IFLASH BIKE LIGHTS FULL
Speaking to BikeRadar, Marc Green – an authority on assessing human factors in collision analysis – said that research comparing steady and flashing lights is difficult to interpret “because there are so many variables (day/night, front/side/back view, the existence of other conspicuity aids, etc.)”.Ī full summary of this research will follow in the next edition of his book, but he added that “from a high-level view, it looks to me like this: steady or flashing makes no difference in rural areas… but flashing is better in urban areas where there are a lot of steady background lights” Do flashing bike lights affect depth perception? In addition, participants from this study commented that the steady light looked like a motorcyclist from a distance, while the flashing light enabled them to identify the road user as a cyclist sooner. Mike Kemp / Getty ImagesĮarlier detection with a flashing light makes sense – research shows our eyes are better at detecting moving or changing stimuli and it seems we can make use of this to be seen from a greater distance when cycling. Good lights can help you stand out in a busy urban environment. This equated to detection 82m sooner, on average. 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. Using a long, straight road and a curved road, researchers looked at how light choice affected detection distance. Riders may have a personal preference, but what evidence is there in favour of either?Ī 2017 study from Clemson University compared the visibility of flashing and steady rear lights. While cyclists in some countries may not have a choice, many of the best bike lights offer both flashing and steady modes. This is the case in Washington state, where flashing white lights are prohibited except for on emergency vehicles. In some places, flashing lights are reserved for emergency vehicles only – allowing other road users a clear cue of an emergency. This is also the case in the Netherlands, and in Austria flashing front lights are not permitted. 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. However, in other countries the rules differ. The regulations state that, if you choose to use flashing lights, they must flash at a frequency between 1-4hz, which is between one and four flashes per second. These are subject to minimum output requirements and can be either steady or flashing.Ī 2005 amendment to the The Road Vehicles Lighting (Amendment) Regulations made it legal to use flashing lights on a bicycle in the UK. Russel Burton / Immediate MediaĬurrent bike light laws in the UK dictate cyclists are required to use front and rear lights on public roads – white on the front, red on the rear – between sunset and sunrise. In the UK, your bike must be fitted with a front and rear light between sunset and sunrise.
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