Cyclists without lights

Idiophreak

Tilt wrote: »

Ridiculous comment! There always has to be one!

What's ridiculous? You said the fact that he shouldn't have been walking there means the driver would have been blameless...

PasturesNew

Tilt wrote: »

I believe ignorance of the law is no excuse. Besides, who in their right mind would walk along that stretch of road in pitch darkness?

Somebody whose house was on the other side..... you can find yourself walking on the wrong road for all sorts of reasons.... I was walking on a road just the other week when I got lost, then realised (too late) it wasn't a town road, but some kind of big bypass.... and I had to keep walking as I believed it'd be quicker to keep going than to try to backtrack by the time I realised I was on the wrong road. No idea if there were any of that sign that I'd passed.... and if I'd seen it I might have thought "Oh, that sign said I can walk here" as it's not clear is it.

Ignorance of the law is no excuse .... except they keep making up new laws all the time.... you can't keep on top of every law in the whole country, every day/week/month in case at some random future point you might need to know that one.

harz99

PasturesNew wrote: »

So I can't take my bike out after dark until I find a light that can be fitted, find somewhere to buy it/have it fitted... and get round to it.

I'm sure I have seen cyclists with at least a rear facing light on what I can only describe as a "sash" worn over their clothes across the back and front. Don't know where to get one, or even if that sort of thing is commercially made or homemade, but might help?

Tilt

Idiophreak wrote: »

What's ridiculous? You said the fact that he shouldn't have been walking there means the driver would have been blameless...

I said nothing of the kind. However, clearly a driver would not expect to come across some suicidal idiot walking along a dual carriageway that carries the national speed limit in the dark would they? So I would think the driver would probably have a defence depending on the circumstances. The way you put it is as if it's ok to deliberately run someone over which of course it isn't. Only someone with the intelligence of of a banana would draw such a conclusion.

Tilt

Tilt wrote: »

I said nothing of the kind. However, clearly a driver would not expect to come across some suicidal idiot walking along a dual carriageway that carries the national speed limit in the dark would they? So I would think the driver would probably have a defence depending on the circumstances. The way you put it is as if it's ok to run someone over even if you see them which of course it isn't. Only someone with the intelligence of of a banana would draw such a conclusion.

I've edited my comment appropriately.

Takeaway_Addict

!!!!!! wrote: »

She believed that she hit an animal. Providing she believed it wasn't one of the animals in para 8 below then there is no requirement to stop or even report it

Sect 170 of RTA 1988

Thanks for that, I was a little worried I should have reported when I hit a grey animal that went straight under car and was in the country so presumed badger.

adouglasmhor

PasturesNew wrote: »

I can't go out after dark because the stupid bike I stupidly bought ..... is hard to find a stupid light that fits ....

The light was intended to be mounted under the seat, on the seat post. Stupid idea at the best of times as anybody with a jacket/coat on would obscure it.

Bought my bike from Halfords and they only offered me a post-seat light, which I pointed out wouldn't work because they'd had to remove part of the post fitment to get the seat low enough for me to be able to reach the ground on tip-toe. They couldn't offer me a proper light that fitted anywhere else....

So I can't take my bike out after dark until I find a light that can be fitted, find somewhere to buy it/have it fitted... and get round to it.

Stick lightweight lights on your helmet, stick a cheapo led light on the back of your mudguard, check poundland for cheapo led lights.

Idiophreak

harz99 wrote: »

I'm sure I have seen cyclists with at least a rear facing light on what I can only describe as a "sash" worn over their clothes across the back and front. Don't know where to get one, or even if that sort of thing is commercially made or homemade, but might help?

I'm also not sure of the legality of that...the law always used to ask for fixed lights on the bike, explicitly...But that caused a bunch of hassles about whether flashing lights were allowed and stuff, so not sure if the law's been revised.

Tilt wrote: »

I said nothing of the kind. However, clearly a driver would not expect to come across some suicidal idiot walking along a dual carriageway that carries the national speed limit in the dark would they? So I would think the driver would probably have a defence depending on the circumstances. The way you put it is as if it's ok to deliberately run someone over which of course it isn't. Only someone with the intelligence of of a banana would draw such a conclusion.

What if they'd broken down and were looking for a phone? What if they'd just turned the wrong way in the dark? What if they just decided to ignore the sign. I don't think someone walking along the side of a road is necessarily a "suicidal idiot" and I don't think they become invisible or lose the right to live, as a consequence.

Your assertion that the sign "answers my question", means that the driver would be blameless, irrespective of the circumstances.

I can think of many circumstances in which the driver could still be responsible for hitting the pedestrian, even with those signs in place.

PDC

Most of the younger cyclists round here don't have or use lights. Given some of the roads round here also don't have street lighting its a crazy gamble they are taking. I don't know what the answer is but yes I wish all cyclists had lights and used them as its safer for them and for me.

adouglasmhor

The law has been revised, years ago you were not allowed a headlight on a bike above 2w now there is no such restriction
.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/travelandtransport/highwaycode/dg_069837