See & Be Seen - Get the Right Bike Lights

Almost 70% of the bicycle or vehicle accidents and collisions take place during the dark/overcast conditions or night hours, as per the statistical reports available. The figure is amusing for the reason that a very small percentage of bikers usually hit the road during these hours. But those who do are at a very high risk of meeting minor or major accidents.

The prime reason that accounts for all these accidents during the late night hours is limited visibility (for cyclist as well as motorists on the road). During winter months, when daylight hours are much shorter, bikers find themselves confronting this problem all the more. In absence of high powered bike lights among many other bicycle accessories in UK, the probability of hitting the incoming vehicle increases exponentially, even leading to death of bicycle enthusiasts.

So, we will share some tips that can assist you in achieving maximum bike light power/visibility at a reasonable cost.

1. Handlebar Mounted Headlight

While riding in the dark or overcast conditions you should definitely have a handlebar mounted headlight. Front light installed on your handlebar can make you more visible to the approaching vehicle on the road. But, you should make sure that the battery life of the light is long and it doesn’t get lost in the glare of beam lights of the vehicles on the road. A flashlight installed on the handle bar is a wonderful option for its increased reach on the pathway and bulk of the batteries nowadays are powered from the continuous motion of the bike. Other than the usual options, halogen and LED bulbs are good alternatives too. But, you should carefully examine the run time of the light batteries before installing them.

2. Helmet mounted light

As the head of the biker sets up higher than the rest of bike, a light mounted on helmet comes handy in staying visible, especially during rush hours. Also, light mounted on helmet points in the direction of biker’s motion and therefore, it is effective in attracting attention of approaching vehicles.

3. Blinking red light

A white light on the front and blinking red light on the rear is what the rules of driving teach. While cycling in the dark, the biker can easily catch the attention of the vehicles behind him with a blinking red light or bicycle rear light. The tail light can be installed as per your convenience but it must have long run time.

4. Rear light on helmet

Similar in function to rear bicycle lights, red lights on helmets can be mounted easily. These lights can even be clipped on the back of color or bag pack.

5. Bright Jacket or Vest

The best a biker can do is to wear a bright colored jacket or vest in order to be visible on the road especially in high traffic areas during the night. A reflective jacket will help motorists and even pedestrians on roads notice you with great ease. You can wear a reflective strap around your ankle or calf in case you do not have a bright jacket or vest.