Suzuki V-Strom (VStrom) Owners Club DL250, DL650, DL1000 & DL1050

Oily Rag - Dedicated to Pat, Greywolf. 26/06/45 - 04/06/18 => Accessories and After Market items => Topic started by: pichulec on December 07, 2018, 21:40:22

Title: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: pichulec on December 07, 2018, 21:40:22

Hello folks. Are strobe lights legal on uk roads?? I couldn't find anything about it in highway code.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Rusty Nuts on December 07, 2018, 21:42:43

Pretty sure they are verboten. Construction & use and lighting regulations will tell more than the Highway Code.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: pichulec on December 07, 2018, 21:46:23

I am talking about white light, not blue, red or amber.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Rusty Nuts on December 07, 2018, 21:47:31

Yes, me too.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: pichulec on December 07, 2018, 22:12:49

Can you point me to specific document please?

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Rusty Nuts on December 07, 2018, 22:20:35

No, sorry. There's been tons written on this topic in the last few years, I can't remember specifics. Somebody on here will be able to quote chapter and verse, I'm sure.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Gassoon on December 07, 2018, 22:31:34

It's an interesting question ('interesting' up to a point!). Cyclists can have them ( I think they used to be illegal? strobing cycle lights, that is); some cars have a flashing cycle on brake lamps under heavy braking. Maybe EU law is the place to look :shrug:

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Rusty Nuts on December 07, 2018, 22:38:08

Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations, RLVR for short.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Tiggerbits on December 07, 2018, 23:02:18

Quick google and I found this...

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/regulation/13/made

Hopefully that helps.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: tallpaul on December 07, 2018, 23:12:58

That'll be a no then...  :icon_no:

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Holmsey on December 07, 2018, 23:50:23

Quote removed

That's the legislation I use when I give a ticket

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: old git on December 08, 2018, 08:47:03

On the same theme, some of the lights fitted to push bikes these days seem to be as intense as car or motorcycle lights. I've been dazzled by them even in daylight. Are cyclists bound by the same regulations as motorised road users regarding lights?

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: pichulec on December 08, 2018, 10:11:49

Thanks for clarification folks :)

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Mr Nick on December 08, 2018, 10:31:25

Quote from: old git on December 08, 2018, 08:47:03

Are cyclists bound by the same regulations as motorised road users regarding lights?

Silly question: the entitled little dears aren't bound by any regulations now are they....

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Steve T on December 08, 2018, 20:43:23

Legislation states that you cannot have a flashing light on your bike . . . . . . . . but if it is on you!!!???

I ride with a cycle light set on strobe inside an outer pocket of my Hello-Viz during the winter months up here where it is dark till gone 8am and dark again by 4pm.

Just my mutterings  :smirk:

Steve T

 :icon_razz:

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: Metro Strommer on January 30, 2019, 16:44:30

And yet are they not a strobe effect on the front of new BMW GS

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: mr_diver on January 30, 2019, 17:51:28

What you are seeing in footage is not what you see with the human eye.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: hotbulb on January 30, 2019, 18:12:17

Good point Mr D..... most new cars and bikes have some LED lights, whether DRLs , stoplights ........ and these usually appear to be flashing/strobing when videoed - quite normal to the eye, though. Presumably it's something to do with the LED "driver" used.
........
Doesn't excuse the cyclists with their uncontrolled, retina-searing strobes, though! You might see them, but then fail to notice the tree, pedestrian, unlit skip or whatever that's also in front of you, as the glare slowly clears.

Title: Re: Strobe lights legal on uk roads??
Post by: mrp192 on January 30, 2019, 18:17:28

Pedal cycles are covered by the RVLR but an amendment was made in the early 2000’s to allow flashing lights to be fitted. The advice is that these should only be used in lit areas and a steady lamp used in unlit areas.
I use BikeVis bullet lamps on my Glee which ‘flicker’ to make them more visible. Technically against the Regs but I have wired them in so I can remove the device that makes them do this and have them as a steady lamp if needed. It would be a very pedantic Police Officer who would be upset by them but then I’ve met a few of those over the years.