Bicycle Flashing Lights Are Illegal? Really?

[theclaud]

Not more rules

I know you love 'em.

 

[ufkacbln]

Agree 100% We now have vehicle lights which can dazzle badly (including bike lights) including front and rear, through to some which are legal but far too dim. just as bad are lights with indicator lamps in the centre of brake and rear lights, so that with the bright brake lights on the indicator becomes invisible (such as VW Passats and the new Ka).

HID lights should IMO be banned completely.

HID are mere fireflys in a jar compared to some of the Cree LEDs

 

[Davidc]

HID are mere fireflys in a jar compared to some of the Cree LEDs

There's something particularly disabling about HID lights, they knock out my vision for longer than any others to the extent that on the bike where I can't screen them off much I've had to pull over several times and wait for my eyes to recover.

 

[addictfreak]

Another 8 minutes of my life that I won't get back!

I'm just wonder if TD actually works, or just prowls the streets of London looking for incident and confrontation.

 

[GrasB]

HID lights should IMO be banned completely.

There's something particularly disabling about HID lights, they knock out my vision for longer than any others to the extent that on the bike where I can't screen them off much I've had to pull over several times and wait for my eyes to recover.

Badly aligned HIDs & one right on the edge of upper adjustment are really bad due to the amount of light they put out. My guess is you have good light sensitivity so the 'volume' of light put out by marginally adjusted/patterned HIDs is causing you problems.

HID are mere fireflys in a jar compared to some of the Cree LEDs

LEDs don't get CLOSE to HIDs for output but they can be much more intense. This low volume high intensity causes problems with after images across a person's vision.

 

[chernij]

I've had a driver comment to me about the strength of my light before, stating it was too bright. Was I right in telling him that his car's headlights were a heck of a lot stronger?

 

[GrasB]

I've had a driver comment to me about the strength of my light before, stating it was too bright. Was I right in telling him that his car's headlights were a heck of a lot stronger?

Yes, no & maybe - See Which light is brighter? posts #32 & #33

But I think this about sums up the answer to your question really

Good see-by bike lights often come out at around 1-4lumen/mm2, but have 300-80mm2 of surface area, respectively, they emit light from. My Alfa nominally has a surface area of around 4400mm2 per headlight but a surface brightness intensity of around 0.6-0.65 lumen/mm2 above it's cut-off (and some people consider that objectionable), that's a whopping 2750 lumen x2... not counting the light that's thrown out bellow the cut-off where the apparent intensity is much higher!

 

[Boris Bajic]

I've had a driver comment to me about the strength of my light before, stating it was too bright. Was I right in telling him that his car's headlights were a heck of a lot stronger?

Car headlamps on dipped beam (which is what we should usually see when approaching an oncoming car) are directed down and to the left. They do not dazzle.

Some (thankfully very few) cyclists use gert bigg searchlights on their handlebars and direct them at drivers' eyes. I do not know why.

As a general rule, if a driver complains about your cycling lamp, it's worth checking (in a shop window or similar) whether they are set to 'dazzle'.

 

[ShipHill]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if flashing cycle lights are illegal.

I think this because our laws are drafted by idiotic simpletons who can barely make it out the Commons bar before dozing off in the chamber then get cattle prodded to vote how they're told to by a simpering, fawning toadie.

In actual fact, I think everything is probably legal and illegal at the same time.

And let's not overlook how this very interesting conversation is happening in broad daylight.

Yawnarama.

 

[Mugshot]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if flashing cycle lights are illegal.

I think this because our laws are drafted by idiotic simpletons who can barely make it out the Commons bar before dozing off in the chamber then get cattle prodded to vote how they're told to by a simpering, fawning toadie.

In actual fact, I think everything is probably legal and illegal at the same time.

And let's not overlook how this very interesting conversation is happening in broad daylight.

Yawnarama.

Whachu talkin bout ShipHill?

 

[Davidc]

It wouldn't surprise me at all if flashing cycle lights are illegal.

Well, they're not. Legalised many years ago.

 

[chernij]

Depends on your light. There are some bike lights out there where the output is higher than a car headlight (albeit only headlight, rather than two in normal use).

Mine isn't, as far as I'm aware. Just a standard CatEye headlight.

There is also the issue of many being simple beam patterns, equivalent to riding around on full beam.

Yes, no & maybe - See Which light is brighter? posts #32 & #33

But I think this about sums up the answer to your question really

Interesting stuff.

Car headlamps on dipped beam (which is what we should usually see when approaching an oncoming car) are directed down and to the left. They do not dazzle.
Some (thankfully very few) cyclists use gert bigg searchlights on their handlebars and direct them at drivers' eyes. I do not know why.
As a general rule, if a driver complains about your cycling lamp, it's worth checking (in a shop window or similar) whether they are set to 'dazzle'.

Will do. I didn't have my headlight on straight, had it slightly down to try and get a dipped beam

 

[ShipHill]

Our laws are not drafted by MPs but by Parliamentary draftsmen(persons).

They'll do... What I mean is that I believe that the UK's laws are written and passed by idiots a lot of the time. Loopholes, inconsistencies, lack of common sense... blah blah blah.

Example.... a few years back I was in my local car repair shop chatting to the mechanic about when they could fix my heap of junk... sorry luxury family saloon. The car he was MOTing was a hatchback of some sort, and it had blue lights on the front.

Me... "Ooh there's a fail right there Dave."
Dave,,,, "What's that?"
Me... "Blue light. Only cops etc can have them.... yes?"
Dave... "Providing they're switched separately to other lights then it's not an MOT fail. Mad but true."

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Car headlamps on dipped beam (which is what we should usually see when approaching an oncoming car) are directed down and to the left. They do not dazzle.

Some (thankfully very few) cyclists use gert bigg searchlights on their handlebars and direct them at drivers' eyes. I do not know why.

Help me out BB, help me out...

How many cyclists were killed or seriously injured or just plain frightened off the roads last year by car drivers? (many of whom driver for weeks with defective lights)

-vs-

How many poor ickle dwivers had how many seconds of their driving enjoyment spoiled by the nasty men* on the bicycles with the too bright lights?

*other gender groups are available.

As a general rule, if a driver complains about your cycling lamp, it's worth checking (in a shop window or similar) whether they are set to 'dazzle'.

As a general rule, if a driver complains about my cycling they're a twunting fecktard knobjockey. And a fat one at that.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

Me... "Ooh there's a fail right there Dave."
Dave,,,, "What's that?"
Me... "Blue light. Only cops etc can have them.... yes?"
Dave... "Providing they're switched separately to other lights then it's not an MOT fail. Mad but true."

According to plod:

Blue lights - Under the Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989, it states "except for emergency vehicles it is an offence to fit a blue warning beacon or special warning lamp or device resembling such whether working or not"

according to my lawyer mate the courts ain't into trying to define a blue led as a warning beacon or special warning lamp or device resembling such for fear of looking daft on appeal.