paul31606

LBS ran out of red LED tail lights this week and just to have some type of safety I adapted a greenish LED supposed to be mounted on the handlebars to use instead. question is does the light have to be red by law or is this just what everyone is used to putting on their bikes? because this new color shows up much better than red according to fellow riders.

slvoid

Green is more attention getting to human eyes. But check with local laws. I think around here amber and red are the only legal ones.

timmhaan

40-6-296.
(a) Every bicycle when in use at nighttime shall be equipped with a light on the front which shall emit a white light visible from a distance of 300 feet to the front and with a red reflector on the rear of a type approved by the Department of Public Safety which shall be visible from a distance of 300 feet to the rear when directly in front of lawful upper beams of headlights on a motor vehicle. A light emitting a red light visible from a distance of 300 feet to the rear may be used in addition to the red reflector.


from:
https://www.serve.com/bike/georgia/galaw.html

Raiyn

Nobody said you couldn't have the light on a helmet or something. You just need to have a red light on the back of the bike.

Seeker

Check your local laws. In Georga it might mention lights being red but in Texas it only says that a red reflector is required.

Personally, I would use the blinkie you have now until you get a red one and then put that green blinkie on your helmet or somthing.

dobber

I honestly don't think Barney's gonna pull you over based on the color of your light.

slvoid

Probably not unless you have flashing white and blue strobes.
But if you get in an accident with a car and the driver decides to be a dick about it, might as well have the law on your side.
That's why I have spoke reflectors, at least two front and rear lights, and a bell on my bike. Those are the things required by law and I will keep those.

paul31606

from timmhaan's link (good resource by the way) it looks like I will need to get a red once the LBS has them in stock. a shame though, that green shows up so much better. thx.

Zin

The law that Timmham quoted does not appear to exclude use of your yellowish/greenish blinky. It simply states that you MUST HAVE A RED REFLECTOR on the rear of the the bike. If you do, then you appear to be in compliance with GA state law. You may have to do some further research to see if the off-colored blinky in addition to your rear reflector would be legal.