I am making a light and wondering what blinking, strobing, or flashing rate is the most eye catching. 10/sec?

Question

I plan on making an LED bike light to help alert cars and make myself more visible during the early morning or twilight when people are not quite awake, or not paying attention as well. I have to ride in early to be on time for work and don't feel like spending $100-500 on a commercial light when I can build one of my own for $20. Of course the flashing rate has to be legal and I don't want to cause seizures either. I have super bright LEDs already picked out in both White and Blueish Green taking advantage of the Rods and Cones sensitivity within the eye, now I just want to get drivers attention via the flashing of the lights but want the optimum flash rate... Data behind your answer is always helpful. Thanks!

Answer 1

Strobe lights and epilepsy

Strobe lighting can trigger seizures in photosensitive epilepsy. Thus, most strobe lights on sale to the public are factory-limited to about 10-12 flashes per second in their internal oscillators, although externally triggered strobe lights will often flash as frequently as possible. At a frequency of 10 Hz, 65% of affected people are still at risk. The British Health and Safety Executive recommend that a net flash rate for a bank of strobe lights does not exceed 5 flashes per second, at which only 5% of photosensitive epileptics are at risk. It also recommends that no strobing effect continue for more than 30 seconds due to the potential for discomfort and disorientation.

Answer 2

Persistance of vision begins somewhere around 24 Hz.  You want it obviously less than that.  If you desire to be noticed, than why chose just one rep rate?  Consider at least two light sources at different frequencies.  I might start with 5 and 10 Hz and ask others for their percieved photometric response. (which is most eye catching).