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  #1  
Old 27 Sep 2012
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Headlights in Peru
Hey guys!

Just a heads up when riding in Peru on the panamerican highway; headlight is necessary even during the day. I was stopped at a check point north of Lima and told that it is the law in Peru and of course was asked for money to be able to continue. Luckily I was able to get out of it by explaining I only have gas money to get to Lima.

Cheers,

Mario
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  #2  
Old 27 Sep 2012
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Same as my country: the USA. Also Canada. Why would you ever ride with your headlight off? Don't you like being easily seen by oncoming traffic?

Not trying to be obnoxious: I am genuinely curious.

Mark
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Old 27 Sep 2012
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Same as my country: the USA. Also Canada. Why would you ever ride with your headlight off? Don't you like being easily seen by oncoming traffic?

Not trying to be obnoxious: I am genuinely curious.

Mark
Ah, the great DRL debate .....

So, once cars all have their headlights on as well, you are easier to see , how ?

I'm of the "it makes no difference" clan. If I have a bike with the headlight designed to be on then that is fine.

Or if I am in a country that demands it, ok, it is their laws.

It is still a choice thing in the UK (ha! who is the land of the free ? :-) )

But then again, you have states where it is not law to wear helmets.... but eye protection is :-)
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Old 27 Sep 2012
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Usuarly you can recognize tourists from miles away because they are the only ons using headlights. These headlights are usuarly much to high too after 90% of there bikes are totaly overloadet.

When i went through Peru on the same bike moast of the locals ride i did not use my headlight just like they do. As the result the police on the roadblocks did not recognize me as a tourist and when they finaly did i was allready passed them and friendly waved back...

Bolivia: from Uyuni to the road of death part 2

Travel save, Tobi
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Old 27 Sep 2012
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I don't ride with a headlight so that people can tell I'm not a car; I ride with a headlight because oncoming traffic can more easily see me. They can also more easily see a car with its lights on. No mystery about this: when you're driving down the road wondering whether it's safe to pass the slowpoke in front of you, you too can more easily see oncoming traffic which has its lights on--bike, car, truck or horsecart.

And for what it's worth, I got waved through the roadblocks just like you did, Tobi. No one mistook me for a local. Why would I care? Even if I did care, I'd rather be more visible, not less. And local riders do all sorts of stuff I don't do, like ride on bald tires without functional lights at night with fried steering bearings and leaky fuel lines.

Still genuinely curious. Seems an odd goal--to be invisible. I'm not one of these people who thinks everyone will notice me and never cut me off in traffic or pull out in front of me--I ride defensively, and have never come off my bikes on the road or in traffic. But given easy choices, I'd sure rather be seen than not.

Mark
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Old 27 Sep 2012
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Interesting, In 2006 I was stopped in Peru at a checkpoint and told I was not allowed to ride with my headlight on in the daytime. Was told that was for emergency vehicles only (I think, my spanish is lousy). I unplugged the connector to the headlight and they sent me on my way. Didn't seem like an attempt to get money.
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Old 27 Sep 2012
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
Same as my country: the USA. Also Canada. Why would you ever ride with your headlight off? Don't you like being easily seen by oncoming traffic?

Not trying to be obnoxious: I am genuinely curious.

Mark
Old habits die hard...
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Old 27 Sep 2012
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I'm fairly ambivalent about many rules, especially the ones where the logic isn't clear at first glance.

Having said that, there's a fair bit of information out there that makes a strong case that many car/bike accidents are caused because a bikes smaller size makes it hard to for car/truck drivers to see or notice them. IMHO that anything you can do to improve your visibility (i.e. daytime running lights) only improves your chances that you might be noticed and therefore less likely to be pulled out in front of.
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Old 28 Sep 2012
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Originally Posted by markharf View Post
I don't ride with a headlight so that people can tell I'm not a car; I ride with a headlight because oncoming traffic can more easily see me. They can also more easily see a car with its lights on. No mystery about this: when you're driving down the road wondering whether it's safe to pass the slowpoke in front of you, you too can more easily see oncoming traffic which has its lights on--bike, car, truck or horsecart.

And for what it's worth, I got waved through the roadblocks just like you did, Tobi. No one mistook me for a local. Why would I care? Even if I did care, I'd rather be more visible, not less. And local riders do all sorts of stuff I don't do, like ride on bald tires without functional lights at night with fried steering bearings and leaky fuel lines.

Still genuinely curious. Seems an odd goal--to be invisible. I'm not one of these people who thinks everyone will notice me and never cut me off in traffic or pull out in front of me--I ride defensively, and have never come off my bikes on the road or in traffic. But given easy choices, I'd sure rather be seen than not.

Mark
There are a lot of arguments about whether the lights make you visible or not. I've been T-boned while having my headlight on in broad daylight, so not so effective eh ? :-)

There have been studies done as to whether lights on or of is better and one of the opinions that is starting to arise is that when cars also have DRL the bikes become invisible again.

How far do you go ? Dayglow jacket ?
White riding gear with reflectors ?
Hi Viz helmet ?
Reflective sunglasses (for North Dakota etc al :-) )
Reflective strips on the bike ?

:-)
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