Cycle lights and reflectors

• Lights and reflectors you must have
• Lights you shouldn't have
• When you should use your lights
• Penalties for not having legal reflectors or lights

Lights and reflectors you must have

If you have good lights and reflectors on your cycle, you'll greatly increase your visibility to other vehicles.

Legally, you must have a rear reflector on your cycle when you ride on the road at any time. This must be red or yellow, and must be large enough to be seen from 100 metres, without causing undue dazzle or discomfort to other road users.

When you ride on the road during the legal hours of darkness, your bike must have:

• a steady or flashing rear-facing red light that can be seen at night from a distance of 100 metres
• a steady or flashing forward-facing white light that can be seen at night from a distance of 100 metres.

In addition to the two lights above, you can also display a forward-facing white or amber light (only one forward-facing light may be flashing, however).

When riding during the hours of darkness, you must also have:

• either yellow pedal reflectors on the forward and rearward facing surfaces of each pedal, or reflective clothing (eg, reflective straps attached to the lower part of your legs).

Lights you shouldn't have

Your cycle must not have:

• white lights at the back
• red lights at the front.

When you should use your lights

You're legally required to use your lights during the 'hours of darkness'. 'Hours of darkness' means from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise, or at any other time when there isn't enough light to see a person or vehicle that is 100 metres away.

Penalties for not having legal reflectors or lights

You can be fined $55 for not having the correct reflectors or lights fitted to your bike.

Page updated: 21 October 2005