And no, it's not time for a fight.

 

Ok, so as the current law stands, my front windows have to allow 75% of light to pass in both directions. On one of the Police Interceptor programs the officer said that not onlywas this for safety reasons (especially at night), but also so the driver could be seen (with some bollards about needing to identify the driver).

 

So, shouldn't this also apply to bikers? Very rarely on my travels do I see a clear visor, usually it's either black or mirrored, neither of these would let 75% of light through, especially at night. I have noticed that those fine upstanding police motorcycle officers always have clear visors, which is usually a yardstick for the rest of the world. (i.e if it was a "not letting the sun glare" type thing, surely the motorcyce police would use them, especially as they would be occaisionally going faster than 70mph)

 

Anyone know why this disparity exists?

You can buy tinted visors for crash helmets, these do have a kite mark, some visors off the internet are darker even black but do not carry the kite mark so are illegal. Mirror visors I cannot comment on. So I would say the Law is the same for Cars and Motor cycles. Is it illegal to have a Black visor on a crash helmet if the visor is not down, as with dark tints on your window if in the open position.

I think it's ok so long as the conditions allow and the rider carries a spare clear visor. I know my dad uses a tinted (lightly) visor in summer but always has a clear one in his tank bag. I cant see the problem with this?

 

Common sense says to me the difference between cars and bikes is a biker can switch visors in seconds, is the car driver likely to carry a spare set of windows and swap them if it goes overcast/dark? 

I use a genuine dark visor (Shoei) which is not as dark as the aftermarket ones, it also appears to combine with my glasses giving a polarized effect with no glare whatsoever. I have seen Police riders using the same because on a bright day or in low sun they do increase safety so the Police have been told to ignore them unless the rider is taking the micky (using it after dark) or fails the attitude test.

 

The ideal all round solution is to have a internal drop-down tinted visor, in my case Shoei fit my noggin perfectly and they didn't do a helmet with one of those until this year... I might get one when this helmet is ready for renewal.

Dark visors are not any more legal than a dark tinted windscreen.

However, it is common practice for the police to overlook the issue. I think that the ACPO guidelines even advise for no action to be taken.

It's a stupid rule anyway. It's perfectly legal to wear dark sun specs and have clear visor! Most of us have different visors for different conditions. They can be changed in seconds, not like a windscreen!

And car, van, lorry , bus  drivers wear what ever tint of sunglasses suits them.

 

george

Ok, so as the current law stands, my front windows have to allow 75% of light to pass in both directions. On one of the Police Interceptor programs the officer said that not onlywas this for safety reasons (especially at night), but also so the driver could be seen (with some bollards about needing to identify the driver).

 

Correct

 

 

So, shouldn't this also apply to bikers? 

 

It does but at a different tint level, during daylight. (darker level because the law says so, justification below)

 

 

 I have noticed that those fine upstanding police motorcycle officers always have clear visors, which is usually a yardstick for the rest of the world.

 

Most that I have seen have internal flip down tinted visors tbh, you may not have noticed this in passing. A better yard stick would be to just read up on the regulations. Google and a good 10 seconds would reveal all. 

 

Anyone know why this disparity exists?

 

It doesn't.

 

 

There are rules and it is no more than 50% tint, during the day. The visor must be marked as conforming with this with BS4110 mark or the EC Regulation 22.05.

 

That's about all there is to it tbh. 

 

This is darker a level of tint than a car has for it's front windscreen but, the law allows this for a few reasons. The visor is for all round viability an unlike when someone is in their car and the sun is shining toward them, a biker does not have a sun visor to fold down from the roof and use in forward or side positions and can also not rummage about for a pair of sunglasses etc. Car's level of tint is lower for the opposite reasons, the glass cannot be swapped out at night in 5 seconds. 

 

 

Here is a good picture to dispel the Police always clear myth also. 

http://www.welshbikers.co.uk/forum/the-welsh-bikers-cafe/police-dark-visors

I think the bike legal one is 50% of light to pass through. I've got a black visor on my helmet because unlike cars there is no sun visor available for me.

You can get helmets with built on flip down visors which are slightly tinted.

I've never been stopped for my visor but I carry a clear round my waist anyway

It's more than 50% transmission.  It is covered by the same rules for windscreens, you can get darker visors but only from overseas.  Buying one in a shop is a hefty fine, so retailers do not stock them.

 

I've attached an image of my Arai with a store bought legal tint visor.  It appears darker simply because the interior of the helmet is dark and there is little light that passes throug the helmet.

 

Mirrored or Iridium visors is a gray area and subject to much debate.

 

 

Also if a helmet has the capacity for a visor it must be fitted, unless you have off road goggles.  Similarly ridding with a flipped helmet flipped is illegal.

Similarly ridding with a flipped helmet flipped is illegal.

 

 

Roof Boxer & a couple of others are tested and legal to use open iirc

Correct, but partly due to them being tested as open face helmets.

 

If you have a Shoei xxxxxTec or a Schuberth C range then you must have the front closed and locked.

 

 

So many rules, regulations and laws.  No wonder it's to damn confusing.

 

 

 

Also if a helmet has the capacity for a visor it must be fitted, unless you have off road goggles. 

 

 Are you sure about that.

Ive never heard anything about it and cant find anything that says it either.

Because there is no Law in the UK that would make it illegal.

 

Police officers & others might find something to say,

but equally then we can point out to a Police officer who will often be moving on a bike with there Flip Down, not flipped down,

that they are doing the wrong thing..

 

What is the actual 'offence', Traffic act or legislation that applies to flip up helmet fronts being up when riding that is going to lead to the charge that can lead to a prosecution.?

Maybe someone can find it, rather than repeating something often stated.

 

Where the open face helmet or helmet without a visor and must wear goggles stuff comes from i have no idea.

How many Trials riders ride a Public Highway route/transition between Sections, Daytime only MOT and open helmet with no goggles.?

Lots.

eg, 6 Day Trials, Police around and on the routes, providing escorts etc.

 

george

Im not quite sure about this 'being seen' stuff, you're probably right but is it so camera evidence can be used to prosecute someone for traffic offences or is it because it conjures up images of someone doing something illegal or dangerous or threatening whilst inside the vehicle ie - loading a gun in preparation to shooting at someone or taking/dealing drugs.Totally different to bikes as it's pretty obvious what someone on a bike is up to regardless of whether you can see their face or not.

 

IMO most bikers have a tinted screen to improve their visibility, the minority have them because they look cool

IMO Most car drivers would tint their windows because it looks smarter, the minority because it improves visibility.(i'd be in the it looks nice category)

 

Also it's easy to swap over a visor but not so easy to swap over a car window & whilst you could have the window down that wouldnt be reasonably practicable and most people wouldnt do it just like most bikers wouldnt ride too far with their visor up before it became impracticable. 

 

Much of this is perception, car drivers are more likely to be driving in the dark.You are seeing allot of bikes at the moment due to the summer time and nice weather.these are guys that will never ride in the dark and only in summer, by winter time you will notice that there are less of these dark visors as only the year round bikers will be out & they will be riding in the dark & need clear visors.

Edited 13 August, 201312 yr by Noggythenog