Safe Speed Forums

about time too:

Following sustained campaigning by CTC, the UK's national cyclists'
organisation, and just in time for when the clocks go back this year,
it should at last become legal to use flashing lights on your bike. The
Minister of State, Dr Stephen Ladyman, this week signed the order; and
provided there are no parliamentary objections before then, it should
become law in October.
The details were decided in close consultation with CTC's technical
officer, Chris Juden, who said: "This is a welcome liberalisation of
cycle lighting law because provided they are bright enough, flashers
front and rear will not only be legal, but will be all the lights you
need."
In brief, to be legally approved a light may flash at least once and
not more than four times per second with a brilliance of at least four
candle-power. Most of the better quality flashing lights on sale today,
meet that simple requirement.
Unfortunately DfT felt unable to make any changes beyond the matter of
flashing lights. This will have some strange and unintended
consequences. Since lamps emitting a steady light must still conform
with BS6102/3 and all that entails, it now becomes much simpler to be
legal by flashing than not! DfT are aware of this paradox and intend to
add a recommendation to the Highway Code (currently also under review)
to use a steady headlamp on unlit roads.
CTC continues to campaign for a similar, simple legal approval of lamps
emitting steady light, and for a permitted alternative to pedal
reflectors in cases where these cannot be used or seen. Until then:
cyclists who sensibly light their way with one of those brilliant
rechargeable headlamps, that emit thousands of candle-power but are
non-the-less, non-BS, can most easily make themselves legal by also
fitting a little 4-candela flasher. "

I hate them.

Not so bad if they are used in conjunction with a constant rear light but on there own they are a menace.

As for flashing front lights, don't get me started......Grrrrrrrrrr

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Speed camera policy Kills

why's that?

I quite like them. They seem to me to stand out more at night - no brighter but more noticeable because of the flash. Not only that but they scream "CYCLIST" (though I've seen joggers with them, but the motion looks different) so it's readily apparent who and what you're dealing with in plenty of time to adjust your driving to suit the needs of both. IMO 1 flash per second might be a bit low, but I suppose it depends on how long the flash lasts. If it's on for 0.5 secs and off for 0.5 secs I suppose it'd be as good as the others.

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Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler - Einstein

Don't like them because they make cyclists very difficult to track.

Flashing lights are good on static objects. Or to attact attention but should not be the sole method of increasing visibility.

And a one second flash, anyone care to work out how far a 40mph cyclist will move in a second? Shall I just guess where he/she is during that time?

Oh, well I guess we can look forward to a winter of roadkill before they wake up and realise the mistake.

I've not noticed this myself, I take it you're talking about unlit roads?


around town this is exactly what you want to do.


better ask Mr Armstrong about that. The rest of us are only going half that speed (or less) most of the time. Still a one second flash is rather slow so not sure why they opted for that as the minimum. At least nobody seems to be making lights that slow.... yet.

Its a thin line between attract and distract.

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Speed camera policy Kills

when people stop trying to kill me I'll start cutting back on the lighting... in the meantime it's christmas!!!

There are some pretty bright LEDs on the market now. Not seen them in cycle lamps yet. Now they would get you noticed...

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Speed camera policy Kills

I use Lupines anyway. Also wear high viz jacket when it's dark - but then rural area here - they don't do street lights! Firm believer in being visible on the bike though.

Never did see that much wrong with a flashing rear - but prefer a steady beam for the front lights. As said - Lupine battery can last fair duration.

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If you want to get to heaven - you have to raise a little hell!

Smilies are contagious
They are just like the flu
We use our smilies on YOU today
Now Good Causes are smiling too!

KEEP SMILING
It makes folk wonder just what you REALLY got up to last night!

Smily to penny.. penny to pound
safespeed prospers-smiles all round! !
But the real message? SMILE.. GO ON ! DO IT! and the world will smile with you!
Enjoy life! You only have the one bite at it.

yes definitely, I have an edison5 on the front.

Unlit, poorly lit, trees obstructing light from streetlamps, cyclists with dark or camoflage clothing, bright headlights coming the other way.

Flashing lights are OK, and probably a good idea in conjunction with static(?) lights but from the discussions I have had on C+ this is already legal.

I think it's legal if the light isn't on the bike. I have 4 rear lights so I'm guessing you'd find it difficult to not see me.

Shame, tis flashing lights on bikes - thought somebody had seen some ( hobbles off on crutches, muttering)

I have one of these on my helmet - can be steady on, or flashing, and lights up wherever you LOOK - ideal for turning into sideroads, or alleyways, or looking at oncoming vehicles which are slow to dip their lights!!
Then I have one of these on the front bars, which light up AHEAD of the bike. The helmet mounted lamp fills in the gap nearer the bike. Batteries last..... ages - I'm still on the first set after two years. The manual says 30 hours + reserve!!

For rear protection, I have one of these which has two settings, steady on, or rapid flashing.
I also have a second flashing unit which fits on a belt or the back of my rucksack, which makes ME visible should I dismount for any reason!
Like Mad Moggie says - it's rural around here - even in town, you cannot see the streetlamps for the trees!
In addition, I have tyres with a reflective stripe in the side wall, and on the pedal cranks, and several points on the frame I have Scothlite reflective dots, and a swinging reflector on the bar end.

Should any of this fail to register with passing drivers, then I have a 120 decibel airhorn, which is run from a rechargable reservoir, pumped up with a standard bike pump.

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

For the same candle power, a flashing light can be seem IMO at least twice the distance away.
I worked in the Maritime industry for a couple of years teaching, and someone came up with the very bright idea of a flashing light for life jackets instead of the weedy static lights.
The difference between life and death, where the static light could easily be missed, the flashing light was seen.
If you are lost in the hills, this is why you should use a flashing light instead of a steady light.
A steady light being searched for by a helicpter is much less likely to be seen than a flashing light.
The difference between life and death.
I fully agree with the use of flashing lights on bicycles, and lets have some robust enforcement on the use of lights, whether flashing or not.
No lights at night, bicycle impounded for a week, second offence, bicycle crushed. Sounds a bit harsh maybe, should have taken the hint the first time.
Also cyclists should have to have insurance, and obey the road laws concerning cycling.

I am speaking as an ex cyclist, from many years ago, who had lights and insurance, and as a motorist and HGV Driver, who is sick to death of not being able to see a cyclist until it is almost too late. I consider myself lucky that I haven't hit one yet.

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

Windermere is rife with youngsters on bikes with no lights.
You can get a reasonable set for less than a fiver - a tenner will get you a reasonable set.
I'm inclined to agree the penalty should far outweigh the cost of the improvements - but then you'd need POLICEMEN to go around and catch the little beggars!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Now I believe that is one job that our Community Support Officers are capable of doing - now why don't they do it??

I saw yesterday a cyclist riding along a cycletrack at the side of the road, trouble was, he was cycling against the flow of the traffic, despite there being direction arrows in the cycle lane.
He went right past a PCSO who did NOTHING.

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Semper in excreta, nur quantitat variat.

What do you think PCSOs are there to do - apart from make us believe that we have a police presence around?-might as well dress up gnomes in police uniforms