Helmet mounted spotlights

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Helmet mounted spotlights - legality?

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#1313310 28-May-2015 10:30

debo: I use one of these bright flashing lights. They are awesome. The reflective stuff on signs and things like road cones all light up brilliantly. It makes the streets look something like Vegas. The thing is, for a motorist to kill a cyclist it is a slap on the wrist offence. Many motorist simply don't care about cyclists. I will prefer to pay a fine for my light than be killed.

WOW. You're attitude is appauling and outright dangerous. I think you will find that almost all motorist do care about other road users. It's not about who has the biggest impact on who ever, it about all roaduser coexisting peacefully and looking out for each other. All you are doing is creating a bigger, more dangerous hazard on the roads that could result in a far worse accident than otherwise might happen - and you would be the cause of it!

The big problem is that most roads in New Zealand are not designed to be shared by motorised vehicles and a large and increasing number of cyclists at the same time. The roads are simply not wide enough for safe use. Hence why there is an ever increasing number of cycle ways, but the problem is they are often not where the cyclists want to be. Plus there are quite a few cyclist who do not use these. Every day I drive a piece of 80km/h road that has a dedicated cycle/walkway running beside the road, and every day I see cyclist using the road rather than the cycleway. There is a dedicated cyclist bridge over a stream as part of the cycleway (and the road narrows on the road bridge over said stream) yet most cyclists I see still use the road bridge.

surfisup1000

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#1313355 28-May-2015 11:29

keewee01:
debo: I use one of these bright flashing lights. They are awesome. The reflective stuff on signs and things like road cones all light up brilliantly. It makes the streets look something like Vegas. The thing is, for a motorist to kill a cyclist it is a slap on the wrist offence. Many motorist simply don't care about cyclists. I will prefer to pay a fine for my light than be killed.

WOW. You're attitude is appauling and outright dangerous. I think you will find that almost all motorist do care about other road users. It's not about who has the biggest impact on who ever, it about all roaduser coexisting peacefully and looking out for each other. All you are doing is creating a bigger, more dangerous hazard on the roads that could result in a far worse accident than otherwise might happen - and you would be the cause of it!

The big problem is that most roads in New Zealand are not designed to be shared by motorised vehicles and a large and increasing number of cyclists at the same time. The roads are simply not wide enough for safe use. Hence why there is an ever increasing number of cycle ways, but the problem is they are often not where the cyclists want to be. Plus there are quite a few cyclist who do not use these. Every day I drive a piece of 80km/h road that has a dedicated cycle/walkway running beside the road, and every day I see cyclist using the road rather than the cycleway. There is a dedicated cyclist bridge over a stream as part of the cycleway (and the road narrows on the road bridge over said stream) yet most cyclists I see still use the road bridge.

I have sympathy for debos comments.

Having biked around at night before, and twice been bowled in broad daylight by cars who just run through giveway/stop signs .

Car drivers just have a hard time to see cyclists, because cyclists are not that common in numbers (compared to cars) and cycles are also a lot smaller and harder to spot.

The cyclists brighter light will help visibility. I bet there have been very few (if any) examples of car drivers crashing because of dazzling cycle lights but plenty of examples of cyclists being hit by cars at night.

If you could see some of the car driver behaviour then you might understand a little better.

I rarely cycle at night now though, but, when I do I assume drivers cannot see me. Maybe this is more of a hassle for cyclists who do cycle a lot at night though, because it means you have to stop when you see cars that might not see you.

GregV

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#1313386 28-May-2015 11:58

Nowhere did debo say that their light was shining in motorists eyes. I find that even with my handle-bar mounted light, aiming down at the road, that the light splash does make all of the road signs reflect quite nicely.

The issue I have with a lot of cycle paths (or even worse "shared spaces") is that they are designed for low-speed travel, and/or take a detour to get anywhere. Most cycle commuters want to get from A to B the quickest way possible, which is why they stay on the road. If I am travelling straight ahead on a cycle path alongside a road, I instantly lose my right-of-way every time I 'cross' a side-street. If I am on the road I retain my right-of-way and travel through unhindered.

mdooher

Hmm, what to write...
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#1313392 28-May-2015 12:01

GregV: Nowhere did debo say that their light was shining in motorists eyes. .

"The reflective stuff on signs and things like road cones all light up brilliantly. It makes the streets look something like Vegas"

I think we can asume it does

Matthew

MikeAqua

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#1313456 28-May-2015 13:25

Interesting discussion.

To clarify, I wasn't suggesting that MTB riders have no lights while on the road at night. I'm niot itnerrested in beatig upon cyclists, I'm a cyclist too.

The rider could have used an everyday cycle light once back on the road. Those are plenty visible

I don't think the rider deliberately dazzled me. Turning to look at cars is an automatic response.

I didn't have phone with me but think next time this happens I will call *555.

I'm a member of my local MTB forum, so I'm going to put a post there so riders are aware how hazardous these helmet-lights are on the road.

It really is quite dangerous .... it could have been really bad

Mike

oxnsox

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#1313783 28-May-2015 23:21

jfanning:

What countries charge bicycle registration, and what do they actually use this for?

I believe the Swiss do

D1023319

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#1313964 29-May-2015 11:17

Really interesting discussion.

While blinding to motorists, in my street that has a steep slope, the super bright helmet lamps are a good warning to pedestrians that a cyclist is coming at high speed. This is very important because the cylist has right of way on the pedestrian crossing!

Re registration debate, if cycling is a mainstream transport mode, why shouldnt they be registered and pay road user charges and acc levys? especially electric bikes that go same speed as scooters.

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lxsw20

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#1313979 29-May-2015 11:30

D1023319: This is very important because the cylist has right of way on the pedestrian crossing!

You've lost me here. The road user gives way to the pedestrian. Where is the law that states unless you're a bike?

Or are you stating the cyclist is using the pedestrian crossing? In which case the cyclist needs to get off the bike and push the bike across the crossing.

jfanning

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#1314024 29-May-2015 11:57

oxnsox:
jfanning:

I believe the Swiss do

Reading about this indicates it is to provide liability insurance only

Edit:
Reading this https://www.ch.ch/en/cycling-switzerland/ indicates it was phased out in 2012

D1023319

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#1314040 29-May-2015 12:24

Pardon lxsw29 for not being clear.

I was being sarcastic because i have almost been knocked down many times by cyclists that refuse to stop to allow pedestrians to cross the road.

At least now it is dark at night, i can see them coming.

keewee01

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#1314175 29-May-2015 15:13

D1023319: Pardon lxsw29 for not being clear.

I was being sarcastic because i have almost been knocked down many times by cyclists that refuse to stop to allow pedestrians to cross the road.

At least now it is dark at night, i can see them coming.

Yes, that is more clear.

Have been in the same situation, and I would quite happily walk out on a crossing in front of a cyclist.

Same at red lights. I often see some cyclists - and will be the same couple of cyclists every time - running a red light because there was no or almost no traffic on the green. It is a shame that a few tarnish the many - and the same does go for motorists.

numfarr

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#1314468 30-May-2015 09:39

mdooher:
GregV: Nowhere did debo say that their light was shining in motorists eyes. .

"The reflective stuff on signs and things like road cones all light up brilliantly. It makes the streets look something like Vegas"

I think we can asume it does

No that happens even when you have a bright flashing light pointing down at the road a couple of metres in front of you. With a flashing light you really notice the bounced light catching the reflectives on the road signs, but it isn't dazzling to drivers.

keewee01

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#1329856 23-Jun-2015 13:00

For those around the Wellington Region (voucher for cyclist lighting): Greater Wellington Regional Council, Be Safe Be Seen

Oblivian

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#1329868 23-Jun-2015 13:22

Thought felt head placement.

All it is.

I have one on the bars, 1 on the helmet. Of course not flashing, and fairly focused beams. The helmet mount is fairly close aimed for forrest trees on corners avoidance. The bar even lower.

Car comes toward, you look with your eyes not your head/neck. (in some cases I even look left and use my peripheral to keep an eye forward). If I'm passed dangerously.. they get a few quick head nods in the back window to remind them to be alert to surroundings.

As a car passes, Head down, eyes up until car is out of beam range. As I'm approaching occupied T's head points spot infront of me and toward their bonnet. Eyes on the scan.

Ta-da. Everyone is friends.

keewee01

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#1329869 23-Jun-2015 13:25

Oblivian: Thought felt head placement.

All it is.

I have one on the bars, 1 on the helmet. Of course not flashing, and fairly focused beams. The helmet mount is fairly close aimed for forrest trees on corners avoidance. The bar even lower.

Car comes toward, you look with your eyes not your head/neck. (in some cases I even look left and use my peripheral to keep an eye forward). If I'm passed dangerously.. they get a few quick head nods in the back window to remind them to be alert to surroundings.

As a car passes, Head down, eyes up until car is out of beam range. As I'm approaching occupied T's head points spot infront of me and toward their bonnet. Eyes on the scan.

Ta-da. Everyone is friends.

It is fabulous that you are thinking about the others around you and I tip my hat to you (or I would if I wore one)

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