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Lights/reflectors

  • 05-10-2021 6:34pm
    #1
    spalpeen
    Registered Users Posts: 130 ✭✭


    Hi all,

    Am I legally required to have cycling lights as well as a reflector? Or does a reflector suffice



Comments

  • #2
    magicbastarder
    Moderators, Category Moderators, Arts Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 48,189 CMod ✭✭✭✭magicbastarder


    lights are a legal requirement during lighting up hours. and are a no-brainer, reflectors are not worth a damn.



  • #3
    Skill Magill
    Registered Users Posts: 2,567 ✭✭✭Skill Magill


    Only when its dark, you can fill your boots in daylight



  • #4
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,740 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    You are legally required to have a red reflector at the rear of the bike. as well as lights after dark. I don't think the reflector law is enforced much at all. The lights requirement is enforced though.



  • #5
    Dr_Colossus
    Registered Users Posts: 3,112 ✭✭✭Dr_Colossus


    Enforced? Nothing is enforced in Ireland, there are reams of legislation covering nearly everything but it's of little practical deterrent when there is no enforcement of said legislation.

    I've been cycling in Dublin for nearly 25 years in all weathers and during that time I've seen Gardaí actively stop unlit cyclists once about 14 years ago at a checkpoint just past O'Connell bridge.

    That said I have two rear lights and a strong front light I use year round at all times day/night so perhaps the rare sightings of passing squad cars pull in the occasional cyclist.

    There is no excuse for not having lights, basic ones can be got for buttons and could be a life saver.



  • #6
    Macy0161
    Registered Users Posts: 9,258 ✭✭✭Macy0161


    I'd agree, rarely enforced, but a legal requirement (as well as being pretty stupid not to use one in the dark/ lighting up times)

    I haven't had a moan about them for a while, but the requirements around bicycle lights in legislation go back to the 60's, so all sizes in inches (which most/ all modern lights wouldn't comply), visible for a certain number of yards. If only there was a fellow EU country with a clear standard we could copy...



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  • #7
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,740 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    I've seen cyclists stopped for not having lights, and as you can see from the link, it is or was the second most enforced of the fixed-charge notices that cyclists can get.


    Yeah, it's pretty weird all the regulations being in inches and feet. They also stipulate a minimum face area for lights that few bike lights probably meet anymore. Or at least a minimum that a lot of decent lights don't meet.



  • #8
    ARX
    Registered Users Posts: 555 ✭✭✭ARX


    It's common at this time of year for people to forget to put their car lights on, so reflectors won't help you there. They also won't help where someone is going to pull out of a side road on your left. Get lights.



  • #9
    Chips Lovell
    Moderators, Politics Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 24,264 Mod ✭✭✭✭Chips Lovell


    Of course, if they introduced German-style regs, those crappy lights the RSA hand out every year wouldn't be compliant.



  • #10
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭[Deleted User]


    I just put my old wheels the came with my bike on the other night, they have that 3m stuff on the spokes that Aldi sold last year. Serious pop when light hits them but like ARX said not much use if someone hasn't switched their lights on which I seen countless times already this Autumn. Or the ones with one headlight out who will only bother to change the bulb if there's an NCT due. That said I have seen the Gardai pull someone for it at the weekend there.



  • #11
    tomasrojo
    Registered Users Posts: 11,740 ✭✭✭✭tomasrojo


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117982836#Comment_117982836



    The RSA giveaways aren't compliant with the current regulations either. At least clearly for the rear light, as they're too small:

    " have an illuminated area of at least 2 square inches and of such a shape that a circle of 1 inch in diameter may be inscribed therein,"

    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2057136579/irish-cycling-legislation

    The front lights they provide are probably not compliant either, though it depends on what you mean by "reasonable distance".

    "when lit, show to the front of the cycle a white or yellow light visible during lighting-up hours for a reasonable distance,"



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  • #12
    ted1
    Registered Users Posts: 23,229 ✭✭✭✭ted1


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058211826/lights-reflectors

    regardless of requirements, why would you not use good lights?



  • #13
    ILIKEFOOD
    Registered Users Posts: 675 ✭✭✭ILIKEFOOD


    speaking of...

    you can order free hi vis stuff here fromthe RSA. I've had the bag cover before, and I've ordered it again after mine went missing...

    https://www.rsaorders.ie/orders-online/




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