DAYTIME LIGHTS ON E-BIKES – THE SITUATION IN GERMANY, AUSTRIA AND CO.


Let there be light – from 1 April 2022, all e-bikes and S-pedelecs in Switzerland must be equipped with a daytime light. A step that could lead the way for neighboring countries. We took a closer look at the situation in the surrounding countries (Status April 2022).

DAYTIME LIGHT FOR ALL E-BIKES IN SWITZERLAND

In December 2021, the Federal Council decided to introduce new guidelines for e-bikes in road traffic. In accordance with the ordinance of the Federal Roads Office (FEDRO), all e-bikes must be equipped with a daytime light from 1 April. This means that dusk will no longer be sufficient as a guideline for switching on lights; they will become mandatory at all times of the day and in all lighting conditions. The change in legislation applies to both fast e-bikes and s-pedelecs with pedal assist up to 45 km/h as well as classic e-bikes or pedelecs with pedal assist up to 25 km/h.

E-BIKE DAYTIME LIGHTS IN GERMANY

As soon as a bicycle is used on public roads in Germany, it has to comply with certain legal requirements – and this also applies to its so-called «lighting equipment.» These include both front and rear lights and reflectors. In Germany, a daytime light is explicitly allowed for bicycles according to the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO). However, there is no legal requirement like there is in Switzerland. The same applies for the main beam function. This can be used to deactivate the low beam if required and provide a particularly wide illumination. However, it should only be used if no oncoming traffic is expected.

E-BIKE DAYTIME LIGHTS IN AUSTRIA

In Austria, bicycles can be used entirely without front and rear lights in daylight and when visibility is good. This also means that in Austria there is no obligation to use daytime lights as there is in Switzerland. The latest bicycle regulation of the German Federal Ministry for Climate Protection, the Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology (BMK) does not currently mention the issue of daytime lights.

E-BIKE DAYTIME LIGHTS IN OTHER EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

Switzerland is a pioneer when it comes to daytime lights on e-bikes. This also becomes clear if you look at the current legal situation in other European countries. Although no headlights are prescribed for cycling in Poland during the day, for example, the reflective red rear lights must always be mounted. In Denmark, a two-wheeled bicycle should be equipped with at least one headlight and at least one rear light. The lights must be clearly visible from a distance of at least 300 meters. They must be visible from the side and should be switched on from sunset to sunrise.

Italian law also states: «When it gets dark and visibility is poor, you need bicycle lighting such as headlights, reflectors or dynamos.» In France, too, there are discussions about daytime lights, but so far there has been no clear legal regulation. By the way: a Danish study discovered that the risk of an accident involving injury to the cyclist can be reduced by 19 % with daytime lights. So it can be expected that daytime lights on an e-bike will be enshrined in the legislation of many other countries in future.

Want to know more about e-bike lights? Find out more in the following blog post:

Overview of lighting

FIT Inhaltbilder Tagesbeleuchtung
FIT Inhaltbild E-Bike Leuchten

06.04.2022