Dark Visor UK -law and consequences

[roadstarr]

Good afternoon everyone,

I have been tempted for a while to get a dark visor for my helmet but according to the law its illegal if it doest allow at least 70% light transmission to get through i believe.
In any case, my question is since I see a lot of riders out there with dark visors : Have you been stooped regarding it? , Fined , points what? or is it one of those things that police kinda allows as long as you are not doing it during night time or really bad weather conditions.

Thanks, ride safe!

[ScaredyCat]

[recman]

Buy the coolest visor you can and phuq the po-lease.

[Sable]

Hello Roadstarr

I have been using the brown tint visor on my Nexx X60 for the last 2 years.

https://www.nexx-helmets.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d39_Nexx_X60_Vision_Plus_Helmet_Open_Face_Motorcycle_Crash_Helmet_Scooter_Helmet.html

It has no safety stickers and I have never had any police stop and ask about the tint of the visor.

When there's no street lights at 5 am in the dead of winter and it's raining and your headlight is about as effective as a candle, tinted visors suck. My next helmet will have a clear visor.

[notbike]

[Rogerborg]

In 2014, 5628 motorcyclists were killed or seriously injured on UK roads.

I've yet to hear of anyone being successfully prosecuted for wearing a non-compliant helmet or visor.

You're fretting over the wrong things.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[Loui5D]

See https://www.whitedalton.co.uk/motorbike-blog/2016/03/dark-visors-and-legal-grey-areas/

[Matt B]

Never been stopped for wearing a dark tint visor in 30 years of riding. Stop stressing, the "recommendation" if they do bother is to say how naughty you are, unless it's at night. See below.

ACPO Enforcement Strategy says: Tinted visors, if used during daylight hours, advice only, if used during the hours of darkness or conditions of reduced visibility consider prosecution using ‘Tintman’ equipment where available.
It is acknowledged that there is much debate about this issue and many variables and anomalies can be applied. Therefore a pragmatic approach is necessary and only in cases where there is an obvious danger should prosecution be considered.
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stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[supZ]

In all honesty, I worried about this when I 1st started riding and got a light tint visor.

Just didn't do the job so got a full tint shortly after that and 7+ years later I have never had a word said about it. I've chatted to plenty of cops on the bike wearing it; unless it's dusk/dark 99% aren't going to care as they realise the benefits.

That said, my next helmet will probably be a gt-air and I'll keep the clear visor for that as it's got a integral sunvisor inside. I hate carrying spare visors and I've lost count the amount of times I've ridden home in the dead of night pretty much by sound and smell due to having a fully tinted visor on. (In reality, if the road has street lights you can see perfectly well even with a full tinted visor.. in darker areas, full beam sorts that problem out)

Perhaps not recommended, but not the end of the world if you're caught out.
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CBR600RR - Trackbike

[UnknownStuntm...]

I'll buck the trend here. I've been stopped. Me and a mate on the way back from Weston Bike Night, was in the middle of summer at about 8.30 in the evening, so still well light. We were doing less than the speed limit, legal bikes, pipes all good etc. The 5-0 were ready to pounce in their Volvo and lit up as we came past. Immediate pull over, 'do you know why we stopped you', etc.

At this point I know they're fishing but I'm mildly worried they know something I don't. Tell them everything they ask, then he says:
"You both have dark visors on, I don't believe them to have the correct markings. Do you have replacements you can fit now, please?"
To which I chuckled initially, then said no, etc.
He and his minion then inspected the bikes at great length, took about 15 mins.

Then, he said 'this is a warning, we've recorded the fact we've stopped you for this reason, but at this point we'll take no further action'
and we were on our way.

There's no moral to this story, but I'm just noting, the feckers can and will stop you for it. Whether you'll get done, is yet to be proved.

[Rogerborg]

We'll never know, but if you'd gone past with clear visors on, might they have set off in hot pursuit anyway, on some other pretence?

My only tug on a bike so far was painfully obviously a boredom pursuit to give Words of Advice.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[UnknownStuntm...]

[weasley]

IIRC the ACPO recommendation is for discretion. When I did Bikesafe with the Thames Valley Police they stated that they wouldn't do you for a dark visor or even for a slightly small number plate, but if you get pulled for something more serious they might well be added to the list of offences.

My experience is that for 14 years I have used a dark visor when it is sunny and have never been pulled over, stopped or had any other interactions with the police or anyone else as a consequence. I was even planning to wear it for the Bikesafe day, but the weather was awful. I always carry a clear visor with me if wearing a dark one.
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Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[talkToTheHat]

50% light transmission is required for ECE22.05 Daytime use only marking. A kitemark, EEC equivalent standard to such or 22.05 approval is required for all visors and goggles.

On my ERS the instructors said the DSA syllabus insists that only clear visors are legal. Apparently DSA higher authority than HM's government. They didn't like internal sunvisors as anything more than an emergency measure, recommending wrap-around sunglasses.

Proscription sunglasses are horrible when the light comes from the edge of the eyeport, and having tried my airsoft glasses (wrap around mirrorshades with proscription insert) and found them to steam up almost instantly, i may react with extreme prejudice against the next person to suggest a clear visor and sunglasses is the only way.

On mod2 (2012) at both Rotherham (fail) and York i wore my (daytime approved) tinted visor. I was asked both times if i had a clear one as they wouldn't proceed if i didnt have a clear visor with me. I used to use a waist-belt visor carrier. It had a tendancy to mark up visors and destroy pinlocks so i can't recommend it. I recall having inch wide sunstrips taped to both visors and this not being a problem.

I further recall the tighening of sphincters after my 2014 rear ending when, sat in police car being interviewed, i was asked where i got the visor sticker from. Turns out the traffic officer was fed up of electrical tape goo.

Helmet with decent internal sunvisor for the win, otherwise tints and a clear thrown in the luggage or around waist. Because operating motor vehicles after dark whilst wearing tinted eyewear is for musicians named Blues.

https://www.gov.uk/motorcycle-helmet-law read the pdf.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[Rogerborg]

[MCN]

[TbirdX]

Not a visor granted, but I got stopped, and had my vehicle subject to a 'can't use it any more' notice for having window tints too strong. They actually measured the transmission level with a handy doodab and slapped me with the order there and then.

I was allowed to drive the vehicle home (less than 5 miles) and had to have someone come out and remove the film, I then had to go back to a vosa station and have it rechecked before the notice was rescinded.

Cool story bro huh.

[The Shaggy D.A.]

[Rogerborg]

[sjc]

on a slightly related note does anyone have issues with their internal sun visor misting up, Mine appears to only be any use if its war and dry and i can have all the helmet vents open.
Was considering a tinted visor instead as the sun visor is kinda useless

[Rogerborg]

[Howling TerrorOutOfOffice]

Bob heath anti fog spray on internal visor.
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[recman]

[MCN]

[roadstarr]

Thanks for all the inputs everyone.

Will have to say it definitely calmed me down and I think i will be getting one.
I can only find a dark smoke one for my helmet though , nothing that is less dark.
My helmet is an AGV ax8 dual evo. (bloody pricey they are for a piece of plastic)