Looking for data on the preventative effect of cycle lights

jtaylor said:

Are there any studies on the effect of cycle lighting on accident and injury
rates? When spring comes 'round here the local constabularies frequently go
on a helmet-ticket binge; I'd like to suggest that if they are targeting
cyclists that there is a more effective way to improve cycle safety.

Get a ticket for not wearing a cycle helmet?

What's a helmet-ticket binge? What's your location?

jtaylor said:

I'd like to suggest that if they are targeting
cyclists that there is a more effective way to improve cycle safety.

Check the brakes is a good one, and the general state of mechanical
repair of the bike.

The competence of the rider is another good one.

d.

iakobski said:

What's a helmet-ticket binge? What's your location?

Looks like somewhere in Canada, they have mandatory helmet laws there I
think.

"iakobski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What's a helmet-ticket binge?

Just what you'd think.

Quoted message said:

What's your location?

Nova Scotia.

"davek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jtaylor said:

I'd like to suggest that if they are targeting
cyclists that there is a more effective way to improve cycle safety.

Check the brakes is a good one, and the general state of mechanical
repair of the bike.

The competence of the rider is another good one.

There is no legal requirement (in Nova Scotia) that a bicycle have brakes.
Neither are there any standards of mechanical repair or operator competence.

A front light IS required for operation at night ("...1/2 hour after sunset
to 1/2 hour before sunrise, or other times when visibility is so
affected....300 metres..."😉.

Wouldn't want the officers taking on more than is good for them...

jtaylor said:

There is no legal requirement (in Nova Scotia) that a bicycle have

brakes.

Quoted message said:

Neither are there any standards of mechanical repair or operator

competence.

Well, your question was about /safety/ rather than legal requirements -
the two are rarely equivalent (usually only where there is money to be
made).

Quoted message said:

Wouldn't want the officers taking on more than is good for them...

No, I suppose not. Conveniently, it doesn't take much effort to spot if
someone is wearing a helmet or not. Checking brakes would be too much
like work, and might even involve an element of training... can't have
that, now, can we!

d.

On 31/3/05 5:35 pm, in article [email hidden],

jtaylor said:

"davek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jtaylor said:

There is no legal requirement (in Nova Scotia) that a bicycle have

brakes.

Quoted message said:

Neither are there any standards of mechanical repair or operator

competence.

Well, your question was about /safety/ rather than legal requirements -
the two are rarely equivalent (usually only where there is money to be
made).

Well, no.

My question was about the effectiveness of cycle lights in preventing
collisions and/or injuries.

IIRC the only data I have seen mentioend indicates that cycle light use
amongst hospital attendees mirrors that of the cycling population at large.

ot much help but does indicate a lack of effectiveness. From a personal data
point, the only time I have been knocked off at night was when I had full
lights/reflectors.

...d

jtaylor said:

"iakobski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

What's a helmet-ticket binge?

Just what you'd think.

Quoted message said:

What's your location?

Nova Scotia.

NovaScotia.rec.cycling is that way <====

This is UK.rec.cycling and we have no helmet laws and different lighting
laws.

Tony

"davek" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

jtaylor said:

There is no legal requirement (in Nova Scotia) that a bicycle have

brakes.

Quoted message said:

Neither are there any standards of mechanical repair or operator

competence.

Well, your question was about /safety/ rather than legal requirements -
the two are rarely equivalent (usually only where there is money to be
made).

Well, no.

My question was about the effectiveness of cycle lights in preventing
collisions and/or injuries.

"Tony Raven" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

NovaScotia.rec.cycling is that way <====

No it isn't; no such group exists

Quoted message said:

This is UK.rec.cycling and we have no helmet laws and different lighting
laws.

True, and this group has readers and posters with a healthy attitude towards
cycling safety, who are knowledgable about these particular things, and who
may well know the information (or pointers to it) that I seek. Are you
saying you don't feel you belong in such a group?

In message <[email hidden]>, Tony Raven
<[email hidden]> writes

Quoted message said:

This is UK.rec.cycling and we have no helmet laws and different
lighting laws.

But the OP was asking about data on the effectiveness of cycle lighting,
difference in lighting laws probably isn't relevant in this context.

FWIW I can't really remember anything much about this. I suspect that
actually the benefit is probably marginal - not to say that I think one
shouldn't use them.

--
Chris French, Leeds