55% more cyclists fined for riding without lights as darker months approach
The number of fines issued to cyclists riding without lights in the Netherlands has surged by 55 percent this summer compared with a year earlier, according to data from the Central Judicial Collection Agency (Centraal Justitieel Incassobureau, CJIB) analyzed by comparison site Independer.
The spike, recorded between May and August, comes just ahead of the darker winter months and the switch to standard time this weekend. Independer warned that riding unlit bicycles is not only unsafe but can also carry serious financial consequences. “Cyclists who ride in the dark without lights risk receiving less compensation if an accident happens,” a spokesperson told Het Parool. “In some cases, they may only be reimbursed for half the damages.” The fine for cycling without functioning lights is 75 euros, plus 9 euros in administrative fees.
While it is unknown how many of these tickets were issued in Amsterdam, local enforcement generally remains limited. Officers typically fine riders only when they deem it relevant. Research has shown, however, that visible enforcement strongly influences behavior — the more often police check, the more cyclists use proper lighting.
That pattern was evident in 2009, when large-scale night inspections, particularly on busy evenings, led to a marked increase in cyclists with working lights. Once those checks eased, compliance dropped again.
Meanwhile, complaints have grown about overly bright bicycle lamps. A recent ANWB survey reported that nearly two-thirds of road users frequently feel blinded by the lights of oncoming cyclists. The issue is linked to the rising number of electric bicycles, whose powerful lights are often difficult or impossible to adjust to prevent glare.
