Flashing Bicycle Lights, legal on a M'cycle?
Flashing Bicycle Lights, legal on a M'cycle?
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Discussion

TypeR

Original Poster:

1,199 posts

270 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
I was wondering what the lagal position was for fitting the high vis LED type flashing lights that cyclists use to a motorcycle. The LEDs certainly attract my attention when I'm driving at night, and as a biker myself, I think anything that makes motorbikes more visible has to be a good idea.
What's the view of our resident legal experts?

JustinP1

13,364 posts

261 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
When I did me cycling proficiency test, the resident BiB told us that the dynamo powered flashing lights were not adequate for a bicycle, and proper battery ones were needed and the dynamo ones should only be secondary.

Of course, when you are not moving, you are unlit...

Skodaku

1,805 posts

250 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
TypeR said:
I was wondering what the lagal position was for fitting the high vis LED type flashing lights that cyclists use to a motorcycle. The LEDs certainly attract my attention when I'm driving at night, and as a biker myself, I think anything that makes motorbikes more visible has to be a good idea.
What's the view of our resident legal experts?
Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that these flashing LED's are very good I don't think theye are, technically, legal even for a pedal cycle.

will_

6,035 posts

234 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
Skodaku said:
TypeR said:
I was wondering what the lagal position was for fitting the high vis LED type flashing lights that cyclists use to a motorcycle. The LEDs certainly attract my attention when I'm driving at night, and as a biker myself, I think anything that makes motorbikes more visible has to be a good idea.
What's the view of our resident legal experts?
Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that these flashing LED's are very good I don't think theye are, technically, legal even for a pedal cycle.
I believe they are now legal for a bicycle, after a change in the law. Not sure about on a motorbike, but I doubt it.

Skodaku

1,805 posts

250 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
will_ said:
Skodaku said:
TypeR said:
I was wondering what the lagal position was for fitting the high vis LED type flashing lights that cyclists use to a motorcycle. The LEDs certainly attract my attention when I'm driving at night, and as a biker myself, I think anything that makes motorbikes more visible has to be a good idea.
What's the view of our resident legal experts?
Whilst I wholeheartedly agree that these flashing LED's are very good I don't think theye are, technically, legal even for a pedal cycle.
I believe they are now legal for a bicycle, after a change in the law. Not sure about on a motorbike, but I doubt it.
I stand corrected, sir. My knowledge re cycling law is somewhat OOD. A change in the law that made some sense, eh ? Whatever next ?

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.

FunkyNige

9,863 posts

306 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?

JustinP1

13,364 posts

261 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Making your motorbike look like a Christmas tree.

No points but many onlookers looking at you and gesticulating like they are trying to shake something in their clenched hand...

Hooli

32,278 posts

231 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
probably something to do with C&U regs. dont they state all lights must emit a steady beam?

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989

DucatiGary

7,765 posts

256 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
JustinP1 said:
When I did me cycling proficiency test, the resident BiB told us that the dynamo powered flashing lights were not adequate for a bicycle, and proper battery ones were needed and the dynamo ones should only be secondary.

Of course, when you are not moving, you are unlit...
do you honestly think he was suggesting putting dynamo lights on his motorbike?


Busa_Rush

6,930 posts

282 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
I have dynamo lights on my motorbike . .. but they have a battery backup wink

flemke

23,515 posts

268 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
That would be the regulation that forbids one from making one's vehicle more visible?

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
flemke said:
vonhosen said:
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
That would be the regulation that forbids one from making one's vehicle more visible?
Certain road users are allowed to have them in order to make them more visible. If everybody were allowed to have them then that benefit would be diluted for those people that are allowed them already.

Edited by vonhosen on Sunday 17th February 21:58

s2art

18,942 posts

284 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
flemke said:
vonhosen said:
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
That would be the regulation that forbids one from making one's vehicle more visible?
Certain road users are allowed to have them in order to make them more visible. If everybody were allowed to have them then that benefit would be diluted for those people that are allowed them already.

Edited by vonhosen on Sunday 17th February 21:58
Whatever the legal position is, that is nonesense. Either flashing lights improve visibility or they dont.

flemke

23,515 posts

268 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
flemke said:
vonhosen said:
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
That would be the regulation that forbids one from making one's vehicle more visible?
Certain road users are allowed to have them in order to make them more visible. If everybody were allowed to have them then that benefit would be diluted for those people that are allowed them already.
A bit like the forthcoming outrageous mandate on daytime running lights, then?

Except I suppose that the daytime running lights dictate will be okay because the law will say so?wink

JustinP1

13,364 posts

261 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
DucatiGary said:
JustinP1 said:
When I did me cycling proficiency test, the resident BiB told us that the dynamo powered flashing lights were not adequate for a bicycle, and proper battery ones were needed and the dynamo ones should only be secondary.

Of course, when you are not moving, you are unlit...
do you honestly think he was suggesting putting dynamo lights on his motorbike?
That is pretty much what he is asking? After all, the ones cyclists use are dynamo powered, and the OP stated that they flash?

Hooli

32,278 posts

231 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
vonhosen said:
flemke said:
vonhosen said:
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
That would be the regulation that forbids one from making one's vehicle more visible?
Certain road users are allowed to have them in order to make them more visible. If everybody were allowed to have them then that benefit would be diluted for those people that are allowed them already.

Edited by vonhosen on Sunday 17th February 21:58
like DRLs then?

ETA: beaten too it

Edited by Hooli on Sunday 17th February 22:12

Hooli

32,278 posts

231 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
JustinP1 said:
DucatiGary said:
JustinP1 said:
When I did me cycling proficiency test, the resident BiB told us that the dynamo powered flashing lights were not adequate for a bicycle, and proper battery ones were needed and the dynamo ones should only be secondary.

Of course, when you are not moving, you are unlit...
do you honestly think he was suggesting putting dynamo lights on his motorbike?
That is pretty much what he is asking? After all, the ones cyclists use are dynamo powered, and the OP stated that they flash?
flashing lights on bicycles are battery powered, i havent seen dynamo lights for sale for years tbh.

vonhosen

40,597 posts

248 months

Sunday 17th February 2008
quotequote all
flemke said:
vonhosen said:
flemke said:
vonhosen said:
FunkyNige said:
vonhosen said:
Legal for pedal cycle not motorcycle.
So what would the offence be if I I put a couple on my motorcycle handlebars, and had my normal lights on too?
Contravening Regulation 13 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989
That would be the regulation that forbids one from making one's vehicle more visible?
Certain road users are allowed to have them in order to make them more visible. If everybody were allowed to have them then that benefit would be diluted for those people that are allowed them already.
A bit like the forthcoming outrageous mandate on daytime running lights, then?

Except I suppose that the daytime running lights dictate will be okay because the law will say so?wink
Well as anyone is at liberty to use their headlights in the daytime at present it is not quite the same.