mudguard:

Talkiet:

mudguard: I'd say they're not legal. But then I'm not sure how often or legal a lot of vehicle foglights are either and I see them used plenty.Either way I think it's safer for the cyclist to be seen and occasionally dazzle. People forget about high beam in cars too.

You're wrong. "occasionally dazzle" a driver in charge of a 1-2tonne death hunk of metal? What a totally stupid thing to suggest. The lights being talked about here are usually brighter (and more focussed) than car highbeams.

There's no question here, they are dangerous for on-road

Cheers - N

I'd say no more likely to dazzle than someone leaving their lights on high beam. Same with high powered fog lamps.
Go on a night ride once. You'll learn very quickly to control where your headlamp points. Easy to spot new riders lighting up fellow riders faces when stopped for a chat.

I can't find anything that suggests you can't use as bright lights as you want. Provided you're not using them in a manner that is a hazard. IE mounting them facing oncoming traffic.

mudguard:

Talkiet:

mudguard: I'd say they're not legal. But then I'm not sure how often or legal a lot of vehicle foglights are either and I see them used plenty.Either way I think it's safer for the cyclist to be seen and occasionally dazzle. People forget about high beam in cars too.

You're wrong. "occasionally dazzle" a driver in charge of a 1-2tonne death hunk of metal? What a totally stupid thing to suggest. The lights being talked about here are usually brighter (and more focussed) than car highbeams.

There's no question here, they are dangerous for on-road

Cheers - N

I'd say no more likely to dazzle than someone leaving their lights on high beam. Same with high powered fog lamps.
Go on a night ride once. You'll learn very quickly to control where your headlamp points. Easy to spot new riders lighting up fellow riders faces when stopped for a chat.

I can't find anything that suggests you can't use as bright lights as you want. Provided you're not using them in a manner that is a hazard. IE mounting them facing oncoming traffic.

Talkiet:I'm a driver and I don't want any cyclist pointing a dangerously powerful light into my eyes at night. It's MUCH worse than highbeams from other cars.

And "using them in a manner that is a hazard"? You mean, like looking into the cabin of an oncoming car with your 5000 Lumen mini-sun?

And it is wrong/illegal to use undipped headlights into oncoming traffic (and in built up areas I think)... Why would anyone think it's acceptable to point dangerously powerful lights straight into the eyes of a driver at night?

Cheers - N

mudguard: [snip]I certainly don't think it's acceptable to point anything at anyone else's eyes. I'm suggesting that cyclists who do direct their headlamps at drivers are only doing so accidently. [snip]

Talkiet:

mudguard: [snip]I certainly don't think it's acceptable to point anything at anyone else's eyes. I'm suggesting that cyclists who do direct their headlamps at drivers are only doing so accidently. [snip]

Doesn't make it less dangerous for the motorist. Headlamps that are insane bright are dangerous. Great for trails, great for annoying drivers on the roads. If you think cyclists don't regularly look at cars while on the road then ... well, I don't even understand how smoeone could possibly think that!

Cyclists SHOULD be looking at cars, surely that's part of basic safety / self preservation! Add a stupid bright light on your head that points where you look and. Well, I give up, if you can't see the issue with it then I'm afraid to be on the road with you.

Cheers - N

surfisup1000:

jfanning: I've had this discussion before, this is from the Land Transport Rule: Vehicle Lighting (2004)

Bikes as classed a Class AA, which is in Group A, which must comply with section 3.3

3.3(1) A dipped-beam headlamp on a motor vehicle (other than an unclassified motor vehicle, or a vehicle having a gross vehicle mass exceeding 12,000 kg) must be positioned at a height not exceeding 1.2 m from the ground.

It depends on the definition of vehicle and headlamp.  From what I can tell, the headlamp is on the helmet, not the vehicle (bike).  

Technicalities like this are bread and butter for lawyers. 

• Headlights should be attached to handlebars and pointing down.
• Your lights can be a hazard if used incorrectly. You must not use cycle lighting equipment in such a way that it dazzles, confuses, or distracts so as to endanger the safety of other road users.

cyberhub: 30 Seconds, that must of been a very bright light.  Perhaps you can get in touch with NZTA and ask them to put a sign up at the end of the track asking riders to turn off or turn down their super bright head lamps.

stevenz: What about the awful ones that flash at ~30Hz?