Maglite 6D works very good for that purpose.
Mike
If some Karen comes along and is harassing you and you shine 13k lumens in her face, she’ll probably be disoriented a bit, and at least won’t be able to look at you while she berates you.
If you do that to someone already bent on hurting you - they’re still going to hurt you, maybe even more.
But, if they don’t know you’re about to shine the light in their eyes and they get a full dose, yes it might give you a split second to flee, or even cover your 45 long slide draw (kidding, use 2 hands on that 45).
I just received this ($64 after code found here). wurkkos dl70
I don’t know if it’s really 13k lumens, but it is shockingly blinding. I do think of it as an option that minimizes escalation.
This conversation has been had several times before. It pretty much breaks down to. The light does nothing but piss off an aggressor while he may have real intent to harm you with fist or a weapon. He sees spots and you bleed not a good exchange of force. The light as a weapon by all means and the good ones; Convoy L2, L6, L7, Thorfire S70 and Sofirn SP70. A little bit smaller the Convoy M3 with stainless steel bezel. Driving cross county means dealing with state and local laws. If it looks like a weapon it may be treated as a weapon, Baseball bat flashlights can get you into trouble. Pepper spray is a good option in most areas. Also sleeping in your car in many areas is considered unlicensed camping. It’s a tool is some areas to keep transients and Gypsies/Travellers out.
It’s often said that a pair of running sneakers is a more effective self defense tool than a knife. nuff said?
I would say that if you want to use a Sofirn with a good flood, high lumen and a bit of heft, go with the sp36pro. If you manage to get an element of surprise and blind them they will not blink that away in a second. It will also give you a good field of view overall. To me it has a decent mix of flood and throw.
That’s the one I’d use for that kind of trip, if you plan on using a Sofirn that is. Otherwise there are lots of other choices. I’d second the Wurkkos TS30 if you want a tactical style. 
Or the Convoy L7 if you want an upgrade to the old maglite 4D or 6D weapon.
Just remember though, do you want to bring a flashlight to a gunfight?
If you stick to public spaces such as Walmart parking lots, or designated rest areas, to sleep in then you’d most likely be ok. If sleeping alone out in the boonies then I’d personally want to have a sidearm with me. Better yet, Motel 6.
Probably don’t use an Anduril light for self-defence. “I’ll scare the attacker off with the strobe mode, oops, I actually ended up in battery check mode, oops, I’ve now accidentally entered config mode…”
Yes, I agree. A flashlight is only good for self defense against another person with a flashlight.
“would a good flashlight’s turbo mode (or strobe mode) effective enough to disorient the attacker, affording me a little time to get away from the situation?”
it is possible,
but not likely.
Walmart parking lots, rest stops and Motel 6s. I’ll take the boonies anytime. 
> I’ll be driving cross country and plan to sleep in my car during the trip.
have a wonderful time
a flashlight is a good idea, so you can see there is nothing there to worry about
tactical has some specific features
the switch is on the tail… usually only one or two modes
it assumes stress and seeks simplicity
otoh, for looking around camp, the SP31 is a great choice… Go for It
google some “where to camp” sites… you will soon figure out the rules of the game
enjoy!
tip… try to rent campsites, they have bathrooms, nice locations, friendly neighbors, and security… no reason to worry about arming yourself for self defense and survival in the boonies…
Just treat yourself to a fun trip. A night in a motel w a TV and Pizza can be fun too…
Live Large! LOL
It’s your funeral, bub.
Chris
If your choices are flashlight or nothing, take the flashlight. If your choices are flashlight or .45 take both. It’s better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6. On the other hand, I hope I never have to trust my fate to 12 people who aren’t smart enough to get out of jury duty…
And congratulations on getting to take a cross country trip. Good to hear you are thinking about safety. If you avoid cities, I think your chances of auto accident are higher than meeting the bogeyman.
I would suggest bringing a flashlight that’s good for reading “Zen and the art of motorcycle maintenance” in your car without killing the car battery.
"is flashlight an effective tool for self defense?"
About as effective as Glock 29 Underwood loaded is for illumination.
i would say no, very few self defense situations would be helped by a flashlight
for many reasons
wle
We all know that blind people are the most effective fighters and shooters.
No one who has a gun is ever harmed because it is so effective.
Yeah, not really, especially if you're seated inside your car and not already out and about where you might blind someone and then slip to the side for whatever purpose you choose at that point. Don't overthink and turn it into fear...my two cents. Just try to pick your spots wisely...paid areas are most often a bit safer than a rest stop or parking lot somewhere. Generally the further you get from People the safer you are...many people think the opposite but really when you get off the beaten path you're usually unlikely to have anyone around.
Keep in mind that if you turbo someone from inside your car, you're going to blind yourself from reflection and/or not be able to see outside the window very well in order to see them.
But I'd say a Sofirn C8F is a nice light to keep around...not too large or heavy, impressive brightness and good control over that. It has a tail switch that is simple on/off and then a side switch that controls your light level/features. If you put the light into high or turbo with the side switch and then turn it Off with the tail switch, it's ready to go into turbo lickety split. Tail switches are the easiest to find in a hurry, and the C8F done this way only needs a simple single click to put out full blast. A "tactical" feature that actually has some real world convenience if you want to use it that way. And it's a great light for general use, too. A little more expensive on Amazon than if you ordered it from them overseas, but you can get it quickly. Smaller lights are more packable and can certainly give a good blast of light, too.
Enjoy the trip...if it's your first time in parts of the country, there's an awful lot of neat things to see and experience! Take the back roads where you can...almost never regret doing that.
But if you hear banjo music in the distance, gtfoot fast, unless you want someone to appreciate your “purty mouf”.