Are Front Flashing Lights Legal?
- Dave Shellnutt
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
A community member recently reached out wondering about the legality of a flashing white front light vs a solid white beam. Some motorist yelled at them saying the flashing light was illegal…classic motorists.
We’re definitely aware of the back and forth about the safety concerns (for and against) around flashing front lights, but had never actually deep dove the law on it. So, to answer their IG DM, we did.
Personally, I like a flashing front light on city streets. With all the competing background lights at night (store signs, traffic signals, cars, etc.), I want my light to stand out and catch the eye of a motorist about to change lanes in front of me or swing open their door into my path. In an urban setting with so many competing lights, mine has to win. According to a 2017 study out of Clemson University and as reported by Bike Radar, I may be right:
“from a high-level view, it looks to me like this: [whether you choose to run] steady or flashing makes no difference in rural areas… but flashing is better in urban areas where there are a lot of steady background lights.
Now, I do understand that a 1000 lumen flashing light could be distracting to other road users, so I aim my light downwards as not to be blazing into an oncoming person’s eyes. When I get on trails or multiuse paths, I turn it to solid beam mode (still aiming a bit down).
I drive a fair bit as well and I can tell you I am more often blinded by motorists LED lights then I am any cyclist's flashing front light.
THE LAW - From our read of the Highway Traffic Act there is no explicit statement permitting or banning flashing front lights on your bike:
Lights and reflectors on bicycles, etc.
S.62(17) When on a highway at any time from one-half hour before sunset to one-half hour after sunrise and at any other time when, due to insufficient light or unfavourable atmospheric conditions, persons and vehicles on the highway are not clearly discernible at a distance of 150 metres or less, every motor assisted bicycle and bicycle (other than a unicycle) shall carry a lighted lamp displaying a white or amber light on its front [...]
(17.1) A bicycle may carry a lighted lamp on its rear that produces intermittent flashes of red light at any time, [...]
Intermittent red flashing rear lights are expressly permitted but the HTA is silent on front flashing lights on bikes. As a lawyer, the omission to me means that flashing front lights are useable by virtue of not being expressly banned (just like riding two abreast).
We found an interesting Reddit thread about this issue. They had a back and forth with city councillors and ultimately the provincial government who said flashing front lights were illegal per the HTA:
But this interpretation of the HTA is likely wrong. Section 169(2) cited by the Province references high beams, and bicycle lights are not classified as such anywhere:
Alternating highbeams on other vehicles prohibited
(2) No person shall use highbeam headlamps that produce alternating flashes of white light on any vehicle other than a vehicle referred to in subsection (1). R.S.O. 1990, c. H.8, s. 169 (2).
Further the Province recommends reaching out to TPS to enforce this law against cyclists, but here is what TPS says:
The above Reddit poster had originally posted on the serious medical impacts on them and others of flashing lights that’s definitely worth a read and must be considered. The Bike Radar article discusses this aspect as well.
Ultimately, I think we want to cause the least harm while ensuring our own individual safety. For me that means angling my powerful light down a bit, but allowing it to flash on busy motorist filled roadways.
Here is some great additional commentary on the subject:
