From 2003 onwards, the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Public Works has annually measured cyclists’ lighting. The research results provide insight into the effects of public campaigns. In December 2009 and January 2010 new data were collected, During darkness (< 3 lux) and twilight (3 to 26 lux) the lighting of cyclists was visually observed, distinguishing front light and rear light, situations of non-lighting (switched off or non existent) and situations of lighting. Also, it was observed whether the bicycle lighting was according to existing and official regulations or not. During the December 2009/January 2010 research, lighting of in total 17,245 cyclists was observed and recorded. In December 2009/January 2010, 65% of all registered cyclists had their lights on front and rear, same as the previous year. Over a longer period of time, there seems to be a stabilization of the increase in lighting. In December 2009/January 2010, 62% of the cyclists observed had their lights on according to regulations. Cities vary in bicycle lighting. On average, lighting is lower in the four largest Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Den Haag, Utrecht) than elsewhere in the Netherlands. Also, lighting according to the regulations is lower in the four largest cities. The share of lighted bicycles seems to be stabilizing in the four largest cities. There is a relationship between age class and bicycle lighting. Youngsters and young adults are relatively less lighted on the bicycle than older age groups. Looking at a longer period of time, bicycle lighting seems to be stabilizing through all age classes. During darkness (< 3 lux) cyclists more often use lighting than during twilight (3 to 26 lux). There is no difference in bicycle lighting between the morning hours and the evening hours. During the December 2009/January 2010 research, 97% of the lighted cyclists had their front as well as their rear lights attached to the bicycle. New regulations, introduced November 1st, 2008, allow to lights to be attached to the upper body. However, this broadening of the rules is not utilized much. The share of correctly lighted cyclists, i.e., according to the regulations, has increased with 2%, thanks to the new regulation. (Author/publisher)
Samenvatting