Flashing Lights... Legal?

[Gromit]

The problem with flashing lights is its impossible to judge the distance of them. Something to do with the way the eyes work apparently

 

[shunter]

The problem with flashing lights is its impossible to judge the distance of them. Something to do with the way the eyes work apparently

Hopefully, wondering how far away a person with flashing lights is will be all that's needed to get you noticed. A lot of cyclists would use more than one flashing light so I wonder how that affects the way the eyes work.

 

[Steptoe]

Hopefully, wondering how far away a person with flashing lights is will be all that's needed to get you noticed. A lot of cyclists would use more than one flashing light so I wonder how that affects the way the eyes work.

Flashing lights mean one thing to me - indicators. No matter what the colour (a lot of american cars on our roads have red indicators on the rear).

So why not add to a drivers confusion on a wet winters night by attaching flashing rear lights, something they may never have seen before and may need precious vital seconds to work out WTF they are.

 

[Delboy777]

Totally useless bling and only a true poser "look at me i need attention" would bother fitting such utter shite to a bike.

 

[Hare About]

There is a point to flashing led lights, if you can have alight off for half the time then you save power. However, you have to flash them fast so you don't perceive the flash. This why they are popular for bicycles as batteries last long time and people think that a flashing lights is easier to get drivers attention.

 

[IOM]

I know this sounds defeatist but if people dont look they wont see .I drove emergency vehicles for twenty years with blue lights, flashing headlights, bull horns, and a variety of sirens .Some people still didnt know we were there ,so whatever you do dont think using lights etc will keep you safe .Defensive riding is the best option by far .ATB hughie

 

[StumpyFingers]

Someone got caught with flashing LEDs hidden under the front grill of their car. They got fined for trying ti impersonate an emergency vehicle.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[grizzly7]

I'm certainly no expert, but I thought flashing lights on pushbikes were OK now?

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2559/regulation/6/made


If flashers on a bike only suggests indicators, what does one each side tell you then? Broken indicators?

 

[mrjim130]

The only way a flashing light helps is IF it is seen, sorry mate didn't see you!!!

 

[Maxxx]

Epilepsy?

I can't understand how flashing lights on bicycles have been made legal - I am extremely suceptible to flashing lights / strobes and occasionally feel nauseous when riding down a tree lined avenue in the sunlight.

I was recently driving in a car at night with a bloke on a bike with a blindingly flashing strobe behind me. I couldn't tell how far he was away and even flicking the rear view mirror into the "diim" position didn't help. In the end, I had to pull over and let the bloke pass and wait for a few minutes before getting going again for fear of having a fit induced by the lights.

I'm just wondering who I would have been able to lodge a complaint against in this instance ......?

 

[LimeTree.]

I can't understand how flashing lights on bicycles have been made legal - I am extremely suceptible to flashing lights / strobes and occasionally feel nauseous when riding down a tree lined avenue in the sunlight.

I was recently driving in a car at night with a bloke on a bike with a blindingly flashing strobe behind me. I couldn't tell how far he was away and even flicking the rear view mirror into the "diim" position didn't help. In the end, I had to pull over and let the bloke pass and wait for a few minutes before getting going again for fear of having a fit induced by the lights.

I'm just wondering who I would have been able to lodge a complaint against in this instance ......?

I have decided against putting flashing lights on the bike because of some of the posts here which make valid points... (But mostly im just keen not to be pulled over every 5 seconds)

As for lodging a complaint... Surely you couldn't? Its unfortunate that you have a form (sounds mild) of epilepsy... but this isn't the bikers fault, he's just tying to make him self seen.
Not trying to sound like a twat.. just my thoughts on the matter!

 

[Maxxx]

Good news

Good news that you are not going for flashing lights

Sorry for the misunderstanding about my previous post - I wasn't implying I have a complaint against the cyclist at all - he was perfectly within his legal right - I'm wondering which government department responsible for passing the legislation I should have been complaining to - it was a hypothetical question as yes, my condition is controllable thankfully - my sister on the otherhand might not be so lucky at some later point in life .......

 

[MikeP]

I can't understand how flashing lights on bicycles have been made legal - I am extremely suceptible to flashing lights / strobes
[snip]
In the end, I had to pull over and let the bloke pass and wait for a few minutes before getting going again for fear of having a fit induced by the lights.

As much as I have sympathy for your condition my second thought is that if you are susceptible to the degree that you may have a fit then you shouldn't really be driving.