1) Increased visibility

The fact is that riding with lights on your bike boosts your visibility to other road users, regardless of the light conditions. In fact, it’s been empirically researched, with one study suggesting that cyclists with permanently running lights installed are 19 per cent less likely to experience incidents involving a personal injury.

It’s not like this phenomenon hasn’t been seen before on the road, either. With increasing numbers of cars now using lights that are always on, having been proven to improve road safety, it’s little surprise the cycling industry has cottoned on.

As Rory Hitchens of Upgrade Bikes (the UK distributor of Lezyne) says: “It doesn’t hurt to have lights permanently on. It’s not law, but we all want to be less vulnerable and in a position to encourage other road users to be more aware. After all, cyclists are among the most vulnerable of road users, so why wouldn’t you maximise your chances of being seen?”

3) Lights are brighter than ever

A light’s a light, right? Well, maybe not. Like nearly every aspect of road cycling technology, bike lights are also undergoing constant research and development to achieve brighter lights and more efficient burn times. Take a look, for example, at the Lezyne Strip Drive Pro rear light, which now puts out up to 300 lumens – enough to significantly improve visibility in daylight.

The Strip Drive Pro’s 300-lumen daytime flash mode doesn’t come at the cost of battery life, either, with a claimed run time of up to three hours, while you have ten other modes to choose from, starting with a five-lumen economy setting with 14-and-a-half hours of burn time.

Up front you can have anything up to 1500 lumens in brightness via Lezyne’s Deca Drive 1500i or Super Drive 1500XXL. For road cyclists, however, something like the Lite Drive 700 XL offers (you guessed it) up to 700 lumens; enough to illuminate unlit roads while still ensuring the Lite Drive is a compact unit which takes up little space on your handlebar. The Hecto Drive, meanwhile, is even smaller but still puts out up to 400 lumens. On both the Lite Drive and Hecto you’ll find eight settings, including a daytime flash mode.

4) They’re more intelligent, too

Lezyne is a big proponent of using lights to be seen, as well as to see. Key to that is not just settling for standard flash modes and static brightnesses, but developing new patterns that are disruptive to effectively draw the attention of other road users. As a result, 15 of Lezyne’s lights now have a specific daytime flash mode.

“Daytime flash modes save power while flashing in a pattern that draws attention – two smaller flashes, then a really bright flash, for example” says Hitchens. “It’s made possible using really bright LED technology, and with it you have all the tools available to stay visible in all conditions.”

Moreover, the brand has the new Laser Drive in its rear light range, where two laser lines are projected onto the road to give other road users even more warning of your presence, as well as to indicate a safe distance from which to follow and pass.

6) Year-round use

While it’s vital to have lights on your bike during winter, due to reduced light and changeable weather conditions, daytime lights are a year-round investment that can pay dividends even in the summer months. When riding in bright sunshine, for example, that sun can obscure the vision of motorists.

“The bottom line is riders staying visible in all conditions,” says Hitchens. “Think of it this way – people don’t always were a helmet and that’s their choice. Although, when was the last time you went on a group ride where the majority of riders didn’t wear a helmet? People have generally accepted that it’s a good idea to wear a helmet, and we think the same thing should happen with road bike lights, too.”