Currently there is no legal obligation to sell new bicycles with white front and red rear lights. It is however a legal obligation for bicycles to use these lights at night. Many cyclists either choose not to fit lights or keep them maintained. This can lead to accidents especially if reflective clothing is not worn, resulting in injury or potentially death. Whichever party is to blame, the use of lights would reduce the risk of accidents. These tragedies will often have an impact on relatives, friends and all those associated with dealing with them.

As the police do not have the resources to stop offending cyclists, it should be up to the manufactures and/or retailers of bicycles to fit lights at point of production/ purchase. This will ensure that lights are present and ready for use. No bicycle should be allowed to be sold without the presence of front and rear lights.

Adding lights to new bicycles will add a small cost to the retail price, which pales into insignificance when weighed against the tragic consequences of accidents.

As a Driving Instructor, it is my responsibility and that of my colleagues, to educate new drivers about their own duty of care to cyclists. That responsibility however, must be shared by the cycling fraternity.