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Cree XML lightMore than 250 cyclists fined in Oxford police blitz on riding without lights
Oxford’s latest annual blitz on people riding bikes without lights has resulted in nearly 100 more riders being fined than was the case 12 months ago. In all, 267 cyclists given £50 fixed penalty notices in the space of three hours on Monday evening – a rate of one every 40 seconds or so.
The operation took place on the High Street and on Abingdon Road, reports The Oxford Times, and riders can avoid having to pay the fine if they produce a receipt to police within seven days showing that they have purchased a set of lights for their bike after being fined.
That scheme has operated in previous years, including 12 months ago when 171 cyclists were given fines in what was also a three-hour operation.
This week’s clampdown happened the day after the clocks went back, meaning that dusk now falls an hour earlier than it did under British Summer Time.
It also comes shortly after the start of the new academic year and the annual influx of new students from the UK and abroad to the city’s two universities, many of whom may not have ridden a bike since childhood, if at all.
Rule 60 of the Highway Code says:
At night your cycle MUST have white front and red rear lights lit. It MUST also be fitted with a red rear reflector (and amber pedal reflectors, if manufactured after 1/10/85). White front reflectors and spoke reflectors will also help you to be seen. Flashing lights are permitted but it is recommended that cyclists who are riding in areas without street lighting use a steady front lamp.
PC Mark Piling of Thames Valley Police’s roads policing department said: “This campaign is aimed at educating cyclists about how important it is that they are fully visible to all other road users.
“Just because a cyclist can see where they are going on a well-lit street does not necessarily mean that they are fully visible to motorists approaching with their headlights on.
“We stopped a significant number of cyclists so I would encourage others to get lights for their safety and to avoid any fines.
“We will be carrying out further checks during the coming months,” he added.
Similar operations take place in a number of towns and cities across the UK at this time of year, and Cambridgeshire Police have warned that riders without lights will face fines.
PCSO Shiralee George, quoted by Cambridge News, said: "For cyclists and parents that have children who cycle to and from school.
"As the nights are drawing in please make yourself visible by way of turning on your bike lights and maybe a high visibility waist coat. The more visible you are the safer you are.
She added: "Can I also remind you that failing to have lights turn on or even not having any at all while in the hours of darkness could result in you being issued with a £30 fixed penalty notice. Our main concern is the safety of all cyclists.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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86 comments
the amazing thing is all the cyclists drivers see with no lights....
Fair play to the police, not using lights is really, for the money involved, idiotic.
But even if every cyclist followed every law, there are motorists who would still be complaining, tax, lights, helmets are all just excuses.
As stated above, I assume the police will be doing a similar thing to motorists, sometimes I think I missed a memo that all cars must have only one working headlight.
whilst I wouldnt advocate cycling without lights I wonder how many cyclists involved in accidents in the dark did in fact have lights on their cycles?
Its a bit like the arguement about wearing helmets and hi-viz we are deemed more safe when wearing both but how many are hit or killed whilst wearing both?
Lack of lights and hiviz does not seem to be a major cause of accidents to cyclists.
"A tiny proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders jumping red lights or stop signs, or failing to wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, a government-commissioned study has discovered.
The study, carried out for the Department for Transport, found that in 2% of cases where cyclists were seriously injured in collisions with other road users police said that the rider disobeying a stop sign or traffic light was a likely contributing factor. Wearing dark clothing at night was seen as a potential cause in about 2.5% of cases, and failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time."
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/cycling-bike-acciden...
What a ridiculous position to take. I think that being safe and seen is a basic requirement of being on the highway. If you want to ride with no lights then ride off road where you won't get run over. There are enough accidents occurring in broad daylight and if there are idiots out there want to get run over by a car due to not being seen then they should be stopped and fined.
One avoided accident would be enough to make this campaign worth while........ Only one!!!
Many more could be avoided if it were made clear to drivers that they must only proceed if they can see the road is clear, and that anyone who causes a collision by breaking this rule will never again be permitted to drive. Blame the peopke with the real responsibility, not the victims.
Lack of lights and hiviz does not seem to be a major cause of accidents to cyclists.
"A tiny proportion of accidents involving cyclists are caused by riders jumping red lights or stop signs, or failing to wear high-visibility clothing and use lights, a government-commissioned study has discovered.
The study, carried out for the Department for Transport, found that in 2% of cases where cyclists were seriously injured in collisions with other road users police said that the rider disobeying a stop sign or traffic light was a likely contributing factor. Wearing dark clothing at night was seen as a potential cause in about 2.5% of cases, and failure to use lights was mentioned 2% of the time."
http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2009/dec/15/cycling-bike-acciden...
Most Shimano SPD pedals have a reflector kit available. Seems random when I buy them. Some come with reflectors, some don't.
Funny this, on Monday I passed 5 cars coming in the opposite direction each with a headlight out, all passed a parked and occupied police car but not one was stopped. Obviously not yet time for the annual stop & warn for defective headlamps. It would be interesting to see how many cars etc were stopped for defective lights at the same time.
Yes they should have been stopped. So should the cyclists.
And there's a motorist on a blog somewhere also moaning that the police don't stop any cyclists.
enough of this whataboutery. You want the police to get tough on bad drivers, then also support them getting tough on bad cyclists. And that goes vice versa for motorists (I am one as well) You want dangerous inconsiderate cyclists dealt with, well then also support the police cracking down on bad drivers.
cos otherwise you could be accused of hypocrisy.
Sorry, should have read "I agree completely, my comment was intended to point that out that targeting cyclists on their own for poor lighting whilst ignoring other modes of transport because they are not the target of the day is bad policing, all vehicles should be targeted at the same time. Saying that this is a safety issue is irrelevant if only one group is targeted.
I would also add that I am lit up like a christmas tree including a built in light on my hi-viz helmet plus hi-viz jacket to ensure I'm seen during winter months and have no truck with unlit bike riders."
I firmly believe that bike riders who don't adhere to the law deserve all they get when caught by the Police but also believe that policing is an ongoing process & not a series of special events to be targeted at set times of the year.
My question exactly. Amber reflectors on my clipless pedals? That's a law that needs changing; you could legally be "at fault" if someone hits you at night while lit up like a Christmas tree all because you were using a pair of Looks.
How are you meant to get the amber reflectors on your clip on pedals???
@fuel - I think you can generally get around it if your shoes have reflective strips on them, or if you wear one of those reflective ankle thingies. What I don't understand is the need for a red rear reflector as well as a red rear light.
agree, there's not much space on my Speedplays for reflectors...
SPD-SL pedals (105, at least) come with amber reflectors that can be attached to the bottom of the pedal. Not that anyone uses them, of course.
I'd be very surprised if police were checking for that.
Buy pedals with them fitted, or else don't ride that bike with them on when it's dark...
To be honest I don't think the police are that bothered about the little amber reflectors if you are generally well lit and visible (there will always be an exception) Just like anything else like cars you get done for the piddly bits because you failed an attitude test on something more major which got you pulled over in the first place.
ie
No lights. Cops stops you
pleasant attitude
warns you about the lights and
sends you on your way with a new set or a producer
or
No lights. Cop stops you.
gets a shitty attitude
throws the book
Have them on your shoes?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Shimano-Road-SPD-SL-Bike-Cycling-Pedal-Light-R...
I've never, ever seen these being used in real life.
factor1 mentioned the ones for SPD-SL pedals.
For Shimano SPD pedals you can get SM-PD22s. I have a pair fitted to the M520s (like these) on my winter bike. As well as the reflectors, they allow the pedal to hang at the ideal angle to stamp-and-go at junctions and lights. You can buy the PD22s separately.
Did the fuzz or the council not release any publicity before the clocks went back?
My 105 pedals came with amber reflectors which i have attached.
Shimano sell an SPD pedal clip-on plate with reflectors - they work just fine. Reference number SM-PD22.
Decathlon sell them for £10
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/smpd22-auto-bike-pedals-adaptor-id_5626992.html
Nothing much those fined have to complain about - a set of visibility lights are dirt cheap and vital for everyones safety. I cannot comprehend anyone riding on the road without them after dark.
I can never get my head around cycling in the dark without lights. I wish the police would be as proactive with motorised vehicles as well though as regrds safety but I can't complain. I am an advocate of much more police presence and activity in regard to road policing. Lots more. If done fairly and properly that would result in many more errant motorists feeling the pressure. I am not therefore in a position to complain in this instance.
Quite right, get some lights or get a fine.
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