Hitchcocks Forum

The government are sneaking this in. (Just appeared on the government website.)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... y-2016.pdf

Is that a UK government rule or an EU rule?

This appears to be EU legislation, so will this still affect new machines if Britain resigns its membership of the EU? Will any EU rules and regs become invalid?
Personally I can't see myself ever buying another new bike now I've developed a taste for older classic bikes (new bikes are just so ugly) and is it any great inconvenience anyway, the majority of bikers I see around have lights on. I certainly have, even on my 50 year old Triumph, since the early 70's so its as habitual as putting on the skidlid.

This we don't need.



The novelty effect of a motorcycle headlamp does not work anymore since many cars seem to be fitted with LED 'Bling' lights.



I used to drive with my headlamp on, but not anymore. I wear a high viz top. There are a few reports now that suggest a motorcycle looks further away than it is, when it's headlamp is on. This false distance gives oncoming vehicle users confidence to make that right hand turn they were waiting for.



Maybe more study is needed from all sides, but I think this may be a backwards move by the EU (So nothing new there then!).

Generally, with urban street lighting, headlights are more about being seen than seeing. This is especially the case with cyclists and the painfully annoying use of high powered flashing strobbing headlights. These lights aren't simply a means of making a cyclist visible but an infuriating and potentially dangerous distraction.

The small sized forced on headlamps on modern bikes do not help with distance perception, just like oncoming tractor headlamps in the dark looking like a car much further down the road.Allthough thats never been a problem with Chuchug ,as they hear her coming long before they can see her...... LOUD EXHAUSTS SAVE LIVES

AOH have been around for some years for some models of bikes. Once version of my Aprilia RS50 doesn't have a headlight switch. Only a dip switch. My bike was made in 1999. To be honest, I can't see this being enforced. You roll up to the MOT station. Put the light switch on. Start engine. MOT passed. In other words: Automatic headlight on. Manual off. Nowhere does it say that the lights have to stay on when the engine is running.

I live in Finland where all motor vehicles must have lights on when on the move - day or night makes no difference. The law has been like that at least thirty years... I think it is a good thing. And one more thing to pro side: it makes easy to tell whether a car is running or just parked funnily...

Interesting thing is that a few years ago the French govt proposed a law that all motor vehicles should drive with headlights on.There was a huge outcry from the bikers

who stated that drivers could identify a bike because they could see the headlight,if every vehicle had them on bikes wouldn't be visible from the rest of the traffic,

after a few very well organised and well attended démonstrations the idea was dropped.From my own experience I think it is a good idea,you will spot a bike in the

distance much quicker with it's lights on.

Here in South Africa that is the rule, bikes must have headlights on. But it is of little value because so many cars have either only a single headlamp or none at all – and in any case it is common to treat bikes like a movable target (push from behind!).
It has over the past few years become common practice for bikes to use an orange protector for the headlamp – and that is very noticeable from any distance. Yes, it is illegal, but so far it is accepted as a useful safety feature.
ChrisD