VALUE OF HEADLIGHT USE FOR MOTORCYCLISTS DURING DAYLIGHT

Research is reviewed on motorcyclist and other driver errors and on the relation of voluntary or compulsory daytime headlight usage (motorcycles and other vehicles) to accident rates. These studies indicate that car drivers make more errors than motorcyclists in low visibility situations and that accident rates are much lower with headlight usage, with compulsory usage affecting the types of accidents which occur. Factors related to motorcycle inconspicuity are reviewed or derived: size of object, contrast luminance, and ambient illumination ("external" effects); and visual field, divided attention, expectancy and value, and individual differences ("internal" effects). It is concluded that daytime headlight use would be beneficial. Categorizing New Zealand accidents for 1976 by type and driver/rider errors, four hypotheses regarding the effect of visibility were tested and supported. Of two surveys conducted on light usage patterns in New Zealand in 1979, the first indicated higher usage in rural areas and the second showed that usage varies by time of day, as does the proportion of motorcycles to the total vehicle population (greater during commuting hours and at lunchtime). There was a positive correlation between light usage and larger machines as well as use of full-face helmets. Studies are reviewed which favor legislation over educational campaigns to increase daytime use of headlights; other studies indicate a favorable cost-benefit ratio for running lights. Future research is recommended concerning high- vs. low-beam use, legislation, light use for all vehicles, nighttime conspicuity, individual driver differences with regard to conspicuity and accidents, and auditory devices to alert drivers to motorcyclists.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Conference held in Washington, D.C., 18-23 May 1980. Also published in HS-029 702, International Motorcycle Safety Conference Proceedings. Volume 3, p 1059-84.
• Corporate Authors:

  Motorcycle Safety Foundation

  780 Elkridge Landing Road
  Linthicum, MD  United States  21090
• Authors:
  • Thomson, G A
• Publication Date: 1980

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 26 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash rates; Daytime running lamps; Headlamps; Motorcycles; Visibility
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00390511
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 707
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM