Road traffic regulations also apply to electric scooters. A violation can be expensive.
The dark season means bad visibility conditions and increased accident risk for all road users. In November and December 2017, around 32 percent of traffic accidents involving personal injury occurred during the dark hours - the highest level during the year.
Cyclists, in particular, are required: damp foliage and wet, smooth tram rails increase the risk of falling, fog and twilight obscure the view. "Cyclists should definitely pay attention to functioning lighting and good visibility," says ÖAMTC lawyer Nikolaus Authried.
Equally, on duty, he sees the handlebars of e-scooters: For the battery-powered scooters, the same rules apply as for cyclists - because if they do not exceed a maximum output of 600 watts and a maximum speed of 25 km/h, they are considered e-bikes.
Check lighting regularly - "lack of light" costs up to 726 euros
According to the regulation, bicycles must have a white reflector in the front and a red reflector in the back. The reflectors must be mounted individually or integrated into the headlamp. Forward and rearward reflectors are a must on the pedals.
"Also mandatory is yellow or white cat's eyes or reflective tapes on the wheels," says the ÖAMTC lawyer. "Alternatively, tires with reflective borders are possible." For electric scooters, the lighting regulations also apply according to their design. The expert recommends: "The condition and optimal function of the lighting should be checked regularly."
"In principle, drivers of bicycles and e-bikes, including e-scooters, are not obliged to use headlamps or red taillights in daylight and good visibility - but in the case of obstruction and darkness," says lawyer Authried.
"Those who do not abide by the rules risk not only the safety of themselves and others but for badly equipped and unlit bicycles can be up to a penalty of 726 € imposed." If one causes an accident with personal injury due to poor or lacking lighting, compensation claims and a judicial criminal procedure must also be expected.
Helmet and reflectors are must-haves for handlebars
Rules for the equipment of the driver itself does not exist. "Although a helmet is not mandatory for adults in Austria, it protects against serious head injuries in the event of an accident and should be part of the basic equipment - even more so in the dark season," advises the ÖAMTC expert.
If a cyclist "crashes" under helmet conditions without a helmet and suffers skull injuries, he may even be guilty of contributory negligence.
To be even more visible, it is essential to attach reflective materials to clothing or wear a safety vest. "Every supplemental aid, be it through headlamps or LED lights, makes sense, but it should be noted that this does not dazzle oncoming traffic," says the expert.
Reflective stickers for clothing and safety vests, for example, can be found at all Mobility Club bases - there are plenty of other "little helpers" for more visibility, such as armband and leg straps and reflective pendants.
