LIGHTS ON: is it illegal in NZ?

[Monsterbishi]

Living on the north shore its hard to avoid roads that have limits higher than 70km/h if you want to hed south. Surely im safer going at 100 untill i can get off the motorway than i am going at 70 and waiting for some idiot in a cage to get impatient and try and run me off the harbour bridge?

Or, you just use a form of transport that means you're not breaking the law, public transport, car pooling, etc - it's not a very long time between learners and restricted when you can go faster than 70kph, 6 months actually

ps, welcome to the forum.

[pete376403]

It is compulsory in Australia to have lights hard-wired on (Australian Design Rules) so possibly we get Australian market bikes. My KLR has no light switch, but it is possible to buy (off the web) the European spec left handle bar switch block that has a on-off switch, a dip switch and a seperate headlight flasher switch. Plugs straight into the loom behind the headlight.

[Conquiztador]

Surprised re the lack of understanding re lights. U must have lights on 1/2 hour after sun has gone down and until 1/2 hour before sun goes up while driving/riding. That is a minimum. You also must have lights on when visibility is poor as in fog, rain etc.

Cars/bikes that have "driving lights" fitted will have these on as soon as motor is on. They can not be turned off. In many countries is is obligatory to have lights on day and night when driving. If car/bike is not fitted with driving lights you must have low beam on. Parking lights is not enough.

We do not have this ruling in NZ yet. But you will find that cagers and bikers who visit NZ and drive/ride will have lights on always as it is compulsory in their countries. There is statistics showing that it has greatly reduced head on crashes.

I have never heard of any rule in NZ that states that you must have lights off in daytime??? As far as I am aware it is up to your own discretion if you want to drive/ride with them on. I tend to do so when in a cage and outside town/cities. And always when on a bike.

High beam should only (day or night) be used when you do not have other traffic in sight so that you do not "blind" them. If your low beam does not show you enough road when driving/riding night time, then I recommend getting your lights adjusted/repaired/seen to. To have high beam on while following someone is also illegal. It will blind them in their mirrors.

[mowgli]

The road code specifically sais that it is very recommended to have the full beam n all the time.

Yes, but it also goes on to list circumstances where you must dip you lights (see below). High beam 24/7 is only legal if you never encounter those circumstances. Highly unlikely would have thought.

8.3 Use of motor vehicle lighting equipment on road

(1) A person must not use vehicle lighting equipment in such a way that it dazzles, confuses, or distracts so as to endanger the safety of other road users.

(2) If a vehicle's headlamps are in use, a driver must dip those headlamps—

(a)whenever they would be likely to interfere adversely with the vision of another driver in motion on a road; or

(b) when approaching an intersection or other place where the traffic is or appears to be under the control of an enforcement officer; or

(c) when the vehicle is parked.

(3) A driver, during the hours of darkness, must use the vehicle's headlamp or headlamps.

(4) A driver during the hours of darkness must use the vehicle's position lamp or lamps.

[mowgli]

I'm pleased to hear it.
Sorry - nothing personal - it's just a pet hate of mine, all the dorks that drive around with their driving lights on. It's a bit dazzling for other road users, and like the cop said, it's illegal.

I agree completely

8.4 Use of optional lights

(1) A driver may use a fog lamp only in conditions of severely reduced visibility, including fog or snow, but not under clear atmospheric conditions even during the hours of darkness.

(2) A person may use a work lamp only—

(a) when the vehicle to which it is fitted is stationary or travelling slowly; and

(b) to illuminate a work area or scene.

[ital916]

Haha I laugh when i hear all the HTFU replies. I'd rather be lit up like a christmas tree on ym bike and have car drivers going what the fuck is that btter stay away from it than being all dressed in black with lights off. I ride with high beams on all the time plus a high vis vest and as much non black gear as possible, witha nice bright non black red and white bike. If i could have my way i'd somehow invent a giant holographic arrow to appear above my bike , just so extra blind cages would see me.

[Maffoo]

i havent turned the light switch to 'off' since i started riding

[Hanne]

The lights in my volvo (cringe, I know!) are wired to come on with the engine, and I always ride/ drive with headlights, even during the day. I know that not many people do (I can always recognise my Dad's car driving along becasue of the headlights) but Ifind that it really helps with visibility when I see other cars/ bikes doing so. Especially on a bike I think it is super important, becasue otherwise they are even easier to miss, even during daylight hours.

SO, illegal? No, Idon't think so, my driving instructor was mildly suprised when I went for my test and reached to switch them on (in Dad's car) but said nothing about having to turn them off.

[owner]

Yeah I reakon

[nick69]

Riding with your lights on is not an offence. Using your high beam when appraoching other road users is. My police bike is hard wired and are always on low beam. I try to put all the lights on i can so people see me. Even with blue flashing lights/siren they dont see me, so anything you can do to make yourself more visible to other drivers is good.

[HungusMaximist]

I try to put all the lights on i can so people see me. Even with blue flashing lights/siren they dont see me, so anything you can do to make yourself more visible to other drivers is good.

Far out....

Are Aucklanders that dumb?

[vonstringer]

My Yamaha Scorpio lights can be turned off. I use them at night, dusk, dawn, and in bad weather. When it comes to daytime riding with lights on, I have my own little theory...

When people renew their license, they get their eyes checked, so they should be able to see. What they see on the road is threats.

The rider in high-vis gear and with their headlight shining brightly doesn't look like much of a threat. Car Driver: If I run him over he is just going to get a little upset and I'll say I never saw him and all will be well.

The rider who looks most like a gang member dressed in black leather, no lights, and a bandana across his face looks much more intimidating and poses a BIG threat. Car Driver: If I run him over he will drag his angry broken body off the ground and haul me out of the car to do unspeakable things to me and my family.

It's very hard to look a threat on a 225cc commuter bike, but I try my best. Of course there is another problem with my bike. I read somewhere these things are manufactured in Italy. My friend who owns a Ducati reckons you only get a set amount of power dished out at manufacture time with an Italian bike, so the more you can conserve, the longer you can run trouble free!

[heyjoe]

There is no requirement to have headlights on all the time. It is not compulsory for motorcycles to have them on during the daytime. As someone said earlier in this thread - have them turned on if the conditions warrant it.

On my bike they are on as soon as you turn on the ignition. I can't switch them off. I Would like to be able to though. There are times when I think it is totally unncessary eg on a bright sunny day.

[JMemonic]

The rider in high-vis gear and with their headlight shining brightly doesn't look like much of a threat. Car Driver: If I run him over he is just going to get a little upset and I'll say I never saw him and all will be well.

The rider who looks most like a gang member dressed in black leather, no lights, and a bandana across his face looks much more intimidating and poses a BIG threat. Car Driver: If I run him over he will drag his angry broken body off the ground and haul me out of the car to do unspeakable things to me and my family.

This assumes that the said mythical driver is

A/ not intoxicated (alcohol or drugs)
B/ not distracted (kids in car, changing radio etc)
C/ is wearing glasses or contacts needed
D/ is in a mental space where they just give a dam about looking for bikes
E/ in not one of the second mentioned folks (you know them, they are out there)

For the sake of a little added safety where is the harm in running your lights full time, most manufactures recommend it,and unless you or someone has screwed with the wiring there is little to no chance of it damaging you bike.

[The Stranger:Me]

Must be cool as i have lights on 24/7 (when in use) on both cage and bike and never been questioned...

Personally, I would discourage their use by day in a cage, particularly as you are a biker. It causes bikes to "get lost" and stops cage drivers from associating a head light with a motorbike.