Motor-cycle law.

[d0gsb0dy]

I heard recently that motor-bikes now have to have their lights on regardless of the time of day. Is this really true? I see lots of them riding without lights.

[ursula62]

Don't think it is law yet. There's been talk about this for a few years now. The British Motorcycle Federation were against it a few years back.

It's a proposed EC ruling we haven't adopted yet.

Some newer bikes are wired so that the lights are on all the time, especially if the bike manufacturer doesn't want to have to make a separate version for us than the rest of Europe, but as far as I'm aware, it's not British law just yet.

[ursula62]

Sorry, forgot to say that when you take your bike test you need to have your lights on or they won't be too happy as they are keen on "visibility".

[d0gsb0dy]

Thanks for that. Sounds like a good idea to me. I have my car lights on any time I think it makes me more visible, not just during lighting-up hours.

[kempie]

"I have my car lights on any time I think it makes me more visible..."

but this legislation would remove your right to do as you think.

[d0gsb0dy]

The law in question is applicable to motor-bikes, not cars. Even if it were, it wouldn't bother me. I always wore a seat-belt before it became mandatory, but I don't feel deprived now that it is a legal requirement. I would only be concerned if I thought it was counter-productive legislation.

[Impret-Sir]

The reason why the BMF were opposed to this law was that independant research showed that when a bike is coming towards you with its headlight on, the tendency was for the observer to misjudge, and underestimate,  the distance between himself and the bike. This led to drivers sat at junctions seeing the bike coming perfectly, then thinking it was further away than it was and pulling out in front of it!

[kempie]

d0gsb0dy - in my response above I was aware of the law not being applicable to cars (not yet anyway!), however I was suggesting that the judgement you employ as a car driver whether to light-up or not would be stripped from motorcyclists.

This is not meant as a dig at you, but why should their judgement be deemed inferior to yours?

[Toureman]

Hi, It is not law yet for motorcycles to have headlights on during daytime.

If it became law for cars to have headlights on in daytime as it is in some countries this would completely negate the use of headlights in daytime on motorcycles!