Rear lights: which is best, continuous or flashing?

I've always opted for the continuous light, but went out for a swift 5 mile spin tonight to get a bit of fresh air, and noticed three other cyclists all sporting flashing rear lights.

 

I suppose you could argue that the flashing light draws the motorist's attention more easily. But at the same time might be a distraction?

 

Don't know.

 

Thoughts?

Steady liughts can blend into the background lighting,maybe confused by appearing to be a reflector of a car in front.or projected lights from shops etc. flashing at least is attention grabbing. no other vehicle on the road utilizes a flashing red light.

I run steady at night but if merky flashing, during busy times flashing .

I use a red blinky, plus a steady rear light, plus I wear a flashing red LED shash on my shoulder... and drivers still sometimes do not see me at all. Maybe they're texting, or something very important like that. Or maybe their cars are on cyclist-blind autopilot.

 

https://www.theregister.com/2021/12/24/tesla_disables_mobile_gaming_in_vehicle/

Edited January 3, 20224 yr by guerney

Flashing every time, mine just happen to be irregular/random flash

Things likely won't be much different after the 29th when the new hierarchy rules of the HWC come in to force if agreed on and passed.

I've always opted for the continuous light, but went out for a swift 5 mile spin tonight to get a bit of fresh air, and noticed three other cyclists all sporting flashing rear lights.

 

I suppose you could argue that the flashing light draws the motorist's attention more easily. But at the same time might be a distraction?

Retroreflective patches on my panniers ends, and strips all over my high vis jacket, and two lamps, one flashing one steady, and unless it's raining, slightly fluorescent lime green leggings...no excuse for not seeing me!

I noticed immediately that cars took more care passing me after I added a bright flashing rear light to my seat post.

This is some guidance I’ve found on the new Highway Code in relation to bike lights.;

 

“Want to know the law when it comes to cycling in the dark? Simon Bever, our friendly expert, explains all you need to know about staying legal and well lit when cycling on public roads.

It is illegal to cycle on a public road after dark without lights and reflectors. Exactly which lights and reflectors, where to fit them and when to light up, is defined by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR).

When you ride a bicycle in the dark, the law requires you have lights and reflectors; and the law is quite detailed as to what lights and what reflectors you use.

The RVLR, which were first published in 1989, and then amended in 1994, 1996, 2001, 2005, again in 2005 and most recently in 2009. While most of the amendments made no difference to cyclists, it is still quite a task to work out what the law is.

It is true to say that few police officers will know the finer details of these regulations, and so long as you are showing a white light at the front and a red light at the rear then you are unlikely to be challenged. However, if you're involved in an accident at night, any slight irregularity could be challenged in court and may be regarded as 'contributory negligence' (a polite way of saying that the accident is partly your fault!)

The main points of RVLR are as follows:

• Lights and reflectors are required on a pedal cycle only between sunset and sunrise.
  
• Lights and reflectors are not required when the cycle is stationary or being pushed along the roadside.
  
• When they are required, the lights and reflectors listed below must be clean and working properly.
  

Note: Reflectors have to be fixed to the rear of your bike and to the front and rear of each pedal. The Pedal Cycles (Safety) Regulations (PCSR) ensure that every new bicycle is sold with several extra reflectors, some of which are not required by RVLR (you may have seen bikes with yellow or white reflectors placed in the spokes).

However, you only have to look around to see that most reflectors are subsequently removed from the bike and, in the case of 'racing' bikes, the pedals are frequently changed for cleated versions that rarely have even have space for reflectors to be fitted.

Below is little more explanation of the 'details' of the regulations so that you can be sure to equipped with at least the minimum requirements.

Front lamp

• At least one lamp is required, showing a white light, positioned centrally or offside (the right-hand side of the bike), up to 1500mm from the ground, aligned towards and visible from the front. If capable of emitting a steady light, it must be marked as conforming to BS6102/3 or an equivalent EC standard.
  
• If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candelas.
  

Note: It might sound obvious, but the light needs to be fixed to the bicycle; there is a fashion for helmet lights which can be pointed in the direction you're looking which might be useful but is not legal. A single helmet mounted light doesn't conform - and if you're an adult, then the chances are that your helmet light will be more than the 1500mm height limit from the ground anyway.

The reference to '4 candelas' isn't very useful because most bike lights are given an output in 'lumens'; for a guide, 1 candela approximates to 12 lumens, so the tiny blinky flashing lights which usually put out around 25 lumens won't enough on their own; you'll need at least two of them.

Rear lamp

• One is required, to show a red light, positioned centrally or offside (the right-hand side of the bike), between 350mm and 1500mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS3648, or BS6102/3, or an equivalent EC standard. If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candelas.
  

You might have noticed that rear bike lights tend to have much lower lumen outputs than front lights. Firstly, is because we're unlikely to want to see where we're going with the rear light but it is also because our eyes react differently to red and white lights; to our eyes, a 50 lumen rear light has similar brightness as a 200 lumen front light

Flashing lights

It took until 2005 for the Regulations to be amended to allow the use of flashing bicycle lights (the older type of battery lights in existence when the Regulations were originally drawn up weren't able to flash). The 2005 RVLR amendment meant that it was now legal to have a flashing light on a pedal cycle, provided it flashed between 60 and 240 times per minute (1 – 4Hz).

The amendment also meant that a flashing light was approved, meaning no other light was needed in that position. And since BS6102/3 does not cater for flashing, approval is granted simply on the basis of its brightness (as specified above).”

 

As you will see, it really clarifies what’s required, not.

 

Rear LED lights are not that expensive, so for me and my own personal choice and for safety’s sake, I use two rear Red lights. One with a steady light and one with a double flash.

I've always opted for the continuous light, but went out for a swift 5 mile spin tonight to get a bit of fresh air, and noticed three other cyclists all sporting flashing rear lights.

 

I suppose you could argue that the flashing light draws the motorist's attention more easily. But at the same time might be a distraction?

 

Don't know.

 

Thoughts?

I never cycle at night. It's too bloody dangerous. As a motorist flashing lights draw my attention as they are so bloody irritating but I don't think they are as effective as decent output continuous lights especially for headlights. I'm sure that you can you see badgers in the road better with a normal headlight than with a disco strobe light.

I never cycle at night. It's too bloody dangerous. As a motorist flashing lights draw my attention as they are so bloody irritating but I don't think they are as effective as decent output continuous lights especially for headlights. I'm sure that you can you see badgers in the road better with a normal headlight than with a disco strobe light.

 

You’re talking about lights that have different functions.

 

With front lights there are two types;

- Lights to see with; bright and cover a good distance

- Lights to be seen; flashing or steady

I never cycle at night. It's too bloody dangerous. As a motorist flashing lights draw my attention as they are so bloody irritating but I don't think they are as effective as decent output continuous lights especially for headlights. I'm sure that you can you see badgers in the road better with a normal headlight than with a disco strobe light.

 

I didn't have any time to see the badger, despite the way the video looks, I was going slow (wide-ange action camera lens). There was no time, it jumped out of a hole in a hedge which was right up against the road. I couldn't have avoided it. A brighter headlamp wouldn't have helped - no time. CYCLISTS! BEWARE OF BADGERS!

 

I didn't have any time to see the badger, despite the way the video looks, I was going slow (wide-ange action camera lens). There was no time, it jumped out of a hole in a hedge which was right up against the road. I couldn't have avoided it. A brighter headlamp wouldn't have helped - no time. CYCLISTS! BEWARE OF BADGERS!

 

 

Hopefully you were OK and the bike not to damaged.

 

I had a similar experience in my car a few years ago at 0400 in the morning after coming back from Hospital. A Muntjac deer jumped into the front of the car from the hedgerow. No time to brake and it went underneath the car and caused nearly £5000 worth of damage.

Very good recent article on this

 

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/flashing-bike-lights/

Hopefully you were OK and the bike not to damaged.

 

 

You haven't been following the furry badger thread then!!!!

Injuries sustained were quite serious and a longish road yet to recovery.

This is some guidance I’ve found on the new Highway Code in relation to bike lights.;

 

“Want to know the law when it comes to cycling in the dark? Simon Bever, our friendly expert, explains all you need to know about staying legal and well lit when cycling on public roads.

It is illegal to cycle on a public road after dark without lights and reflectors. Exactly which lights and reflectors, where to fit them and when to light up, is defined by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations (RVLR).

When you ride a bicycle in the dark, the law requires you have lights and reflectors; and the law is quite detailed as to what lights and what reflectors you use.

The RVLR, which were first published in 1989, and then amended in 1994, 1996, 2001, 2005, again in 2005 and most recently in 2009. While most of the amendments made no difference to cyclists, it is still quite a task to work out what the law is.

It is true to say that few police officers will know the finer details of these regulations, and so long as you are showing a white light at the front and a red light at the rear then you are unlikely to be challenged. However, if you're involved in an accident at night, any slight irregularity could be challenged in court and may be regarded as 'contributory negligence' (a polite way of saying that the accident is partly your fault!)

The main points of RVLR are as follows:

• Lights and reflectors are required on a pedal cycle only between sunset and sunrise.
  
• Lights and reflectors are not required when the cycle is stationary or being pushed along the roadside.
  
• When they are required, the lights and reflectors listed below must be clean and working properly.
  

Note: Reflectors have to be fixed to the rear of your bike and to the front and rear of each pedal. The Pedal Cycles (Safety) Regulations (PCSR) ensure that every new bicycle is sold with several extra reflectors, some of which are not required by RVLR (you may have seen bikes with yellow or white reflectors placed in the spokes).

However, you only have to look around to see that most reflectors are subsequently removed from the bike and, in the case of 'racing' bikes, the pedals are frequently changed for cleated versions that rarely have even have space for reflectors to be fitted.

Below is little more explanation of the 'details' of the regulations so that you can be sure to equipped with at least the minimum requirements.

Front lamp

• At least one lamp is required, showing a white light, positioned centrally or offside (the right-hand side of the bike), up to 1500mm from the ground, aligned towards and visible from the front. If capable of emitting a steady light, it must be marked as conforming to BS6102/3 or an equivalent EC standard.
  
• If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candelas.
  

Note: It might sound obvious, but the light needs to be fixed to the bicycle; there is a fashion for helmet lights which can be pointed in the direction you're looking which might be useful but is not legal. A single helmet mounted light doesn't conform - and if you're an adult, then the chances are that your helmet light will be more than the 1500mm height limit from the ground anyway.

The reference to '4 candelas' isn't very useful because most bike lights are given an output in 'lumens'; for a guide, 1 candela approximates to 12 lumens, so the tiny blinky flashing lights which usually put out around 25 lumens won't enough on their own; you'll need at least two of them.

Rear lamp

• One is required, to show a red light, positioned centrally or offside (the right-hand side of the bike), between 350mm and 1500mm from the ground, at or near the rear, aligned towards and visible from behind. If capable of emitting a steady light it must be marked as conforming to BS3648, or BS6102/3, or an equivalent EC standard. If capable of emitting only a flashing light, it must emit at least 4 candelas.
  

You might have noticed that rear bike lights tend to have much lower lumen outputs than front lights. Firstly, is because we're unlikely to want to see where we're going with the rear light but it is also because our eyes react differently to red and white lights; to our eyes, a 50 lumen rear light has similar brightness as a 200 lumen front light

Flashing lights

It took until 2005 for the Regulations to be amended to allow the use of flashing bicycle lights (the older type of battery lights in existence when the Regulations were originally drawn up weren't able to flash). The 2005 RVLR amendment meant that it was now legal to have a flashing light on a pedal cycle, provided it flashed between 60 and 240 times per minute (1 – 4Hz).

The amendment also meant that a flashing light was approved, meaning no other light was needed in that position. And since BS6102/3 does not cater for flashing, approval is granted simply on the basis of its brightness (as specified above).”

 

As you will see, it really clarifies what’s required, not.

 

Rear LED lights are not that expensive, so for me and my own personal choice and for safety’s sake, I use two rear Red lights. One with a steady light and one with a double flash.

 

Thanks for that really useful info. Never knew.

You haven't been following the furry badger thread then!!!!

Injuries sustained were quite serious and a longish road yet to recovery.

Take care and get well soon

I never cycle at night. It's too bloody dangerous. As a motorist flashing lights draw my attention as they are so bloody irritating but I don't think they are as effective as decent output continuous lights especially for headlights. I'm sure that you can you see badgers in the road better with a normal headlight than with a disco strobe light.

 

You're right it's several orders of magnitude more dangerous than cycling in daylight. If I go out at night I only cycle along well lit roads. Tried an unlit lane a couple of months ago, and had to cycle slowly anyway as I didn't know the lane very well, and was concerned I might hit an obstacle or pothole. But the worst thing was the occasional oncoming car. Had to stop as the headlights were blinding and disorientating. I won't be trying that again in a hurry.

Thanks for that really useful info. Never knew.

 

8000lm

Take care and get well soon

 

It wasn't me who was injured.

You're right it's several orders of magnitude more dangerous than cycling in daylight. If I go out at night I only cycle along well lit roads. Tried an unlit lane a couple of months ago, and had to cycle slowly anyway as I didn't know the lane very well, and was concerned I might hit an obstacle or pothole. But the worst thing was the occasional oncoming car. Had to stop as the headlights were blinding and disorientating. I won't be trying that again in a hurry.

 

I prefer cycling at night - when else do cars reduce in number enough, for one to enjoy the road? Mind you, drivers are much worse during pub hours, and after they close... even blinder than usual - half awake and slow to react. This helps:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hornit-dB140-V2-Worlds-Loudest/dp/B006TDEV20/ref=

 

It's prevented many a collision with people and vehicles, also works on other animals. Gives you a loud retort to rude beeping *sshole drivers.

Edited January 4, 20224 yr by guerney

Very good recent article on this

 

https://www.bikeradar.com/advice/buyers-guides/flashing-bike-lights/

 

Thanks for that really comprehensive link.

 

Germany’s StVZO bike light regulations dictate that flashing bike lights are not permitted on either the front or rear of a bike, with the regulations stating that flashing patterns can be distracting to other road users.

 

I did wonder that.

 

The study found the flashing light was far superior on the straight road, allowing detection of the rider from three times the distance of the steady light. This equated to detection 82m sooner, on average.

 

Logical.

 

The 2017 Clemson University study also examined mounting lights to the heels of a cyclist.

The study found that “when steady lights were mounted to the cyclist’s pedalling heels, participants [identified the cyclist] from a mean distance that was 1.7 times greater than when a flashing light was mounted to the seatpost”.

This figure increased to 5.5 times when compared to a steady light mounted to the seatpost.

 

They sound useful.

 

The lights cyclists use inevitably affect other road users, one particular concern being the impact flashing lights could have on people with epilepsy. However, according to Epilepsy Action, photosensitive epilepsy is rare.

 

Never thought about that at all - although it sounds as though the flash rate is too slow to have that effect. Even so.......

 

Choosing a rear light with a lower flash rate or with a less severe flash pattern (e.g., not on/off flash) should reduce dazzle for other road users and minimise the risk to those with photosensitive epilepsy.

Combining this with a steady rear light could then maximise the ability of other road users to detect your distance and speed – allowing you to be detected early, identified as a cyclist and approached safely.

 

A combination might be the best way forward.

It wasn't me who was injured.

 

@Nealth

Glad to hear that mate, though sorry for the poor bugger that did.

You're right it's several orders of magnitude more dangerous than cycling in daylight. If I go out at night I only cycle along well lit roads. Tried an unlit lane a couple of months ago, and had to cycle slowly anyway as I didn't know the lane very well, and was concerned I might hit an obstacle or pothole. But the worst thing was the occasional oncoming car. Had to stop as the headlights were blinding and disorientating. I won't be trying that again in a hurry.

I find the opposite.

During the day the roads are busy & RTV can judge widths so will do close overtakes.

At night my combination of lights (steady centre & flashing at the width of the handlebars) & fewer cars leads to overtaking as if I were a car.

Today I took some items to the local tip (we have to prebook & provide a vehicle registration number - so I use my moped number from 1977) & found why I dislike day journeys - lots of impatient traffic & bright blinding low sun!

I find the opposite.

During the day the roads are busy & RTV can judge widths so will do close overtakes.

At night my combination of lights (steady centre & flashing at the width of the handlebars) & fewer cars leads to overtaking as if I were a car.

Today I took some items to the local tip (we have to prebook & provide a vehicle registration number - so I use my moped number from 1977) & found why I dislike day journeys - lots of impatient traffic & bright blinding low sun!

 

Obviously daytime cycling can also present challenges, depending on cloud cover, low Sun in Winter and increased traffic. But generally speaking I do prefer it to night time cycling. It's much easier to see surface hazards from a greater distance in daylight than in darkness, even with street lighting.

 

I wouldn't even contemplate. for example, night time cycling in icy conditions.