The colour of lights

Bhima

I'm making some lights and am going to buy some mega-bright LEDs soon although I have a load of blue ones spare.

Is there any law against me using these blue ones? Do lights have to be red/white?

I ask because the laws are quite strict with cars but I was once told by a policeman that my rear white light was a good idea because it's brighter than a red one...? :? My blue LEDs are waaaay more eye-catching than white though so i'm thinking that they're a good idea.

Has anyone ever been stopped for having weird-coloured lights?

NaB

Bhima wrote:

I'm making some lights and am going to buy some mega-bright LEDs soon although I have a load of blue ones spare.

Is there any law against me using these blue ones? Do lights have to be red/white?

I ask because the laws are quite strict with cars but I was once told by a policeman that my rear white light was a good idea because it's brighter than a red one...? :? My blue LEDs are waaaay more eye-catching than white though so i'm thinking that they're a good idea.

Has anyone ever been stopped for having weird-coloured lights?

I don't know about the law in this respect but I wouldn't like to be driving behind someone with blue or white lights on their bike...same as I wouldn't want to see a car with the same set up! :shock:

Steve Kish

Saw a blue LED rear light on eBay and it said that it should only be used if a red one is used as well.

AFAIK, must be red on the back but you can get away with blue in the front.

but I was once told by a policeman that my rear white light was a good idea because it's brighter than a red one...?

He may have been wrong, as a red light indicates that you are travelling towards the rear of something going in the same direction as you or standing still. White light would mean that he's travelling towards you!

schlepcycling

Blue lights are only allowed by law on emergency vehicles as for the rest I came across this

'Regulation 11 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 strictly controls the colour of light that may be shown to the front and rear of vehicles. In general, only red light may be shown to the rear and any other colour than red to the front." However blue lights are prohibited on any vehicle other than emergency vehicles. But green or yellow lights do appear to be acceptable at the front.'

Bhima

Is a bike a "vehicle" though? Someone told me it's not, because the word "vehicle" is sometimes as shorthand for "motor vehicle" - which a bike is not!

Bhima

NaB wrote:

I don't know about the law in this respect but I wouldn't like to be driving behind someone with blue or white lights on their bike...

Funnily enough, the copper said the white was good because of that reason! I think his words were "drivers dont expect to see white so you'll get more attention".

Bhima

Also, I have seen some cyclists with those rotating blue police-car domes stuck on thier helmets! I don't want to go that far - it would probably cause more panic than anything else.

cougie

I dont think all coppers are 100% aware of the rules - so I'd think you would probably be stopped for displaying blue lights, or white lights on the rear - eventually.

I dont think you need to have odd lights showing in order to be safe - but I'd certainly go with two or more rears.

How much is making vs just buying them ? Smart Super Flashes are about a tenner or so and I cant see you can do better than them ?

Anonymous

Bhima wrote:

it would probably cause more panic than anything else.

Plus you'd have to have a neck like Tyson :shock: .

NaB

Bhima wrote:

NaB wrote:

I don't know about the law in this respect but I wouldn't like to be driving behind someone with blue or white lights on their bike...

Funnily enough, the copper said the white was good because of that reason! I think his words were "drivers dont expect to see white so you'll get more attention".

Hmm not sure of the logic here...surely cycling with no clothes on would also be something drivers wouldn't expect and prompt a fair amount of 'attention'....

softlad

Bhima wrote:

Is a bike a "vehicle" though? Someone told me it's not, because the word "vehicle" is sometimes as shorthand for "motor vehicle" - which a bike is not!

'vehicle' is from the latin 'vehiculum' and defines any 'non-animal' form of transport (ie not a horse or an elephant) - so yes, your bike is a vehicle....

schlepcycling

Bhima wrote:

Is a bike a "vehicle" though? Someone told me it's not, because the word "vehicle" is sometimes as shorthand for "motor vehicle" - which a bike is not!

Technically a bike is a 'carriage'
"Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1888 extended the definition of "carriage" to include "bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes and other similar machines."

and the DfT gives guidance regarding lights on their website
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/guidanceaboutlightsonpedalbi4556

NaB

schlepcycling wrote:

Technically a bike is a 'carriage'
"Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1888 extended the definition of "carriage" to include "bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes and other similar machines."

What ever you call it surely having a blue or white rear light is foolhardy?

schlepcycling

NaB wrote:

schlepcycling wrote:

Technically a bike is a 'carriage'
"Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1888 extended the definition of "carriage" to include "bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes and other similar machines."

What ever you call it surely having a blue or white rear light is foolhardy?

Yes, absolutley no reason for anything else but red.

robmanic1

schlepcycling wrote:

NaB wrote:

schlepcycling wrote:

Yes, absolutley no reason for anything else but red.

Unless you have a blue frame...

NaB

If its attention you're after surely the world's greatest Madone is the answer......


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wb8bAl1P-N0/SWugw1G1saI/AAAAAAAAFkg/FqC2s2uPQac/s1600-h/world

desweller

NaB wrote:

If its attention you're after surely the world's greatest Madone is the answer......


http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wb8bAl1P-N0/SWugw1G1saI/AAAAAAAAFkg/FqC2s2uPQac/s1600-h/world

Sweet. Like a brick.

bobpzero

everything but the pedals. tho definitly more room for loads of rear lights and a big front flood light.

NaB

bobpzero wrote:

everything but the pedals. tho definitly more room for loads of rear lights and a big front flood light.

Is that intended as a compliment to 'the world's greatest madone'...surely its a picture that should be classed as a crime scene...808 tubs, flat bars, the rack.....doth it not offend thine eye?

bobpzero

too tired to be offended. does owner have a personal parking space for it? well it does look a lot better than my mud water soaked specialized allez sport 08.

14tod

I have reviewed the law on this matter and would direct all to this link.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicle ... edalbi4556

In short White lights to the front, Red lights to the rear, as many as you like as long as at least one of each. Flashing is good. Blue is bad!!!

Hope this clears things up

Oh and a pedal cycle is a vehicle as per Section 192 of the Road Traffic Act 1988

This means:
a vehicle on which the wheels are turned by means of the power of a person sitting astride it applied to pedals, and includes:
a tricycle, and
any cycle having four or more wheels.

George Murdoch

Northern Ireland's new Police (now known as the P.S.N.I.) are not conforming to recognised lighting regulations on their Patrol cars. The blue distinctive lamps are small lights placed behing the vehicle's front grill. Many of the local boy-racer types are placing small blue lights on their vehicles, so if the police don't mind, why conform to the law.

cougie

Whats the problem with that ? Unmarked police cars have been doing that for years over here ?

Nuggs

14tod wrote:

I have reviewed the law on this matter and would direct all to this link.

http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicle ... edalbi4556

Looks like I'll have to take the Keos off and get some nice chunky pedals with reflectors

Bhima

cougie wrote:

How much is making vs just buying them ? Smart Super Flashes are about a tenner or so and I cant see you can do better than them ?

The ones you buy usually have 1 to 6 LEDs. Look at how many LEDs you can get for a few quid - [Ebay Link]

You also need Resistors (see how cheap they are?!) and a little bit of wire, stripboard, soldering iron & solder, a battery clip and some kind of plastic casing - the casing and the one-off cost of the soldering iron could be the most expensive bit.

I reckon I could make a 3-led light (battery not included) for about 46p - as long as I made them in bulk (350 to be precise).

The main reason I wanted to make my own is because I can make a custom-built casing which I can build for my specific bike/helmet or so I could stick it to my back with velcro or something. The other reason is so I can inlcude 30-50 LEDs! :twisted:

blorg

Smart 1/2 watt is 1/2 price from Wiggle at the moment. I have three of these on the back, even one is very visible I can assure you. Using the wrong colour lights front or rear is very stupid, I have almost collided with people using red lights on the front in particular before.

cougie

Bhima - let us know how you get on then - sounds interesting !

All I can say is that I can ride tonight with my superflashes - is your wonder light ready yet ? ;-)

Bhima

blorg wrote:

I have almost collided with people using red lights on the front in particular before.

Yeah, I admit, red on the front is dumb!

@ cougie - i'll post up some pics soon!

The-Dude

softlad wrote:

Bhima wrote:

Is a bike a "vehicle" though? Someone told me it's not, because the word "vehicle" is sometimes as shorthand for "motor vehicle" - which a bike is not!

'vehicle' is from the latin 'vehiculum' and defines any 'non-animal' form of transport (ie not a horse or an elephant) - so yes, your bike is a vehicle....

I'm very impressed. If i were a girlie, you'd be gettin some :P