Originally Posted by
ks1g
In many (most) jurisdictions in the US, at least, you need both for night (between legal dusk to dawn) riding. My state requires a red reflector for legal night riding. Additionally, if you live in a state with a contributory negligence clause (I do), lack of a reflector may affect your ability (or that, $DEITY-forbid!, of your heirs) to sue/collect insurance/get authorities to enforce their reckless driving/vehicular manslaughter/injury laws if you are struck by a vehicle. I don't depend on a reflector (my daughter says my rolling light show is stupid-obnoxious bright), but my commuter bike has one to keep the lawyers happy.
EXACTLY. I live in Fort Wayne Indiana, in the Fort the police will not give a ticket to a cyclist that has no lights or reflectors at night because of the negligence clause, even if I run a red light and hit and perhaps kill a cyclist and 100 witnesses all say I ran a red light, but that cyclist had no lights or reflectors then the cyclist is the one that is screwed, I get off scott free.