From the winter of 2003/2004 until 2009/2010, the Dutch Ministry of Transport and Public Works has annually measured cyclists’ lighting. The research results provide insight into the effects of public road safety campaigns. This year, new data were collected in the winter of 2012/2013. In conditions of darkness (< 3 lux) and twilight (3 to 26 lux) the lighting of cyclists was observed visually, distinguishing front/rear light, and situations of lighting/non-lighting (switched off or non-existent). Also, it was observed whether the bicycle lighting was according to existing and official regulations or not. During the December 2012/January 2013 research, lighting of in total 16,917 cyclists was observed and recorded. 61% of all cyclists observed had their lights on front and rear. During the previous research in December 2011/January 2012 this was 62%. In December 2012/January 2013,60% of the cyclists observed had their lights on according to regulations. This was 61% during the previous research in December 2011/January 2012. 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. Over a longer period of time, there seems to be a decrease of lighting in these four largest Dutch cities and a stabilization of lighting elsewhere in the Netherlands. 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. During darkness (< 3 lux) cyclists more often use lighting than during twilight (3 to 26 lux). Bicycle lighting in morning hours is slightly higher than in evening hours. The lighting on E-bikes is considerably higher than on non-electric bicycles. During the December 2012/January 2013 research, 99% of the lighted cyclists had their front as well as their rear lights attached to the bicycle. New regulations, introduced November 1st, 2008, allow 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 0,6%, thanks to the new regulation. (Author/publisher)
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