Daytime Riding lights (DRL)

[Deleted account 250319001]

Seeing lots of these coloured DRL lights, either mounted in a protector, Or directly fixed to the lens. The most popular being orange. Question is, Is there a law about a colour the light should be ?

 

[Redmonster]

In the UK, the law strictly limits the colour of headlights. The bulbs must either be white or yellow. That means bulbs that produce a blue light are not approved for road use. Halogen bulbs with a colour temperature over 4200K are not road legal. This is because the blue colour of the lights can confuse other drivers, who might think the blue lights belong to an emergency services vehicle.

However, xenon HID bulbs that appear bluer are still legal within certain limits. Some xenon HIDs with colour temperatures of up to 6000K are considered road legal.

You can use blue bulbs for off-road use. Other colours, such as green or purple, may be available but are practically guaranteed to get you pulled over.


No bitchy remarks from me.

 

[philbuck]

As an experiment, I wanted to see if instead of having a white (generically speaking) DRL, would it be safer to have a different coloured light facing forwards, hopefully to be seen by Mr/Mrs SMIDSY. (This test ignores the legality of the colours of these lights).
I then thought, what about a series of colours that constantly changed, ie one colour slowly changed into another colour, would it be more likely to be seen rather than just a constant white?

I then 3d printed a light holder which contained 20 bright LEDs. But these LEDs slowly change colours, from red to violet, to green, to blue, etc, on their own, but they all switch colours at their own slightly different rate, so although they start off as red, within a few minutes, you see half a dozen different colours all within one 30mm diameter light. The aim is to see a constantly changing light which may, or may not, attract the attention of other road users.
Not sure if it works, but I've not been stopped yet.

Watching other road users, there are many that display a blue light, truckers, drivers and bikers.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Quite like the blue.
Ill see if I get a pull from the guys in blue !

 

[malcopopolo]

Not if - when...

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Not if - when...

Its not as obvious as my smaller registration plate, I suppose that's a "when" too. The headlight blue is easy enough to peel off if they insist.

 

[captaindan]

Before my GS, I ran a vfr800 vtec for quite a few years . I used Phillips motovision bulbs. They actually throw a white beam but from head on, there is an orange tint. The idea is to make you stand out from other traffic from the smidsy brigade.
When filtering in the darkness of a winter rush hour, Its amazing what a difference it makes and people really do see you well in advance.
So i was thinking of trying to put a colour or even part of a colour on the cymark protector to give the same effect
D

 

[hops]

I'll stand to be corrected but as long as they don't flash you can have any colour light you like with the exception of red to the front or anything but red to the rear. There are a list of exemptions which I'm sure you can find if you are so inclined.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

My thinking too. A little colour will be different. And stand out. Its not the main headlight and only used during light hours. I'm sure it will be fine.

 

[malcopopolo]

So you have 2 illegal items that stand out, one at the front and one at the rear.

Good luck.

 

[Traffic893]

In theory you can have the bike lite up like a Christmas tree providing the obligatory lights are as per the Con & use/ MOT regulations. Providing no red to the front no white to the rear and no flashing or anything likely to cause a distraction to other road users.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

So you have 2 illegal items that stand out, one at the front and one at the rear.

Good luck.

Three. Tinted visor too

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

In theory you can have the bike lite up like a Christmas tree providing the obligatory lights are as per the Con & use/ MOT regulations. Providing no red to the front no white to the rear and no flashing or anything likely to cause a distraction to other road users.

Ill be fine then

 

[Andi_archer]

Three. Tinted visor too

You should get a photocromatic visor

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

You should get a photocromatic visor

Yeah, Expensive, but the way to go !

 

[Andi_archer]

Yeah, Expensive, but the way to go !

I saw one advertised on facebook the other day that stuck on the inside of a normal visor, it wasnt that dear somehwere around £25 or so.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

I saw one advertised on facebook the other day that stuck on the inside of a normal visor, it wasnt that dear somehwere around £25 or so.

Be good if they made a pinlock version !

 

[Monty B]

They're a strange thing to get used to and my hemet has a peak, so it doesn't always darken evenly all over due to a cast shadow.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Ive just bought another neotec 2, so will see if i can get one for that.

 

[malcopopolo]

You should get a photocromatic visor

i have one on my bell. it is very good