Compliance and Certification

Please click here for more information regarding the compliance and certifications relating to the Pedalite Products

Batteries - The average household uses 21 batteries a year

In the UK alone, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) says around 600 million batteries (22,000 tonnes) - the equivalent weight of 110 Jumbo Jets - are disposed of annually by UK consumers, and most are sent to landfill unnecessarily, with less than 1,000 tonnes are recycled. Whilst the exact chemical make-up varies from type to type, most batteries contain heavy metals, which are the main cause for environmental concern. When disposed of incorrectly, these heavy metals may leak into the ground when the battery casing corrodes.† This can contribute to soil and water pollution and endanger wildlife.

In May 2006 EU member states agreed to a new directive, the European Union Battery Directive, that will mandate the recycling of batteries throughout the region this is expected to be transposed into UK law in 2008.

Spent batteries are a huge environmental hazard; most end up in people's dustbins and ultimately in landfill leaking hazardous heavy metals such mercury, lead and cadmium as the batteries degrade. This can cause soil and water pollution which damages the environment.

Ni-cad and Al-cad batteries are categorized as SPECIAL WASTE, by the Environment Agency and as such cannot be transported without pre-notification to the Agency.

Cycling

The global bicycle industry, including bicycles, parts and accessories, is estimated to have total retail sales in excess of $20 billion. The bicycle manufacturing segment of the industry produces approximately 100 million units per annum. (Source: Derby Cycle Corporation annual accounts, April 2001.)

Over 100 million bicycles are manufactured each year (source: www.earth-policy.org).

A good (but not definitive) source of comparison on cycle use is between the Office of National Statistics' (ONS) 'general household survey' methodology (that up until recently showed 67% of 10-year-olds, 42% 14-year-olds and up to 16% of adults include cycling in their activities) and the DfT National Travel survey that finds cycling represents no more than 2% of trips.

Cycling Accidents

“Most cycling accidents happen in urban areas where most cycling takes place. 75% of accidents happen at, or near, a road junction (Source RoSPA) where cycles need to be viewed from the side, with T-junctions being the most commonly involved. Roundabouts are particularly dangerous junctions for cyclists.”

Cyclist fatalities occurred more frequently in urban areas (66%), at nonintersection locations (67%), between the hours of 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. (30%), and during the months of June, July, and August (36%). (NHTSA, 2004)

Many deaths occur at night. In 1999, 39% of deaths on bicycles in the USA occurred between 6 p.m. and midnight. (source: USA Today, online edition, 10-22-01, attributed to the Insurance Institute for highway safety. [Link to article]

Most deaths on major roads. Fifty-seven percent of bicycle deaths in 1999 occurred on major roads, and 37 percent occurred on local roads. (source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)

Pedalite

Awards - Winner - Consumer Product Design of the Year award - 1995

Global - Thousands of satisfied customers using Pedalite Pedal Lights in over 26 countries, and growing, worldwide.

Cycling & The Law

The laws regarding cycling vary from region to region. By way of examples, the following are some of the laws that relate to the UK. For further information regarding cycling laws in the UK and other countries that relate to Pedalite Products please click here

• In the UK, a change in the law from 21st October 2005, permits a bike to be fitted with flashing lights.
• At the same time, some loopholes have been closed which previously made LEDs a 'grey area'.
• The exact specification for flashing lights is, flashing between ,1 and 4 times per second, with a brightness of at least 4 candelas.
• Pedalites easily meet these standards as they generate and store their own power, however, it should be noted that for battery operate lights, unless the batteries are new and not worn then there is a possibility that the flash rate of lights can become illegal !
• In the case of steady (ie non-flashing) lights - any 'grey area' about the use of LEDs for steady lighting is now largely cleared away. Such lights are now legal, if they are BS-approved.

The three main documents affecting all this in the UK are:

Statutory Instrument 1989 No. 1796
Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, including any subsequent relevant amendments. These documents are publicly and freely available on the web, though quite difficult to navigate - the amendments, many of which are important updates, are separate SI documents which are not directly linked from the main document.

British Standard 6102 part 3
This British Standards Institute relates to 'visibility lighting' and was amended in 1995 and again in 2003. The Lighting Regulations are now amended to correctly refer to this BS (until quite recently, they did not, thereby creating a 'grey area' in the law). This British Standards Institute document is not freely available.

Statutory Instrument 2005 No. 2559
For flashing lights, SI 2005 No. 2559 is an amendment to various Lighting Regulations including Regulation 13 (lamps to show a steady light).