Lights On All The Time

Bike lights

OldnSlo wrote:

do it. if you doubt it ask a motorcyclist why their lights are always on.

…because on my BMW motorbike I can’t turn them off!

Some EU law or something.

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Simon E wrote:

When a vehicle has lights on it makes any in front or behind without harder to see.

Every vehicle that runs with sidelights/LED/DRLs in the daytime is furthering the idea that you have to have lights on to be seen, so all the sheeple do the same. Baaaa! This means drivers to look only for lights, not other vehicles or people.

Lights are NOT needed in daylight, whether on bikes, motorbikes or cars. Sadly, that doesn’t stop stupid people using them.

IIRC motorcycles started being sold with always-on headlights from around 2004. This became a legal requirement in other markets and the manufacturers didn’t want to stock and fit different switchgear for the various markets.

As an experienced motorcyclist I disagree, having lights on means you get noticed but the downfall and this was proven, lights disrupt the perception of approach speed by other motorist as it breaks the object shape up and the glare effects our perception. In winter I will have my rear light on and a less brighter light underneath flashing. The reason for one solid light is because in the split second your light is in the off state, someone can miss you, in fact I have done it as a car driver myself at night time and I would say I have pretty good observation.

andyp wrote:’I don’t know any

andyp wrote:

’I don’t know any to ask, so could you explain please? I run my rear lights on flash day and night, is this not recommended?’

Why do all other vehicles have their lights on *constant* instead of comedy disco mode? Because battery life is less of an issue, so they can focus on *visibility* instead. Personally I would have thought that this was a priority for bike lights too…

Well I don’t have mine on flash to save batteries, my (flawed maybe) perception was that flashing lights attract more attention than steady lights and this is why Police/Ambulance/Fire service vehicles have flashing lights?

OldnSlo wrote:do it. if you

OldnSlo wrote:

do it. if you doubt it ask a motorcyclist why their lights are always on.

That would be because for the past twenty years the headlights on many motorcycles come on when the engine is running; no choice in the matter. Some damned American requirement that the makers just dumped on us, too.

[[[[ Well, I’ve never been a
[[[[ Well, I’ve never been a daytime flasher…but while on the velo, if I see a dozy on an ipod or walkie-talkie up ahead, I wobble a bit from left to right—-nice to see its startled face, its widening eyes, its sudden realisation that not all modes of transport approach noisily.
And the weavey-wobble appears to work on the driver emerging from that side road too….she thinks I’m gonna fall off, and she wants to see it, so she’s not going anywhere! Mind you, I don’t overdo it. Wouldn’t want to look as incompetant as half the drivers on the streets of London these daze (sic).
No, I use flashing lights when it’s dark, or even gloomy, and the rear light’s attached to the outside of me right ankle with a Q/R strap, so it flashes….but also zooms up and down (seen from behind) and spins round and round (seen from the side). And for those up ahead who pretend not to have noticed me, there’s a special treat sitting on me Cinelli 66’s. It’s the 140-decibel HORNIT. Toodle-oo.
P.R.

ubercurmudgeon wrote:It is

ubercurmudgeon wrote:

It is amusing that there is currently one thread full of people saying they ride with lights on in broad daylight, presumably because they think motorists are too distracted to notice and take care not to injure their fellow human beings unless lit up like a Xmas tree, and another full of people saying they ride with headphones on. I couldn’t be bothered to compare the names of those posting comments, to find out if anyone belongs to both groups, but if there are I hope they haven’t procreated yet.

Well that would be me, I use the lights in the day because I read [url=http://www.londoncyclist.co.uk/raf-pilot-teach-cyclists/]this article[/url] and it costs me nothing if I charge them at work. I find headphones perfectly safe after many years of experience as I can still hear motor vehicles and tend to pay more attention. I also wear a helmet. All of these choices are made on my own judgement on the pros and cons. I feel it a little harsh that you would wish away my children based on your own judgemental claptrap, go back to reading the Daily Mail.

As a driver I find some of
As a driver I find some of the front lights being used dazzling and I fail to understand how blinding your fellow road users improves overall safety. Especially at night whilst the drivers eyes are adjusting back to night vision. Anyone else remember “Dip don’t dazzle!”?

I also fail to understand why annoucing your “presence” half a mile down the road, up to 2 minutes away, improves overall safety. Do you honestly expect drivers to drive looking in the mirrors to see where you are and not look at the car, lights, road… in front of them.

As a cyclist I fully understand the use of lights at the back during the day. However, considering nearly all my accidents have been as the driver pulls up alongside, runs out of road and side swipes or decides that the cycle lane is part of the main carrigeway or junction, I very much doubt how much of difference lights in the day make.

How long will it be before cyclist are held accountable because the driver did not see a small flashy thing?

One last thought. Apparently the fitting of strobe lights on cars is illegal, but on pedal cycles it’s perfectly acceptable!

Not mutually exclusive
Not mutually exclusive perhaps, but surely a little odd to go to the lengths of using lights in broad daylight to maximise your own safety while wearing headphones and so compromising – however marginally – your own safety.

The cyclist that does both might give the impression s/he thinks road safety is the responsibility of others.