Are daytime bike lights a safety essential? Should you get daytime lights?

I've found some papers suggesting that for bicyclists safety increases by running lights during daytime: Madsen, Ander

Madsen, Andersen & Lahrmann (2012), 'Safety effects of permanent running lights for bicycles: A controlled experiment'

YES! It makes a noticable difference. I ride mainly rural and semi-rural roads and the biggest change in driver behaviour was at junctions - you know the typical "I didn't see you mate" senario. That's the flashing front light, the rear light is less decisive. I'd say the the AVERAGE passing distance increased, but it also increased punishment passes

"Trend Spotting: Should we all be using lights in the daytime?"

No!

I do, but then it is a dynamo set up so I'm actually always training with the increased drag....

On a similar vein though whilst attending a speed awareness course (I hold my hands up I was being naughty in a motor vehicle - no excuse) the instructors mentioned that the number of incidents involving motorcyclists being pulled out on has increased since cars began using daytime running lights as motorcyclists are no longer standing out amoungst the crowd.

Company that sells lights wants us to use lights...

That being said, I am generally using daytime lights, but largely because in these days of daytime running lights on everything else on the road, we are even less visible top those that don't look

Fuck me , seriously,,,lights In daylight . What about  pedestrians,cars , fucking rowing boats . Roller bladers ,small woodland creatures and how about everyone leaves there lights on at home in daylight all the time. and every council leaves there street lights on .lets not forget the transgenders  do they have to have lights . 

Are some of you fucking blind .  It’s daytime if you can’t fucking see go and get your eyes tested . 

Don’t even entertain  this .  Let’s waste more fucking energy when we have every MSM outlet telling us the world is going to end and we need to conserve energy ( lying cunts)   See the hypocrisy.its all about the Ker ching . 

I live in Iceland ,it’s daylight 24 hours a day “ sell me your lights” “ it’s what the cool cyclists do “ 

This cutting diet is killing me . Ha ha 

The problem with daytime lights, like hi-vis and helmets, is that drivers use their non-use to deflect from poor driving. "Yes, I may have pulled out on you without looking but...look...you're not wearing a helmet....or hi-vis.....your lights are off.....it's your fault!". 

If you want to run your lights all day, well, that's up to you. Personally, I only run them in poor light conditions during my commute. Same goes for dressing up like a banana and wearing a thin plastic hat. Been there, done that, doesn't make any difference. If they ain't looking they ain't looking. Want to be safe(r)? Concentrate 100% of the time, look everywhere, don't ride in the gutter, keep away from car doors and heavy vehicles, and treat all other road users, including pedestrians and, regrettably, some people on bicycles, as idiots who will try to kill you.  Works for me.  Take care.

Yes...why not???? 

The lights today a light and you can recharge them.

They give the drive a "better chance" (WTF LOL) of seeing you....YES THEY SHOULD LOOK WHERE THEY ARE GOING ANYWAY, most do....but as we know, a lot do not!

If the driver then still does not see you and hits you.  Then it is clear they were not paying attention.....I know if they hit you there were not paying attention lights or no lights.....but those F....ing lawyers ....well, they are worse than the driver that hit you!!!!!  Then there is the judge...need I say more?

Just pop light weight lights on....is it worth get seriously injuried or worse for that one hit not being a scary very near miss? 

The main reason why I don't run them in daytime is that I simply don't want to deal with the hassle of constant recharges -all the lights promise limitless autonomy, until you actually use them a couple of months, that is- remembering putting the light back on the bike etc. 

I already wear a fluo helmet, if they don't see that then me thinks I'm screwed anyway.   

Oh, leaving very early and riding home early in the afternoon when traffic is low also helps.  So does making a detour over cycle paths where motorized traffic is prohibited and picking a route with cycle paths that are separate from the motor traffic.  Result:  tranquility, mostly.  And a commute that's double the shortest possible distance but the latter has me ride on a very busy road without bicycle path.

My anecdotal evidence of wearing hi vis is that close passes become more frequent. I don’t see that lights in daylight will make much difference to that. I think visibility on the road by road positioning, and sympathetic riding, is far more effective.

I run a Garmin Varia2 radar rear light which gives me warning of a cars approach and flashes as they get close.

close passes have reduced and I’m much more aware of what’s behind me.

wouldn’t enjoy riding without it now...... ok I would but I would miss it!

Ditto to no.
Use of common sense should be encouraged.
Using bicycle lanes here, there is much less need, we are spaced from traffic. If on shared roads, particularly in heavy traffic or hilly narrow roads with lots of corners and shade then they'd reduce reactions required by motorists significantly..
Here's to hoping we ain't scumbags when battery discarding becomes. Us Australians helped destroy a beautiful island because we paid rubbish money to landfill a foreign land. Out of sight out of mind kind of thing.
Toxic landfills leach common own Earth.
Recycling has improved.. Batteries are still toxic.
Common sense helps timing of use.
Same with helmets.. But aye. Mate thought I was dead, German Shepard ripped skin off him as he carried me inside and dumped me on mums couch and legged it. Worn a helmet since. Lol. But wouldn't bother if going to visit a near friend if not risking an expiation.

Oh, the irony...

Regurgitated article from 4 years ago (!) uses the title "Trend Spotting"

I use day time front and rear lights. Some comments suggest cars with day time running lights don't stand out if and when every other car is using them too- I don't find this to be the case, especially when it's incredibly sunny out and you go through a shaded section of trees that almost block out all the sun- the contrast from light to dark can leave you as a cyclist being not seen. Having lights on in these shaded areas gives me confidence- and i notice in these conditions the cars with day time running lights. I have to say that Exposure and Cateye with their pulse settings really stand out in the day and the night- solid beam with bright pulse. I recommend them highly above other lights that don't have this setting. Also recommend an air horn! Every pedestrian stops dead when they hear that- and car drivers can't miss the 115Db. So if you survive being hit by a car and get into an argument after using a Cateye with 1200 lumen blast, 2 rear day time lights and an air horn- there's no excuse.

I do not do much night-time riding this time of year, but I cannot travel without lights, sometimes things get late and dark.  They are not very heavy these days.  So, I put them on flash if it's sunny, or on (low on the front) if it's particularly grotty.  I thought it was a good idea to keep the batteries being used and recharged every so often anyway, better than leaving them for many months sitting about.

Lots of valid points

A wide range of thoughts put forward in here and all seem relevant.  As a cyclist/driver we should all be responsible for our actions when out on the open road but things do happen and accidents are unfortunately inevitable.  As a cyclist we are more vulnerable than most and I personally don’t see the harm of making myself more visible whilst I’m cycling around. So if buying lights MAY save my life or prevent injury or worse making a laughing stock of myself as I lay on the floor like an upturned turtle, surely this is a small price to pay.

No - not when it's bright and sunny. All but the brightest lights will not be seen and if a driver hasn't seen you in those conditions they wouldn't with lights.

Bright clothing in daytime more important = creates a larger, more visable area than lights do. See above “Aviation research shows that contrast is the single most important factor in determining the likelihood of acquiring an object visually" "On the ground, dark coloured vehicles or clothing will result in reduced contrast against most usual backgrounds, and this is why high visibility clothing (for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) and/or bright lights are so important, in the daytime"

We have fashion victim roadies here who wear all black but lights at both ends thinking that'll make them visable. Bright clothing but no lights is more visable.

See net article called "The theory of big" too. Bigger, brighter area.

In the day time I ride with a Fly6 with the light on the lowest setting. I only have the Fly6 for the video (excellent).

In low light, grey conditions and rain I now ride with lights and think it's a good idea for all riders. A good light will cut through the gloom

Marginal Gains, I run front and rear daylights + visible clothing if I have it, don't ride at night

I use a LED rear flashing light day or night. There is no argument not to in my opinion. Be bright be seen. All assists in an insurance claim

Please no keyboard warriors or trolls to comment thank you.

As a motorcyclist as well as a very keen cyclist I understand the need to be seen. Using lights night and day is a no brainer to me. We as cyclist need to understand this. I'm not saying we need dayglo clothing but a front and rear light helps keep us safer. Surely it makes sense. I don't understand those who say why should I use lights in the daytime, it's down to other road users to look out for us. My motto is "be seen be safe"