Purple Headlights

[M3EVO]

A couple of years ago I used to see many bikers riding during the day with purple tints fitted to their head lights. I thought that this was a brilliant idea that allowed all other road users to be very aware of the bike around them. What happened to these? I havent seen any for ages. If my thoughts are correct, it is probable that the police have clamped down on this and there is now legislation in place along the lines of 'no other light other than white and yellow is to be shown from the front of any vehicle'.

Anybody know any more on this subject?

[mrsd]

It's always AFAIK been illegal to have these, but in the past 2-3 years the spot checks in popular biker areas have got a lot stricter. The BiB south of Matlock (near Masson Mill) were under instructions not to allow blatantly illegal bikes to continue. There's nothing quite like having your bike impounded to make you think twice about illegal mods ! Yellow tints appear still to be legal, they certainly don't stop people who have them.
Yurp is considering making daylight running lights (like on Volvos) compulsary. If this happens I'm giving up biking, I consider my headlight to be one of the principal things making me noticeable.

[rsvnigel]

And I thought it was because they looked gay

BTW mrsd, I don't think daylight running lights will make much of a difference if this mornings experience was anything to go by. A fire engine filtering (B&Ts going) though the stationary traffic to get to an accident further down the road, dozy cow infront of me pays no attention to the noisy big red truck behind her until he lets rip with the airhorns.

[mrsd]

I'm not convinced they make that much difference to numpties, but they give drivers who are awake a few more visual clues, and that can't be a bad thing.

>> Edited by mrsd on Friday 28th March 12:53

[Tony Hall]

Can't believe you'll give up biking Mrsd, if recent posts are anything to go by.
ps, hows the affair with 32DD going?

>> Edited by Tony Hall on Friday 28th March 13:01

[mrsd]

Damn right I'll give up if one of the few things that reassure me about my visibility is legislated out of existence
Got a cheque from 32DD (who's quite a nice guy and genuinely (I think) didn't realise he'd clipped the bike) a few days ago, so now I'm waiting for the bits to come in for the bike. In the meantime I've had my old Triumph serviced and sorted and I'm enjoying riding that instead (even if it does have a blowing exhaust and leak oil onto my leathers )

[T-C]

There is some evidence to suggest that the use of headlights can actually cause problems thereby increase the danger to a degree..

It gets quite involved and I am now off until Tuesday, but I will post with more details if anyone is interested next week.

[Tim2100]

Most Japanese Bikes of 2003 are now coming with the headlights wired in Not like running lights on Volvo's, but the normal lights This is IMO an excellent safety feature as you must get noticed easier and earlier

A lot of riders ride with their headlights on in the daytime anyway so what difference does it make?

Tim.

[dern]

A lot of riders ride with their headlights on in the daytime anyway so what difference does it make?

All cars will be required to do this as well as bike so instead of standing out the theory goes that we will no longer be more visible than the cars.

Mark

[mrsd]

that's the one.

[jvaughan]

Tim2100 said: Most Japanese Bikes of 2003 are now coming with the headlights wired in Not like running lights on Volvo's, but the normal lights This is IMO an excellent safety feature as you must get noticed easier and earlier

A lot of riders ride with their headlights on in the daytime anyway so what difference does it make?

Tim.

UK spec Volvo's now have dipped beam on all the time., there is a grub screw to override it. sorry, im a biking volvo owner

[scruffy]

So what happens when everyone gets used to daytime headlights then?

[DennisTheMenace]

scruffy said: So what happens when everyone gets used to daytime headlights then?

Bigger chance that we get run over by some myopic old git who cant drive cos they start ignoring headlights coming towards them , just read in the durzet ehco that some old boy (91) drove stright into a hole dug in the road by work men

[cortinaman]

maybe the old boy wanted to be buried in his car and couldnt afford the price at the graveyard

[AJLintern]

I can't really see a problem with all vehicles having lights on - why should I pull out infront of a bike any more than a car with its lights on? As long as I can see it I won't pull out. I think its most dangerous at early evening/morning when some people have lights on and others don't - your brain gets used to seeing the lights and could miss the vehicle with no lights. My Porsche doesn't have side lights, just rather dim parking lights - so I often drive with dipped beam when it's dull (ok I like seeing the lights pop-up too )

>> Edited by AJLintern on Sunday 6th April 10:24

[M3EVO]

Back to my original question regarding purple tints/or any other colour apart from white, disregarding anything relating to colour choice and sexual orientation, I still believe that a rather shocking colour in my rear view mirror attracted my attention to the fact a motorcycle was in proximity and therefore acted accordingly. ie. Moving over slightly to allow ease of overtaking, no sharp braking etc. Although these tints are banned I believe that they were the best way of making drivers of cars aware of your presence.

I am very worriedly trying to make a return to biking after a bad accident in 1993. I would like to make this as safe as possible to try and regain some of my lost confidence (and reassure my wife). Anything to aid this is of great benefit to me. I intend on taking an advanced riders course and am encouraging the other half to go for her test.