Lightless cyclists fined in safety operation (From Oxford Mail)

My god. An article about cyclists and no comments! Time to put that right.

Good job TVP, cyclists without lights annoy me (almost ran one over the other day) but so do other motorists whose headlights don't work. These should clamped down on big time.

I do a TILE (tyres, indicators, lights, exhaust) check on the 1st of every month so I know my car is working properly. It only takes 2 mins.

Sod this giving them chance to buy lights within 7 days lark, there's no excuse for them not having lights.
Although I applaud EMBOX1 for monthly checks, lights are something that should be checked every time you use the car, bulbs can blow at any time.

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
Sod this giving them chance to buy lights within 7 days lark, there's no excuse for them not having lights.
Although I applaud EMBOX1 for monthly checks, lights are something that should be checked every time you use the car, bulbs can blow at any time.

True, but as a sensible driver, you'd notice the distinct lack of light coming from your vehicle (headlights, anyway!) which most people with broken lights seem not to realise.

Personally, I'd make carrying a spare set of bulbs a legal requirement, as it is in many European countries.

EMBOX1 wrote:

Dilligaf2010 wrote:
Sod this giving them chance to buy lights within 7 days lark, there's no excuse for them not having lights.
Although I applaud EMBOX1 for monthly checks, lights are something that should be checked every time you use the car, bulbs can blow at any time.

True, but as a sensible driver, you'd notice the distinct lack of light coming from your vehicle (headlights, anyway!) which most people with broken lights seem not to realise.

Personally, I'd make carrying a spare set of bulbs a legal requirement, as it is in many European countries.

Completely agree, I've been carrying spare sets in my cars since 1984, even have some H7 headlight lamps in my filing cabinet that I ordered in error ;-)

I do find this buy lights and we will let you off policy rather strange. If a motorist is caught without his seat belt he gets a ticket. He is not told wear a seat belt in future and we will let you off. A fine should be a fine and if the cyclist has no proper ID, then it is pay on the spot, or the cycle impounded until it is paid. I learnt quickly as a driver the penalties for ignoring the law, points and a fine, and now I make sure that I don't get them again, but if I had been let off, then I think I would have carried on speeding, red lighting etc, the same with letting off the cyclists, they don't think it is a deterrent, as all they have to do is pop into a poundland or whatever and escape punishment. I saw many motorists pulled in St Giles this morning (20mph speed trap again) and they were given £60 and 3 points, I would be very aggrieved to know that other road users were being let off for other offences.

Carfax Cabby wrote:
I do find this buy lights and we will let you off policy rather strange. If a motorist is caught without his seat belt he gets a ticket. He is not told wear a seat belt in future and we will let you off. A fine should be a fine and if the cyclist has no proper ID, then it is pay on the spot, or the cycle impounded until it is paid. I learnt quickly as a driver the penalties for ignoring the law, points and a fine, and now I make sure that I don't get them again, but if I had been let off, then I think I would have carried on speeding, red lighting etc, the same with letting off the cyclists, they don't think it is a deterrent, as all they have to do is pop into a poundland or whatever and escape punishment. I saw many motorists pulled in St Giles this morning (20mph speed trap again) and they were given £60 and 3 points, I would be very aggrieved to know that other road users were being let off for other offences.

There are diversion courses for seat belts, speeding and mobile phone.
How do you know what was said to those speeding in St Giles?

The most worrying part of this article for me is that 40% of collisions in Oxford involve pedal cyclists.

40% does not shock me! I was on the 280 coming out of the train station last week when two cyclists should have stopped due to a queue of traffic, they didn't they rode on the other side of the road into oncoming traffic. Down the high street and on to the plain they ignore traffic lights and swerve in front of buses and cars. Without lights they are a danger to themselves and others and should not have their fines cancelled if lights are brought in 7 days

"Cyclist Josh Jacobs, 21,was pulled over by officers and said: “It is a logical thing to do. I already have lights, which is annoying, but I will buy spare ones.”

so why are you not using them?

Cyclist David Sarvasidze, 17 said: “I think it is a good thing that they stop people. I wanted to buy lights but I thought I would the next day, and the next day. I will buy lights now.” this is why young people today are so flippant, as a parent it is our responsibility to make sure our children have lights, my daughter is in her early 20's she wasn't allowed out without lights on her bike, as a 17 year old you are still a minor maybe a £30 fine for the parents also!

Maybe they should start fining the imbeciles who think it's OK to ride up behind you on a FOOT path, waiting for you to move for them. I tell them to sod off and ride on the road or push their bike until it's safe to do so. They're usually quite surprised, as I'm a grey-haired old lady.

Carfax Cabby wrote:
I do find this buy lights and we will let you off policy rather strange. If a motorist is caught without his seat belt he gets a ticket. He is not told wear a seat belt in future and we will let you off. A fine should be a fine and if the cyclist has no proper ID, then it is pay on the spot, or the cycle impounded until it is paid. I learnt quickly as a driver the penalties for ignoring the law, points and a fine, and now I make sure that I don't get them again, but if I had been let off, then I think I would have carried on speeding, red lighting etc, the same with letting off the cyclists, they don't think it is a deterrent, as all they have to do is pop into a poundland or whatever and escape punishment. I saw many motorists pulled in St Giles this morning (20mph speed trap again) and they were given £60 and 3 points, I would be very aggrieved to know that other road users were being let off for other offences.

I recently read of a police operation in another town, where they were simultaneously stopping cyclists running red lights and stopping drivers who had come to a halt in the Advanced Stop Zone. In both cases it was primarily an education exercise and the road users were informed about their bad behaviour but most weren't fined.

I would rather see the Police catching the Burglars who have broken into three of my neighbours houses in the last fortnight and seven houses locally. Maybe that's too much like hard work for plod.

Cyclist, like car users should be 'persecuted' to the full extent of the law by the police.

This favouritism for cyclists is breeding even more contempt for the police.

I'm a cyclist and I always carry lights round on me, its your responsiblity to be safe and to be seen. Good old TVP - keeping everyone safe and raising awareness!

xjohnx... lol,,, omg! Yep that's such a good idea!,,, Do you understand the concept of 'court charges'

Well they all had a weeks notice that this was going to happen so stupidity comes into it. I am a cyclist lights do not cost much I have small ones that can unclip and put in your pocket its the torags who pinch them that need a kick up the whatyoumacallit if you ask me. Dont ask me.

Same old chestnut by the Police, buy in 7 days and we'll forget the fine. RUBBISH, they are educated people, they know the law, and they are the first to complain in an accident. Play the fine the same as every other road user.
A good point was raised here the other day. Time that lights and a dynamo were fitted to all new bikes by legal requirement, end of. This nonsense has gone on for too long, time things were put right.

Most of them are probably university students!and a lot of them that come to oxford universities for education and go on to politics and become MP'S and some even prime ministers! no wonder the countries in a mess !!!!!!

Why do these stop checks only seem to be carried out in the city how about TVP doing the same in places like Thame and outer lying towns and villages, just as many arrogant cyclists there with no lights and don't get started with car drivers and faulty lights, do they not realise if one rear light has failed they only have one more chance and if the other one fails the back of the car is in near total darkness! seen it many times.

GUFFED ONE wrote:
Most of them are probably university students!and a lot of them that come to oxford universities for education and go on to politics and become MP'S and some even prime ministers! no wonder the countries in a mess !!!!!!

Amazing. Probably the most spurious link to the 'country being in a mess' ever.