Originally Posted by
katsrevenge
PA law states that any car who rear ends another car is instantly at fault.... (PA law also requires a red light at night.)
Both are not true.
First, there is a strong presumption that the car who rear ends another car is at fault, but the car in front *may* be found at fault.
For example - if the car in front had an inoperative license plate lamp - such a technical violation *WILL* *NOT* effect assignment of fault. But if a car pulls directly into the path of a car who can not reasonably yield - the car in front may be found at fault. (This finding is far more common now.)
But in PA a car who rear ends a bicycle is instantly, uh.... (I think we know who is too often found at fault, don't we?)
On bicycle equipment.
PA law does *NOT* require a rear lamp on a bicycle.
What is *REQUIRED*:
Originally Posted by § 3507. Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles.
(a) Lamps and reflectors.--Every pedalcycle when in use between sunset and sunrise shall be equipped on the front with a lamp which emits a beam of white light intended to illuminate the pedalcycle operator's path and visible from a distance of at least 500 feet to the front, a red reflector facing to the rear which shall be visible at least 500 feet to the rear and an amber reflector on each side.
The following are *OPTIONAL*:
Originally Posted by § 3507. Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles.
Operators of pedalcycles may supplement the required front lamp with a white flashing lamp, light-emitting diode or similar device to enhance their visibility to other traffic and with a lamp emitting a red flashing lamp, light-emitting diode or similar device visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.
Finally, lamps may be mounted on the rider rather than the bicycle:
Originally Posted by § 3507. Lamps and other equipment on pedalcycles.
A lamp or lamps worn by the operator of a pedalcycle shall comply with the requirements of this subsection if the lamp or lamps can be seen at the distances specified.
Riding a bicycle at night without a front lamp is a violation - but has almost no bearing on getting rear ended. Riding a bicycle at night without a rear lamp is *NOT* a violation. (It may be WISE to ride a bicycle at night with a rear lamp, but it's not required by PA law.)
-mr. bill