Posted By Robert K Lewis This is always a touchy issue. In day time glare situations these visors are much more effective than sunglasses and are easier to use. The real problems start as the light fades. My understanding is that the police can order its replacement with a clear one if they consider the light levels too low to allow proper vision. This means carrying a spare. The only non-legal argument is therefore around the need to see enough to protect themselves from the unexpected in the dark. Bob

Posted By Cr8r Thomas Many lives ago I used to train learner motorcyclists and lots of the supercool 17 year olds adapted their bikes and gear in the usual fashion - postcard sized number plates, loud exhausts and tinted visors. I may be wrong but if my memory serves me right, at the time it was legal to have tinted visors during the day but not at night time, due to the reduced visibility. This may well have changed in the last 20 odd years. I think mirror visors were illegal even then as they could dazzle oncoming motorists. Obviously this is bizarre because no one's going to change their visor morning and night. I've looked through these visors just to see if there were any problems and a major one is that even (or maybe especially) during the day, with some tintings, you cannot see other vehicle's indicators or brake lights. As you are already so much more vulnerable on a bike, this is potentially very worrying, but this should be considered by anyone who wears sunglasses to drive in. Some tints are worse than others, as depending on the colour, they effectively filter out other colours. Helmet visors are usually purchased in the darkest available tint, so in poor light, ie dawn, dusk, fog, sudden thunder/rain storms, they must reduce visibility further.

Posted By Paul Adams I wear prescription glasses and I think I have the answer. I have been using a Caberg Justissimo helmet for the last year. The Justissimo has a flip up sun visor behind the main visor. It is operated by flipping a lever on the side of the helmet with your left thumb. It allows me to wear my normal glasses and deal with glare as and when required. The perfect solution and no, I am not a boy racer, I ride a 21 year old wing for both pleasure and commuting. The helmet is ACU approved and conforms to British Standards. It's actually a hell of a lot cheaper than some of the others on the market too.

Posted By Hugh Allcock-Green Interestingly, "Motorcycle Roadcraft" which is the standard text for Motorcycle Police states only that "Tinted lenses reduce vision at night and in conditions of poor visibility" (p.46) and "Do not wear tinted spectacles or visors at night" (p.57) The text does not say they must not be used. If you do choose the route that the visor must be BS compliant, it may cause problems for riders. Helmets with ANY of the following marks can be worn: British Standard No 2001:1956 may be worn only 1869:1960 may be worn only 2495:1960 may be worn only 2001:1972 may be worn only 5361:1976 may be worn only 2495:1977 may be worn only 6658:1985 may be sold and worn or UN ECE Regulation 22.05 But you can also wear other types of helmet which could reasonably be expected to give a similar, or greater, level of protection in an accident as British Standard BS 6658:1985 or UN ECE Regulation 22.05. However, you should seek confirmation from the supplier that the helmet does offer at least a similar level of protection. The difficulty then comes with the visor itself (which is often sold separately, or tested independently of the helmet). The following markings must be included: The applicants trade name or mark. If appropriate, an indication (by way of a marking with the approved symbol and/or the words "DAYTIME USE ONLY") of the unsuitability of the visor for use during the hours of darkness or in conditions of poor visibility. An international approval mark consisting of a circle surrounding the letter "E" followed by the distinguishing number of the country which has granted approval and a reference alphanumerical number if approved with a helmet, or an approval number [note the first two digits of the approval number denotes the series of amendments under which approval was granted. The marking shall be clearly legible, indelible, resistant to wear, in a readily accessible and visible place, and shall not be placed within the main visibility area. (Or in other words, the visor will not have a BS mark, and CAN be tinted so long as it has "DAYTIME USE ONLY" or the approved symbol on it.) As a point of reference, yes, many riders DO carry 2 visors and change them before the light changes - in stark contrast to car drivers who do not change their tinted windows at night fall!