[dustyleary]

That was the same impression I got when I saw the light patterns pictured in the article. I had to slow down a second to "figure out" what I was looking at.

The study claims that "improved lighting could result in other motorists being able to see motorcycles up to 0.8 seconds sooner."

Even this might be related to the fact that you are seeing something new and strange. If something "surprising" happens when I'm driving, my attention is instantly snapped to it, and my foot is at least on the brake pedal, if not actively braking.

With that in mind, I wonder if the benefit from a new lighting design might fade over time as the novelty wore off.

[gojomo]

At least some of the benefit being an expiring 'novelty effect' seems plausible.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Novelty_effect

Maybe randomization of vehicle lighting schemes, across vehicles and time-periods, would provide the most-enduring improvements.

[lallysingh]

https://lightmodehelmets.com/ sticks to the outside of the helmet. Quite visible, but you feel as uncool as a highlighter yellow rain suit.