lighting up time

[breydonboy]

Hi everyone.
Not new to cycling but I'm new to this forum. (or any forum, come to that)
Good to be on board - fascinating reading and good mix of opinions.

Now, I have a query. I always use good bright lights when I feel it is dark enough to warrant their use.
What I'd like to know is what is the legal definition of the 'hours of darkness' during which cyclists are obliged to be lit.

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If they've got what you want; they've got you.

 

[wafflycat]

http://www.ctc.org.uk/DesktopDefault.aspx?TabID=4071

 

[Arch]

Welcome

I think with battery life getting better and better, you may as well play it safe and turn them on a bit early anyway, surely? Especially as bike lighting, unless you're out on unlit roads, is more about being seen, than seeing. And dusk is a tricky time for some people to see, if their eyes are slow to adjust....

 

[breydonboy]

re - lighting up time

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I didn't think of checking the CTC.
And thanks for the good advice Arch, I use rechargable batteries anyway.
As I work irregular shifts I have to keep a log of how many commuting trips I've made to avoid them going flat halfway home!

Cheers again.

 

[bonj2]

when it looks dark.

 

[breydonboy]

when it looks dark.

I was asking about the legal position.

 

[HJ]

The legal position is between sun set and sun rise Rule 113 Highway Code. It used to be the "Hours of darkness" defined as "The time between half an hour after sunset and half an hour before sunrise.", but was changed some years ago.

Also see The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 and Rule 60 Highway Code, the one which states that "Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp."

 

[bonj2]

I was asking about the legal position.

i doubt you're going to get arrested for cycling in a semi-dusk not-quite-dark evening when the policeman has elected to take the position that it's actually dark enough to need lights. There's no set time if that's what you're getting at.

 

[hackbike 6]

When it is getting dusk is dodgy.I had a hairy incident with a motorist on a Gran Canaria rounderbout a few years ago.i was running late and had no lights (or HVV).Said motorist was in his 60's.Didn't see me.

 

[bonj2]

But if you ever did get into a position where you were defending yourself (for example in an insurance claim), there's not much else you can go on post-event but lighting up time.

if you had to defend yourself against someone whose only justification was that you didn't have lights on, the only situation where that would be likely to be necessary would be that someone went into the back of you. in which case your solicitor would have a field day.

 

[Tynan]

it's a no brainer with lights as cheap and as good as they are, if you even think about it, if one car has side lights on, turn them on, it costs you nothing and might stop an accident

there's a good argument to have them on all the time

 

[bonj2]

Mitigation.

mitigation my arse. you DO talk some bollocks!

 

[tdr1nka]

I use my Ay Up lights in the daytime as they do make me more visible in driver's mirrors.

 

[bonj2]

waster of battery. WE cna blame you for climate change!

 

[tdr1nka]

waster of battery. WE can blame you for climate change!

Ah, but the battery is rechargeable. Haven't got loads of old and dying AAA's to dispose of.