News item | 10/31/2023 | 21:13
On October 31, Minister Mark Harbers (Infrastructure and Water Management) started the Bicycle Lights ‘ON in the Dark’ campaign. The days are getting shorter and that makes good lighting in traffic even more important.
Good lighting reduces the risk of accidents by about 20%. Research by I&O Research shows that almost 10% of respondents have been involved in a near miss (6%) or an accident (3%) without lighting.
Minister Harbers: “Cycling in the dark with lights is a lot safer. Not only because you are much more visible, but also because you can see the road ahead of you clearly. It is very dangerous to cycle in the dark without lights and that is why you can get a fine of 60 euros if you do not have bicycle lights when you should. So prepare well for these shorter days and make sure your bicycle lights work properly.”
More and more people are seeing the light
The figures from I&O Research show that 86% of Dutch people aged 18 or older now have fixed bicycle lights. This means that the quality of the lighting is good and that the lighting cannot be forgotten.
The other people often use separate lights that they can attach to their bicycle themselves. Showed last year various surveys already shows that young people in particular often do not go out with good lighting.
Bicycle lights ON
The campaign is being conducted in collaboration with provinces, ANWB, TeamAlert, Cyclists’ Union, National Police, RAI Association, Bovag and Veilig Verkeer Nederland (VVN). They are undertaking various activities this fall. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management makes campaign material available.
For example, TeamAlert takes to the streets with youth advisors to let young people wear VR glasses to experience how difficult they are to be visible to motorists without lighting. The Cyclists’ Union is present with volunteers in various cities to repair bicycle lights or put lights on bicycles. VVN is committed to checking correct bicycle lighting and the police takes care of enforcement actions.
So: check today whether your front and rear lights are working properly. And then also check the children’s bicycles.