Increased police presence.

[EthelF]

Why don't they just fit all bikes with lights as standard? Same with cars, it's a legal requirement to have them and if you want to change them later to something different or better then you can.

In Germany there is a legal reqirement that all new bikes have to be sold fitted with a dynamo and lights, with the exception of bikes under a certain weight limit (around 11kg?) which are classed as racing bikes (so basically road bikes and some MTBs), and which are permitted to use battery lights.
I'm not convinced of the merits of this law, yes, it does mean that most bikes have lights fitted, but on the other hand you still get to hear the usual moaning about all those bloody invisible unlit cyclists, pay no road tax, should be licensed bla bla bla

 

[snailracer]

IIRC "night" is classed as 1/2 hour after sunrise and 1/2 hour before sunset. Still falls outside it though?

Reading the HC, it seems that headlights should be used at night as you have defined it. However, tail lights might be classified as side lights, which are supposed to be used between sunset and sunrise proper. Odd.

 

[Frood42]

Laws for cyclists on lights and reflectors apply between sunset and sunrise only.
So you can ride during the day in fog/mist without lights if you really, really want to

So, I would not be best pleased to get an FPN for committing no offence.


For cars, dipped/registration plate lights from sunset to sunrise, headlights for hours of darkness, with caveats:

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

113
You MUST

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).
Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland - RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched 8))

 

[gaz]

For cars, dipped/registration plate lights from sunset to sunrise, headlights for hours of darkness, with caveats:

It's worth noting that dipped lights are your head lights, just not on full beam.. It's sidelights and registration plates.

 

[Frood42]

It's worth noting that dipped lights are your head lights, just not on full beam.. It's sidelights and registration plates.

Yes, my bad there, I did put in the rule though
.

 

[Buddfox]

Laws for cyclists on lights and reflectors apply between sunset and sunrise only.
So you can ride during the day in fog/mist without lights if you really, really want to

So, I would not be best pleased to get an FPN for committing no offence.


For cars, dipped/registration plate lights from sunset to sunrise, headlights for hours of darkness, with caveats:

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

113
You MUST

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).
Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland - RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched 8))

Hang on... does that mean cars driving around central London don't need to have their headlights on during the night...?! Confused.com

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Hang on... does that mean cars driving around central London don't need to have their headlights on during the night...?! Confused.com

Yes!

GC

 

[Buddfox]

Yes!

GC

You learn something new every day...

 

[glasgowcyclist]

You learn something new every day...

Just imagine how good it would be if people did that, we'd no longer be lost in amongst the dazzling light pollution caused by motorised traffic...

GC

 

[Frood42]

Hang on... does that mean cars driving around central London don't need to have their headlights on during the night...?! Confused.com

?
They have to use headlights during the "hours of darkness", except in the following circumstances (so instead side lights/plate lights as this is after sunset):

except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified

So in most cases, it is where you have the lighting in urban areas which is equally spaced out which normally denotes a 30mph limit.

http://www.speedlimit.org.uk/speed_markings.html

Any road with regular street lighting has a default speed limit of 30 mph unless signs indicate otherwise. The entry to a 30 mph zone must be marked by a "30" sign on both sides of the road, but no repeater signs are permitted within the zone (on the grounds that they might be confusing if some roads had them and others didn't). "30" roundels on the road surface are however permitted, with a special dispensation.

http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/driving/speed/toptentips/lamp-posts.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Built-up_area_(Highway_Code)

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

113
You MUST

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).
Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland - RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched 8))
.

 

[Buddfox]

?
They have to use headlights during the "hours of darkness", except in the following circumstances (so instead side lights/plate lights as this is after sunset):



So in most cases, it is where you have the lighting in urban areas which is equally spaced out which normally denotes a 30mph limit.

http://www.speedlimit.org.uk/speed_markings.html



http://www.rospa.com/roadsafety/adviceandinformation/driving/speed/toptentips/lamp-posts.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Built-up_area_(Highway_Code)

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

113
You MUST

• ensure all sidelights and rear registration plate lights are lit between sunset and sunrise
• use headlights at night, except on a road which has lit street lighting. These roads are generally restricted to a speed limit of 30 mph (48 km/h) unless otherwise specified
• use headlights when visibility is seriously reduced (see Rule 226).

Night (the hours of darkness) is defined as the period between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise).
Laws RVLR regs 3, 24, & 25, (In Scotland - RTRA 1984 sect 82 (as amended by NRSWA, para 59 of sched 8))
.

Right, and streets in central London typically have lighting... I thought you were required to use headlights (dipped) at night time under any circumstance

 

[Frood42]

Right, and streets in central London typically have lighting... I thought you were required to use headlights (dipped) at night time under any circumstance

Ah, yes,the difference between MUST and SHOULD

https://www.gov.uk/general-rules-all-drivers-riders-103-to-158/lighting-requirements-113-to-116

115
You should also

• use dipped headlights, or dim-dip if fitted, at night in built-up areas and in dull daytime weather, to ensure that you can be seen
• keep your headlights dipped when overtaking until you are level with the other vehicle and then change to main beam if necessary, unless this would dazzle oncoming road users
• slow down, and if necessary stop, if you are dazzled by oncoming headlights

 

[Buddfox]

Sure, but should is not a legal requirement (hence why I used the word required). I'll stop pointing out to car drivers that they don't have their headlights on!

 

[glasgowcyclist]

Recently, while stopped in the outside lane of a city street at traffic lights, I had a young lad in a lowered BMW (who had reversed out of the ASZ to give me the information through my passenger window) tell me, "You've only got your sidelights on."

I replied, "So you can see them then?"

Him, "Yebbut..."

dzzzzzzzz went my window as it closed.


GC

 

[Frood42]

Sure, but should is not a legal requirement (hence why I used the word required). I'll stop pointing out to car drivers that they don't have their headlights on!

I don't personally think it is a bad idea to remind them to put them on at least dipped, but that's my opinion, and not law.

https://www.gov.uk/highway-code/introduction

The Highway Code may be used in evidence in any court proceedings under the Traffic Acts (see The road user and the law) to establish liability. This includes rules which use advisory wording such as ‘should/should not’ or ‘do/do not’.
Knowing and applying the rules contained in The Highway Code could significantly reduce road casualties. Cutting the number of deaths and injuries that occur on our roads every day is a responsibility we all share.
.