Cycle lights and the law

jeremyrundle

I thought it was illegal to cycle without lights so why is it that when I drive I am forever passing adults in the dark who refuse to have any, I would never cycle without lights even in the day.

Do the police care, I suppose not.

Yesterday returning from Plymouth I passed three cyclists without lights as did the police car behind me, mind you when he passed me he only had one rear light working, had that been one of us...........

Phate

I'm sure the law is that you only require lights up to 30 mins before sunrise and after 30 mins past sundown!

jeremyrundle

30 minutes BEFORE sunrise and 30 Minutes AFTER sundown is surely wrong or you would ride during the day with lights and at night without.

Would that be 30 minutes before sunset until 30 minutes after dawn.

Sorry

richk

I think Phate has it correct.

From the Highway Code (OK, in the car driving part but the rules for cyclists on refers to 'at night') :

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070302

jeremyrundle

Yes you are right, sorry, I must learn to read.

The Rookie

The law requires the following during those hours of darkness
1/ Front and rear lights to relevant BS standard (which I think still rules out LED's for front lights as last time I checked the standard was so far out of date they didn't comply, also the BS standard is a PITA and so most manufacturers of perfectly good lights don't get them BS tested/certified).
2/ Rear red reflecter
3/ Amber reflectors on both pedals

Willing to bet that circa 1% of people on here actually comply with the legal requirements even if they are lit up like Christmas trees!

From what I recall (checked the regs in detail last year) the white front reflector that has to be fitted to a new bike is not a legal requirement.

Simon

PBo

The Beginner wrote:

The law requires the following during those hours of darkness
1/ Front and rear lights to relevant BS standard (which I think still rules out LED's for front lights as last time I checked the standard was so far out of date they didn't comply, also the BS standard is a PITA and so most manufacturers of perfectly good lights don't get them BS tested/certified).

No, the 2003 amendments allow non-filament lighting

2/ Rear red reflecter
3/ Amber reflectors on both pedals

Willing to bet that circa 1% of people on here actually comply with the legal requirements even if they are lit up like Christmas trees!

:twisted: see my question on bike light thread in "chat"

From what I recall (checked the regs in detail last year) the white front reflector that has to be fitted to a new bike is not a legal requirement.

Simon

correct - the white reflector (and bell, and wheel reflectors) are legally necessary at the only at the point of sale, not on the road at night.

beverick

The laws regarding cycles are a bit of a mess actually. They are summarised here:

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

Note the requirement to have lights and reflectors fitted "during periods of poor visibility".

Bob

millimole

I agree that the lightling laws are a mess - and the summary guidance in the DfT link is not a great deal of help, particulaly as it conveniently forgets that some current legislation does not apply to older bicycles, it doesn't mention tricycles, trailers etc, and there remains the issues around recumbents and smaller wheeled cycles - some of which are outside the scope of the legislation, and some requirements physically cannot be met!

beverick

millimole wrote:

I agree that the lightling laws are a mess - and the summary guidance in the DfT link is not a great deal of help, particulaly as it conveniently forgets that some current legislation does not apply to older bicycles, it doesn't mention tricycles, trailers etc, and there remains the issues around recumbents and smaller wheeled cycles - some of which are outside the scope of the legislation, and some requirements physically cannot be met!

The requirements may be different for older cycles but, if fitted, the lights and/or reflectors must comply with the relevant law (I think only pedal reflectors fall into this category).

Tricycles (unicycles and cycles with any number of wheels for that matter) are covered in the applicable definition of a pedal cycle in this case. The size of wheel is not mentioned in the relevant law. So, basically, there is no ambiguity.

The requirements include a trailer where used although, depending on the trailer, additional requirements may be defined.

If your cycle is required to have a specific item fitted, in this case lighting, then that item must comply with the relevant legislation. if a requirement cannot be met then the cycle cannot be used legally in the dark or in "poor visbility" (defined elsewhere as in heavy rain, sleet or snow or where visibility is generally less than 100m).

However, and logically, if your bike complies with the relevant construction and use legislation, then fitting lights and/or reflectors shouldn't be a problem.

Bob

wyadvd

http://www.ctc.org.uk/desktopdefault.aspx?tabid=4071