Since 2003, at the request of AVV Transport Research Centre, an annual research is carried out to see whether cyclists use their lights. These observations provide some insight into the effects of publicity campaigns. The research was carried out again in December 2006 and January 2007. Visual observations of cyclists' use of lights during the dark (<3 lux) and at dusk (3 to 26 lux) were registered. A distinction was made between the use of front and rear lights and between situations in which cyclists did not use lights (lights are turned off or there are no lights on the bike) and situations in which they did. The study also looked at whether bicycle lights complied with current legislation. In the study conducted from December 2006 to the end of January 2007, the use of lights of 15,935 cyclists was recorded. During this study 62% of them used both front and rear lights; 55% used lighting that was in full compliance with the existing regulation. Looking at the long term development the trend is as follows: after a strong increase in 2003 and 2004 (from 49% in February 2003 to 63% in December 2004 / January 2005) lighting use in 2005 and 2006 has stabilised on the registered level of end 2004. The degree to which cyclists have their lights switched on differs from city to city. In the four largest cities of the Netherlands, cyclists tend to use their lights less often than in other cities. The rate of compliance with the law is also lower in these four cities. There is a link between the cyclists' age and their use of lights. Teenagers and young adults use their lights relatively less often than older age groups. Children up to the age of 12 also use bicycle lights less often than the average cyclist. Cyclists use their lights more often during the dark (< 3 lux) than at dusk (3 to 26 lux) and more often in the morning than in the evening. (Author/publisher)
Abstract