Flashing to be legalised
A press release:
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.
See link
16 Sep 2005 15:52
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Steve Rumsby
An improvement, I suppose, although as a driver I find it harder to judge the distance to a cyclist if their rear light is flashing. I agree their presence is hard to miss. Personally, when cycling I use steady lights at the rear because of this, unless it is foggy when I use one steady and one flashing.
I'n not sure what I think of the idea of flashing front lights.
Now if only the police would do more to tackle the problem of idiots who cycle at night with no lights at all…
18 Sep 2005, 23:34
I agree there should be more enforcement of the lighting laws. people just don't take cycling seriously enough.
One problem is that the cheapest reasonably decent set of lights cost £30 – more than most bikes are worth!
19 Sep 2005, 10:01
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