn consists of three LEDs that flash in a
similar fashion to a vehicle/motorbike indicator and emit the same
orange light. Using an internal tilt switch to detect the change in
angle rather than motion-detection, the product differentiates
itself from other indicators on the market by virtue of its ability
to automatically switch on when an arm is raised to execute a normal
hand signal for turning and remain flashing until the arm drops back
down.
The convenience of automatic functioning is
undeniable but the obvious pitfall is the possibility of the device
turning on when you scratch your nose or reach for your drink
bottle. To circumvent this problem the inventors have built-in
several functions to the Safe Turn's custom chip to avoid unwanted
blinking. These include an electronic 'Delayed Start' feature that
only allows the device to start blinking when it is in position for
more than 200 milliseconds, therefore minimizing the likelihood of
blinking due to vibration caused by bumps in the road or momentary
changes in hand position.
There's also a mechanical user-adjustment
consisting of a self-locking mechanism inside the base of the device
that can be changed at 15 degree intervals to accommodate individual
riding styles and handlebar types. A “Delayed Off” feature means it
doesn’t not automatically switch off when you are in the middle of
turning and drop your arm. Instead, it will keep blinking for 1
second to allow all cars to see it. Users can also manually switch
the indicator off by pressing the orange top so that it wont blink
in any position.
Designed to be visible from a wide range of
angles, the LEDs have in-built water-clear lenses to direct the
light beams which can be seen from up to 800 metres distance or
more. A light-dispersing grid is incorporated into the top cover
which also has a high profile so that it is still visible when
viewed side-on. The LEDs have a very long life (100,000 hours of
continuous lighting) which effectively means that they should never
burn out and the two A76 batteries that power the device should
provide about 2 years for that average day commuter according to
Safe Turn.
To cope with the elements Safe Turn is
water-resistant - though not water-proof - with rubber seals
protecting the unit from spray but not complete submersion or
constant heavy rain.
The Indicator can be used on either hand and
attached to the wristband provided with the device or on to a
bicycle glove. Retailing for AUD$19.95 (around USD$17 at time of
publication), the Safe Turn Indicator is available in Australia,
Japan and online. The Melbourne-based (a city of around
three-million people that saw 268 serious and seven fatal bicycle
accidents - 57% of which were caused by collision with a vehicle -
in 2005 alone) creators have a patent pending and are currently
looking for an overseas distributor to take the product worldwide.
productdose.com
I was walking on
the sidewalk Saturday night when a cyclist zipped past me, not
uttering a single word of warning that he was coming up behind me.
Unfortunately, there was a couple coming around the corner ahead of
him who didn’t see him and he clipped his handlebar on the girl’s
purse. Next thing we know the guy goes ass over teakettle across the
handlebars and tumbles into a heap on the ground. He hops up, grabs
his arm and does an odd pantomime as if his arm is broken in several
places. But when the couple and I approach to ask if he’s okay he
ignores us. He picks up his bike and limps off for a block before
hopping back on and riding away. I’m all for cycling and bike safety
but this guy had no one to blame but himself for riding on the
sidewalk. Cyclists can do a lot to make their rides safer for
themselves. This Safe Turn Indicator is an Australian invention. It
is a small, portable, automatic bicycle light indicator that easily
clips to a wristband. When your hand is raised to indicate a turn,
the internal tilt switch detects the change in the position and the
orange light starts to blink, alerting drivers and other bicyclists
that you’re about to make a turn.
Gainesville
Times
By Tim
Thompson
If you’re a
bicyclist, here’s a really cool new gadget for you. It’s called the
“Safe Turn.” It’s a bright light that attaches with a strap to your
left wrist. When you move your arm to signal either a left or right
turn, the light automatically senses the movement and begins
blinking to notify nearby cars. The light has a computer chip built
into it that senses your arm movement and knows when you’re
signaling. The chip is also programmed to ignore other
“nonsignaling” arm movements. You can only get the device online at
www.safeturn.com and it costs $18.
offsprung.com
By G. Xavier
Riding a bike in
Boston is a very life-affirming activity: when I’m finished with
each ride, I feel the warm, pleasant feeling of cheating Death. My
usual death-defying activity
is attempting a left-hand turn. I signal well before the turn, and
the car behind me accelerates and passes me on the left, occupying
the space where I’d planned to turn into. The action is finished
with some vigorous fist-shaking.
Safe Turn has an
awesome gadget that will help identify cyclists’ turning intentions.
Sensors on the device will trigger the LEDs to blink whenever your
arm is raised.
With
a good seven years of bike commuting I’ve noticed a lot of cyclists
who don’t
signal, and most drivers don’t recognize the signals that they’re
seeing, so the Safe Turn requires a little driver ed.
Also, it’ll go
off accidentally whenever I’m flipping people off.
$20AUD
(Australian Dingoes), which translates to about 18 Greenbacks.
tubaduba.com
Big things come in
small packages, and the
Safe Turn
Indicator Light is one of those packages. Here in the states it is
getting harder and harder to find safe places to ride your bike, the
roadways are getting packed with motorist that don't want to share
the road, in a hurry, and truly don't understand why we ride bikes.
Making it easier
for people who commute or are training, this product is great.
Indicator for Cyclists :
Safe Turn
Whilst out
cycling, safety should be at the front of our minds, we all know
that we should wear a helmet and that our bicycles should have
lights on to show those
around us that we are there especially if we are on the road, but as
a driver one thing I notice is
that you can never quite tell if a cyclist is going to turn.
The Safe Turn can
help people to be even more aware where cyclists are going on their
journey. It measures 40mm (1.6”) and weighs 19g (0.67 oz), is works
in a similar way to an indicator on a car or motorbike and has the
same orange light. It has an internal tilt switch which detects the
change in angle rather than motion. It will automatically switch on
when your arm is raised in the normal hand signal maneuver and will
stay flashing till you put your arm back on the handlebars.
gadgetspalace.com
Safe Turn
Keeps Cyclists From Getting Killed
Basically, Safe
Turn is a wrist mounted indicator light that automatically flickers
to life whenever a cyclist raises his/her arm to signal a turn. In
order to prevent the device from lighting during normal actions,
like reaching for a water bottle or scratching the nose or ass, the
device incorporates a “delayed start” feature that only allows the
light to turn on if the user’s arm has been in position for more
than 200 milliseconds.
If you are one of
the few cyclists out there that is courteous enough to use hand
signals on the road, the Safe Turn may be a useful device—although
it looks as though the guy in the picture may have waited a little
too long. Available for $18.
getoutdoors.com
Safe
Turn Bicycle Indicator Light
 The more you can
do to make
the fossil fuelers
see you out on the road,
the better. Safe Turn increase your visibility with turn signals
secured on your wrist via a wristband or it clips to your glove.
When your raise your hand to turn, the tilt switch detects the
change in position and the light begins to blink. Kinda see this
becoming big with the club kids, no?
Ride On
Magazine by Bicycle Victoria
Australian Cyclist
|
Trevor Creighton
with one good turn
The Safe Turn
Indicator is both the product name and a fair description of a
new Australian invention. It is, according to the manufacturer
Safe Turn, a small, portable, automatic bicycle light indicator
that clips either to the wristband supplied with the light or to
your own glove. Once the indicator is activated - a power-saving
feature which is accessed simply by pressing on the reflector -
all that's required of the rider is to adjust a tilt-sensing
switch built into the unit, then ride and signal in the usual
way. As long as the tilt switch has been correctly tuned, the
motion of raising the rider's arm is enough to set the unit's
three bright LEDs flashing. |
 |
And if that's not enough, it
actually works. The set-up phase is a tiny bit fiddly and not
aided by clear but rather brief instructions, but it isn't
rocket science. The Indicator comes with batteries installed.
Once out of the packaging it can be placed onto your wrist. I
started out with the wrist band supplied with the product but
soon found that the fastening strap on the back of my right
glove was more convenient and more secure. Adjustment of the
flashing mechanism requires turning the unit on, then raising
your arm into the turn signalling position to see whether or not
this activates the flashing mechanism. If not, lower your arm
and rotate the Indicator's reflector one click (about 15 degrees
clockwise) and repeat the process until the flasher starts
whenever your arm is raised in the turn position. The flasher
should self-cancel a few seconds after being returned to the
bars.
The technology looks so simple
that it begs the question, "why didn't I think of that?" The
switch mechanism senses the difference in orientation between
hand positions when on the bars and when raised. Two tiny
(replaceable) A67 camera-type batteries provide the power to
activate the bright LEDs and there is presumably some simple
electronics to make them flash in quick bursts. Along with
decades of computer miniaturisation, the LEDs are really the
heart of such a simple, lightweight and efficient device.
I have been doing evening
commutes through Canberra's streets for a couple of weeks now
and have come to look very fondly upon my Safe Turn. I am only
using one - on my right wrist at the moment. I have always felt
vulnerable to a "rear-ender" sitting in the middle of the road
waiting to turn right: a single red light (or even multiples) on
the rear of the bike can be difficult for drivers to interpret
at the best of times - let alone when they're stationary in an
unexpected position. Research seems to indicate that diagonal
lighting patterns are the most legible for night-time
illumination and the combination of good rear lights with a
flashing Safe Turn Indicator seems to me to give a cyclist a
much better chance of not only being seen, but of her/his
intention being read from behind.
The Safe Turn Indicator gets a
couple of demerit points from me: I think it needs a more
positive fastening system as it can slip from a glove strap or
wristband too easily, and it isn't the sturdiest object in the
world. But I'm happy to give it full marks for a product long
overdue. I felt safer at night and recommend any evening road
user to strongly consider this modest investment.
I have
just received some (2) flashing indicator lights from Safe Turn
Bicycle Indicator Light, they are an Australian company, ordered
on Thurs.31 Jan 08 arrived 4th Feb. today, excellent service!
The
lights seem very good & are very bright, but I haven't time to
try them out properly yet.
They
charged me £3.66 p+p from Melbourne, superb! A local camera shop
wants to charge me £3.99 to deliver a 55mm dia. U.V. filter for
my camera over about 25 miles
Derrick
- UK (via blog)
SafeTurn beats all, so far.
Wow,
I'm a SafeTurn fan now. Much better than my reflective cuff. It
clips securely to my watchband and really does work as advertised.
The closest thing to a bona fide turn signal I've come across yet,
and quite bright, even attracts attention in daylight.
N Nelson, Los Angeles, CA (via blog)
I am
sure that they will be a hit for the Bike Commuters.
T M
Marin, California (via e-mail)
It
worked a treat. Strongly recommended for everyone who's commuting
and likes to be visible.
Fiona C., Sydney,
Australia (via blog)
This is quite a fascinating
invention. Technology knows no bounds and its applications
seem to be almost without end. You invent 'em and I use 'em!
Joe H.L., Indianapolis,
Indiana (via e-mail)
The new indicator is working
very well It is very practical in Tokyo, where there are so many
cars.
Chisumi-san, Tokyo, Japan (via
e-mail)
Riding at night you can never have enough lighting. This is just
fantastic.
Julia
S,
Melbourne, Australia (via e-mail)
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