teenagers no lights

Yeah we teach it in bike safety class. My school runs two classes a week in it. Unfortunately it's an optional subject, so I'd say the kids you're seeing took home ec. instead

Cough, cough, cough... I don't wish to derail the thread but when I was a 'teenagent' back in the 80's my bike dint'even have brakes!!!

No that isn't what he meant. It's the cyclist's responsibility to have lights and make themselves as visible as possible by wearing hi-viz etc, as was pointed out earlier with young children it's the responsibility of the parents to make sure this is done. I'd prefer to see a too bright light than a person in black mashed against my windscreen.

Actually in all situations it's the driver of the car that's responsible for not crashing into cyclists, pedestrians or anything else. Doesn't actually matter how luminescent they are.

Yes, cyclists should all wear high vis / have lights and are idiots for cycling around in the dark without, but ultimately they are not the one operating the 2 tonne metal box than can kill people.

iirc the regs are 2 inch surface area, and light visible x yards away. So yes, I'd say every modern led light (including those given out by the gardai as part of "road safety" initiatives are technically in breach of the legislation).

not just teens although it’s most a teen issue.

Safety on our roads is a culture thing. Enabling that culture is the responsibility of cyclists and motorists and indeed pedestrians. All Road users.

if you want to participate in enabling a safer culture on our roads for drivers, cyclists and indeed pedestrians…..part of that is lighting up, being visible. It’s for this reason the RSA are still having to advocate ‘be safe be seen’ and have a campaign to do so… if some in the cycling community want to moan about everyone else and demand better road safety.. they need to realise they have a responsibility themselves in that regard too…

From RSA.ie….. “Cyclists are reminded that at night you must a have a white light to the front and a red light to the back on your bicycle. These are the minimum lighting requirements laid down by law. However, to be even more visible to motorists at night, you should consider wearing a reflective armband, ‘Sam Browne’ reflective belt or reflective vest.”

but according to some cyclists… ‘ drivers should just be more careful ‘…..? no, yesterday in the fog, around dusk too…I observed cyclists without a single light and without illuminative clothing….many of course were compliant helping and enabling that culture of safe roads for everyone…hi vis, lights etc…

Hi vis vest costs about 5 euros. Get them anywhere.

USB rechargeable front and rear light 21.50 in Halfords.

26.50…. so it can’t be the money that is stopping people…. There really isn’t an excuse.

It's dangerous, drivers can't see them until they're on top of them. Yellow jackets with reflective strips should be obligatory in dull and dark conditions. For pedestrians, too.

I find it's even worse in the rain, with street and car lights reflected off wet surfaces it can be very difficult to see people in dark coats. I came close to running down two girls crossing the road a few years back in those conditions.

oh for f**ks sake. high vis should be obligatory for pedestrians. how about reducing speed limits to 20km/h for cars when conditions are bad?

pointless thread anyway we already have the hi viz one for people to give out about cyclists

The vast majority of teenagers don't drive so they are unaware of how difficult it can be to see them.

(In my experience, it's the same for adult cyclists who don't drive - they tend to have no lights or very poor lights).

Ah no, it's grand, sure you saw them...

I see quite a few people on e-bikes/Scooters who have a really, really bright front light, bit no rear light! I see them because they are coming towards me. I have sympathy for the motorists who come across these muppets from behind.

I also saw a guy walking along the Naul road with his back to oncoming traffic. No lights, bright clothing etc.

finally, it was amazing that I saw them at all...when I arrived at work I realized the front lights on my car were off! (I had Front Fog lights and DRL's and i assumed my lights were bad due to frost/ice on the lens)

Whatboutery alert. But I've lost count of the amount of drivers I've had to tell to put on their lights the last few weeks.

End of the day, some people are just morons. It's not just folks on bikes.

There's legal responsibility and personal responsibility.

As a driver you are legally responsible for not crashing into people and cyclists, whether they are lit up or not. That was the first part of my post.

The second part of my post is personal responsibility, cycling without lights at night is a really stupid, reckless thing to do. It doesn't, however, legally absolve you of anything if you crash into someone not lit up, so the ultimate responsibility still lies with you, the driver.

I agree with you completely. And I agree with the op that there are loads of unlit teens cycling around in the past few weeks.

But I also have to say that my kid is a teen now and all those lovely 'rules' I had when he was younger - like the helmet and the hi-vis - are more easily abandoned by him now. More often that not, he leaves the house without even a jacket on, never mind any form of cycling protection. I don't say this lightly, it terrifies me, but unfortunately our 'control' of them eeks away as they become teens.

As for the adults without lights etc, the mind boggles. I often think people don't consider things from other points of view. I'm a big walker, and I have one neighbour at least who I am convinced will kill me some day. He flies past me, gravel whizzing, waving gleefully. He never walks anywhere so has no idea of how fast he is passing me on country roads with no footpaths. Equally, cyclists who don't drive (most teens) haven't a clue just how invisible they are to traffic. Drivers, who don't cycle, are guilty of not considering the cyclists too perhaps ..

There is an obvious need for a 21st century lighting regulation which reflect the availability of LED lights etc. Then these need to be enforced rigorously, in this age of rechargeable batteries and led lights it is much easier to maintain lights than in times past. Regulations on the standardisation of mounts would help.