Parental concern about child visibility at night

In the Netherlands, only one in two parents believes their child is well visible from the side when cycling at night, according to a survey commissioned by Ziemi, a Dutch lighting brand. The survey, conducted by Ipsos I&O, questioned over 500 parents of children aged 6 to 14 who ride bicycles.

Functioning lights do not guarantee safety

While 89% of respondents said their children's lights were functioning, only 64% felt it was safe to let them ride at night. Although 89% of parents felt their child was visible from the front and 85% from the back, only 51% felt the same about visibility from the side.

Parents respond to increased traffic risks

The survey also highlighted a paradox: due to darkness, 55% of families have adults accompany their children more often, and 47% of parents drop them off by car more frequently. To protect children from cars, parents are effectively putting them in cars. Over a third of parents expressed greater concern than in previous years, citing increased traffic density, higher speeds of electric bikes, and the rise of fatbikes, which have become a problem in Amsterdam.

Survey funded by a lighting company

The study, however, was funded by a company that sells lights designed to illuminate a cyclist's legs to improve visibility from the side. It measures parental perception rather than accident statistics. After receiving information about side collisions, 35% of respondents expressed strong doubts about their child's visibility, indicating the issue was well highlighted.

French regulations address side visibility

In France, regulations do not entirely ignore the issue. In addition to a front white or yellow light and a rear red light, the Road Code mandates orange catadioptric reflectors visible from the sides and on the pedals. However, these reflectors only reflect light directed at them, remaining ineffective when a driver's headlights are elsewhere, such as when turning.

Cyclist safety statistics in France

According to the ONISR, 234 cyclists were killed in metropolitan France in 2025, with around 2,800 seriously injured. Six out of ten of those killed were outside urban areas, where high-visibility vests are mandatory at night. No comparable survey has been conducted among French parents, but the switch to daylight saving time on October 25 brings the issue back to the forefront.

Affordable solutions for better visibility

Good news is that remaining visible from the side does not require a large budget or a Christmas tree-like outfit. The principle promoted by Ziemi, attracting attention with movement, can also be achieved with reflective strips on the ankles or reflective tire sidewalls. For further guidance, refer to selections of bicycle lighting kits and alternatives to the high-visibility vest, which are also applicable to cycling.