Lighting, an essential element of road safety: why don't bicycles and scooters comply with the rules?

Lighting is an essential element of road safety. Motor vehicles must keep their lights on at all times, even during the day, so they remain visible to other road users. This rule is grounded in the Spanish Traffic, Motor Vehicle Circulation and Road Safety Act, which states that all vehicles must keep their position lights and dipped headlights on, both day and night. The rule does not cover bicycles or scooters, for the simple reason that they are not considered motor vehicles.

The problem with bicycles and scooters

However, bicycles and scooters often ride without lights, which makes them harder to see and increases the risk of accidents. According to a study by the DGT, 20% of bicycle and scooter accidents happen in conditions of poor visibility, cases in which lighting could have helped prevent the accident or reduce its consequences.

It is important to keep the lights on in order to be visible to other road users, to improve the rider's own visibility in low light or fog, and to increase safety, since lights let riders see their surroundings better and be seen.

Manufacturers can do their part

Manufacturers of bicycles and scooters can improve the safety of these vehicles by incorporating integrated lighting systems, front, rear and side lights, as well as indicators. They are an effective solution: easy to use and with no need to fit or remove the lights. They could also include other features that would improve safety, such as lights that adjust to the intensity of the ambient light, GPS location systems or accident alert systems.

The importance of getting the details right

Lighting is essential to the safety of bicycles and scooters. Manufacturers can help by incorporating integrated systems, and users also need to be aware of how important it is to keep their lights on at all times. The DGT is working on a project to improve the safety of these vehicles, weighing measures such as a requirement to keep lights on and the installation of integrated systems. At Neurafy, we want to encourage manufacturers to build lighting systems into their products that help reduce the risks their users face every day.