THEY can mean a matter of life or death on the roads. But police in Dorset say there is a "significant problem" with cyclists who do not use lights at night, especially in busy urban centres.

Sergeant Scott Oliphant, a traffic management officer based at Winfrith, said cycling safety has become a high priority for the force, particularly since August, when South Korean student Yunjin Kim died in a collision with a bus as she cycled without lights or a helmet in Bournemouth town centre.

"We're forever getting reports from members of the public about cyclists without lights, riding on pavements and other contraventions of road traffic laws," said Sgt Oliphant.

"It's a problem in residential areas, town centres, because they can move quite swiftly on their bikes. They come up behind you fairly quietly and can catch particularly elderly and infirm walkers and put them in danger."

In the past week, language schools have accused the police of failing to crack down on cycling foreign students caught riding without lights, cutting up traffic or cycling in pedestrianised areas, and are urging them to make sure they are fined.

A police spokesman said in response that officers do react when they come across problems while on foot patrol, but it is impossible to take the matter through the courts with foreign students who refuse to pay and then leave the country.

"We have had a number of examples involving foreign students without lights, not wearing bright clothing and not knowing the rules of this country," said Sgt Oliphant.

"We have been talking very recently with colleagues in local authorities and road safety officers to try to highlight the problem with language schools, particularly in Bournemouth, where we have had a number of incidents."

He added that although it is not a legal requirement for new bikes to have lights fitted, it is illegal to cycle without front and rear lights and because they have come down in price, everyone should be able to get them. Another problem area, he said, is young people doing paper rounds without lights, and said the newsagents should be responsible to make sure those working for them, particularly children, are legal and safe.

The way the police act when they catch cyclists without lights depends on the age of the person, he said.

"We will quite often take young children back to their parents and speak to them to get lights fitted.

"Riders without lights can be prosecuted and taken to court, or given a fixed penalty ticket for £30."

First published: November 9, 2005