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feature
Bontrager Flare Trek Factory RacingAre daytime bike lights a safety essential? Should you get daytime lights?
This article was originally published in August 2015
Should we ride with a rear light on during the daytime? Or perhaps we should go further and ride with both front and rear lights on even when the sun is shining?
We had a forum topic about this issue on road.cc a couple of years ago and what you might call a heated debate when Bontrager announced its Flare R rear light, designed specifically for daytime visibility, earlier in the year.
The reason we’re thinking about it again is that we went to visit Trek last week and the brand is really keen to promote the use of rear lights during the day. It even had the members of Trek Factory Racing ride the prologue of this year’s Tour de France on time trial bikes fitted with the Flare R “to promote awareness of the most important cycling accessory available today”.
Of course, your cynical side thinks that Trek wants to encourage the use of lights in the daytime because Bontrager, it’s sub-brand, produces that Flare R rear light. It’s simply a way of boosting sales.
Trek acknowledges that, of course, it has an interest in selling lights, but says that the key motivation for launching the Flare R was to keep cyclists safe.
“About two years ago, I was in San Diego, and I’m driving along during the day, and I see a biker, a road cyclist, and he’s got a blinking light on the back of his bike, and I thought, ‘That is a great idea,’” says Trek President John Burke. “The only problem is you could barely see his light.
“When I got back to Trek, I put together a team of engineers, and I said, ‘Listen, what I’d really like to see is a light on the back of a bike that can be seen during the day.’ If we could do that, I think it would significantly enhance the safety of cyclists everywhere.”
The result is the Flare R. Here’s John Burke’s short video presentation on the light.
Trek argues that using a light during the day makes sense because that’s when about 80% of cycling accidents occur.
Well, yeah, says your cynical side, but what percentage of cycling takes place during the day? Maybe that figure simply reflects the number of people on bikes during the daytime compared to the number who ride at night.
Trek also argues that, “Studies on accidents resulting in the fatality of a cyclist show that in 40% of all bicycle vs. car accidents, the victim was struck from behind.”
That statistic is from the US. Put a light on the back of your bike, the argument goes, and you’re less likely to be one of them.
“We think products like the Flare R allow a rider to have more control over their safety, putting us in both offensive and defensive positions on the road,” said Trek’s Chris Garrison. “We want to get people talking about increasing their visibility not just at night, but also during the day.”
Chris cites a recent AA-Populous poll as evidence that more cyclist visibility is required. In that poll 91% of drivers said that it’s sometimes hard to see cyclists while driving.
John Sullivan, an RAF pilot and keen cyclist, advised in his paper A Fighter Pilot’s Guide to Surviving on the Roads, “Aviation research shows that contrast is the single most important factor in determining the likelihood of acquiring an object visually – this is why military aircraft camouflage is designed to tone down their contrast.
"On the ground, dark coloured vehicles or clothing will result in reduced contrast against most usual backgrounds, and this is why high visibility clothing (for pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists) and/or bright lights are so important, in the daytime as well as at night.”
Back at Trek, John Burke says, “People should be able to see you all the time. And when they do, you’re going to have a better riding experience. Get a new Flare R, or buy something else. What I care about is making sure you have a really safe cycling season.”
Of course, Trek didn’t invent riding with a rear light on during daylight. Some people have always done it and USE, for example, has been advocating it for years. The British lights brand says that its Exposure Flash front light and Flare rear light (yes, the same name as the Bontrager light) are designed specifically for both daytime and nighttime use (you could argue that USE, like Trek, has a vested interest in promoting more bike light use).
Our man Dave says, “I’ve used the Flare R rear light a lot and I’d say it makes a noticeable difference to the passes you get. Drivers tend to give you more space.”
Of course, that’s anecdotal evidence. If anyone knows of any scientific research that has been carried out, we’d be interested in hearing about it.
So, why do so few of us use lights during the daytime? We guess that most people don’t think it’s necessary, although some oppose the idea in principle.
“When a vehicle has lights on it makes any in front or behind without harder to see,” said Simon E in that road.cc thread mentioned earlier. “Every vehicle that runs with sidelights/LEDs/DRLs [daytime running lights] in the daytime is furthering the idea that you have to have lights on to be seen, so all the sheeple do the same. Baaaa! This means drivers to look only for lights, not other vehicles or people.
“Lights are NOT needed in daylight, whether on bikes, motorbikes or cars.”
In a comment under our story announcing the launch of the Flare R, McVittees said, “Whilst it is perfectly reasonable to want to run as bright a rear light as possible either during the day to warn cars or at night when riding on unlit country roads, I hate being stuck behind someone who is running a high output rear light at night during my urban commute. I find it distracting and obscures my vision of the road (and thus traffic) ahead.”
andyp said, “[Bontrager are] pouring money into something which will make them more money, not into solving a problem.”
What do you reckon? Do Trek’s arguments convince you that you should use a rear light during the day? Let us know what you think.
Mat has been in cycling media since 1996, on titles including BikeRadar, Total Bike, Total Mountain Bike, What Mountain Bike and Mountain Biking UK, and he has been editor of 220 Triathlon and Cycling Plus. Mat has been road.cc technical editor for over a decade, testing bikes, fettling the latest kit, and trying out the most up-to-the-minute clothing. He has won his category in Ironman UK 70.3 and finished on the podium in both marathons he has run. Mat is a Cambridge graduate who did a post-grad in magazine journalism, and he is a winner of the Cycling Media Award for Specialist Online Writer. Now over 50, he's riding road and gravel bikes most days for fun and fitness rather than training for competitions.
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212 comments
Used a rear light for years, long before Trek said we should. Just makes sense to give myself a better chance of being seen. Even on a bright day a flashing rear light catches the attention of a driver who might otherwise be very sorry, but didn't see you.
If you can't wear visible clothing then you have to rely on lights.
So the answer to the question is that if your clothing isn't visible (I mean black tops, jackets etc.) as we were always taught in the highway code and elsewhere for cycling then its not as necessary.
I have noticed that even with lights those dark clothed cyclists are hard to spot.
If everything is lit up, nothing stands out, so the more lights there are twinkling away in an environment, the less attention grabbing they are.
Consider an urban environment with lots of vehicle lights, flashing shop signs, street signs, etc. and contrast the conspicuousness of a single light amongst that lot to the same light on a dark country lane.
Once everything is illuminated or flashing, the human brain just tunes it all out and you're no better off than being un-lit.
Just remember to properly doff your cap while you're at it...
Surely if you ride in a city or at rush hour this is going to be flashing all the time and therefore be meaningless.
This in bold is the reason
Just wondering what colour your motorbike and leathers are?
Why wouldn't they be Day Glo, and reflective at night.
Makes sense doesn't it.
No brainer surely.
And I'm speaking as someone who uses lights and wears bright and reflective clothing, I've just decided that patronising people based on flimsy evidence is not the thing to do.
You appear to be owning the term 'snowflake'.
Cars don't have daylight running lights on the rear, don't know why not.
Should we only use them on the front too?
Cars built before they became mandatory don't have daytime running lights, should I not run them on my old bikes, both over 20 years old, but only the front on my new bike?
The NiteRider Sentra Aero 260 has a dual cob,with one behind the other for side visibility - the rear facing cob is not that bright,so it would wash out in daylight. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIA2r4EAHqg
I'll put my lights on during the daytime if the weather is bad (rainy, very overcast, fog, etc). Other than that, no.
If someone honestly can't see you during the hours of daylight without your bike having flashing lights then in my opinion they shouldn't be driving.
And if they are only looking for lights, not for - you know - things, then again they should probably go and retake their driving test.
Why? on a bright sunny day I often see the cyclist long before the rear light becomes visible, particularly if they have a bright top, or bright coloured frame. MAYBE for those that wear black clothes and ride black bikes, but probably not even then.
I agree, though I do use a light in the daytime in bright conditions if Im riding into a low setting sun, and especially if the road is wet, as Im trying to avoid just being a silhouette lost in the glare and something red and flashing might just be enough of a cue to a motorist theres a cyclist in front of them, it might not but other than carrying a lucky rabbits foot in those situations it feels like youve done all you can.
Otherwise no I dont see the point of running them in the daylight, its only when there are other visibility concerns that I use them.
If your clothing isn't visible I can promise you that you won't need lights. You'll attract your own (blue flashing - and aside from the cold the lights will be too).
I didn't think his comment was patronising - he just gave his opinion.
As for motorcyclists,they have the ability to travel at the same speed as other motorised traffic on the road; cyclists don't,which makes them vulnerable to being struck from behind,so wearing clothing/using lights that help cyclists stand out and contrast visually will assist drivers noticing them.
So do I- my trusty Aldi light set is always ready- but it's not really ordinary daylight then. The problem would occur if a requirement for daylight lights turned up, with all the potential for the hyper-junk press to excuse their moron psycho readers for any offence against cyclists.
They're useful on bright days where there are strong shadows or when riding into a low sun. But they do have to be properly day bright.
I started using a Moon Comet X at the rear and a Moon Orion W at the front running on the "day Flash" setting for exactly this reason. When going from bright daylight to heavily shaded, I found that my vision took a while to adjust and therefore a car driver would have the same issue. For me it's a matter of common sense and cost me nothing (I own the lights already). It's not going to prevent all accidents, but if it stops one then it's worth it. It also helps to remove the sorry mate I didn't see you as a default excuse.
Anecdotally I haven't had any SMIDSY incidents of drivers pulling out of junctions since I've run the strobe at the front, obviously this might just be my good luck...
Because you are putting the onus on the most vulnerable to accommodate the least vulnerable. Those who choose to use vehicles need to take more responsibility; you are just giving them an 'out' to avoid looking, observing and improving their standards.
i remeber years ago reading about a study in Sweden which showed daytime running lights had no measurable impact on safety for cars, and were a detriment to motorbikes. But here we are, daytime running lights everywhere.
This, I will trust my high vis yellow carradice over a feeble rear light during the day.
At the moment that you leave your house to ride your bike there is absolutely nothing you can to improve driving standards.
You know the standards are poor.
You can either choose to mitigate those poor driving standards or you can choose not too.
Wearing Hi Vis or running lights at all times is no different to taking primary at a pinch point.
If all drivers were perfect you wouldn't need to do any of those things but you do them precisely because most drivers are a long way from perfect and you have to minimise the risk to yourself.
I guess I had better give up on submitting my footage to the police portal.
How did you suggest the balance is redressed then? Because giving up and accepting does not seem a solution to me.
Keep submitting your footage by all means, every little helps as they say.
It doesn't change the fact that at the moment you set of on your ride there is nothing (further) you can about the standard of driving.
All you can do is mitigate.
Mitigating poor driving through your behaviour doesn't mean giving up on improving poor driving or campaigning for better infrastructure etc.
The two are not mutually exclusive.
Is it though? when your light runs out at 10pm (leaving you stranded) because you were using it for no reason at 3pm. this is not a benefit, so there is a downside to daytime lights, it's not all upside.
Always use my lights during the day with the exception of daylight club runs, seems to make sense and its not doing any harm even if it doesn't make a difference.
I use the Flare and a Cateye 300 set on pulse on the front, both USB charged.
'Things could be better here'
'Well bugger off to somewhere else'
... strangely enough, that dim-witted attitude goes a long way to explaining why the UK is so far behind other places in Europe when it comes to cycling.
Just another reason for humans driving cars to excuse their poor driving. 'Well your honour the cyclist wasn't riding with a rear light so it wasn't my fault I plowed into him on a straight road in broad daylight with the sun in my eyes'
DRL's along with hi viz and reflective spray will make not a jot of difference when the human driving the car is distracted by texting/facebook/Web surfing/I player whilst driving.
If lives are really to be saved then education is needed but a that is unlikely to happen us humans on bicycles will need to do all we can.
Here in the US I'm in the majority of road riders that ride with daytime flashing lights. I also use vertical neon greenish-yellow conspicuity tape, on my shoe heels, which helps grab attention.
Looks like a copy of the extremely popular Smart Lunar 0.5w. I often use one on non-blinking during the day.
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