Rear Flashers??

Woodtourer · Post by **Woodtourer** » 14 Jul 2018, 2:31am

Should I leave them at home??
With our upcoming European tour I was wondering about the above? We have rear lights powered by our Dyno hub and as I recall flashing rear lights are frowned upon in Europe.
So.....

Tigerbiten · Post by **Tigerbiten** » 14 Jul 2018, 3:42am

I leave mine on my trike-trailer rig.
My dynamo lights are on all the time as DRL.
The rear flashers are only used if it's dark/wet/foggy as I think they are better than constant lights at getting a drivers attention in bad weather.
If I'm told they are illegal by the countries police, then I'll just set to a constant light mode until not needed.

YMMV ......

meic · Post by **meic** » 14 Jul 2018, 10:51am

I recall flashing rear lights are frowned upon in Europe.

I dont really feel the need for flashing lights in such countries.

When I cycle through France at night, I feel supremely safe with just a steady back light powerful enough to satisfy the law and (compulsory for most of my riding) a Hi-Viz.

The "Christmas Tree" phenomenon is a reaction to UK road dangers and doesnt really need exporting to cycle friendly countries.

Sweep · Post by **Sweep** » 14 Jul 2018, 2:25pm

meic wrote:
I recall flashing rear lights are frowned upon in Europe.

I dont really feel the need for flashing lights in such countries.

When I cycle through France at night, I feel supremely safe with just a steady back light powerful enough to satisfy the law and (compulsory for most of my riding) a Hi-Viz.

The "Christmas Tree" phenomenon is a reaction to UK road dangers and doesnt really need exporting to cycle friendly countries.

Seems like a bit of extreme brit bashing. And I rather thought french drivers had a fairly poor reputation. Backed by statistics. Me? I do sometimes use a steady light but will always be using a flasher wherever I am.

meic · Post by **meic** » 14 Jul 2018, 2:35pm

I found that in France the nightime road place was generally much more moderate than here in rural Wales even.
Much less use of highbeam, dipped lights were much more dipped in angle than here, less street lighting and dimmer ones too, no cats eyes. That lack of competition made me feel the single steady rear light stood out quite adequately and the HiViz would be seen in the headlights before it any way.

crazydave789 · Post by **crazydave789** » 14 Jul 2018, 7:55pm

did they change the law here then? I though it was still a requirement for a constant red light.

although 30 years ago was the only time I got pulled over - half an hour into the first run with with my brand new vistalite.

the copper didn't care if they were legal or not, he pulled me over to ask about it because it was so effective.

meic · Post by **meic** » 14 Jul 2018, 8:22pm

Most flashing lights that you can buy are now allowed.
However very few of them actually meet the letter of the law making them qualify as having an official rear light. This is really splitting hairs though.

mjr · Post by **mjr** » 15 Jul 2018, 2:13am

crazydave789 wrote:did they change the law here then? I though it was still a requirement for a constant red light.

The law changed more than a decade ago. Flashing lights remain obnoxious to other road users, though. Go steady.

ossie · Post by **ossie** » 15 Jul 2018, 9:26pm

Yes.

Bring your flashing lights. Any rear light is better than no light and I've used flashing lights around the UK and Europe without issue.

meic · Post by **meic** » 15 Jul 2018, 10:07pm

I could well be out of date but I think they are still illegal in Germany and Netherlands. I have no idea if this is enforced.

JakobW · Post by **JakobW** » 15 Jul 2018, 10:31pm

IME in NL the authorities would consider it a win to have you showing any kind of light at night (for city cycling at least...); you might get a comment from other riders mind, depending on how obnoxious the flash is.

TrevA · Post by **TrevA** » 15 Jul 2018, 10:31pm

If you are planning on doing any riding in the Alps, then a rear flasher is useful when riding through tunnels, especially if it can be switched on whilst riding along.

simonhill · Post by **simonhill** » 16 Jul 2018, 5:22pm

Just for info - the term "flasher" means something very specific in UK English. To quote wiki "A person who displays his or her body in a form of indecent exposure ".

andrew_s · Post by **andrew_s** » 16 Jul 2018, 5:58pm

simonhill wrote:Just for info - the term "flasher" means something very specific in UK English.

Homonyms are also very common in English, and "flasher" is one of them
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/homonym

mjr · Post by **mjr** » 16 Jul 2018, 6:06pm

andrew_s wrote:
simonhill wrote:Just for info - the term "flasher" means something very specific in UK English.

Homonyms are also very common in English, and "flasher" is one of them
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/homonym

However, flashing lights are indecent

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