THE PASSIVE APPROACH TO GREATER CONSPICUITY--AN UPDATE ON REFLECTIVE TECHNOLOGY
Considerable evidence exists that inadequate visibility and conspicuity of motorcycles and their riders are contributing accident factors. Other than conspicuity (i.e. a measure of how soon a driver sees and reacts to an object), other important dimensions of visibility are recognizability and localizability. Passive devices (reflective motorcycle-rider surfaces), such as fluorescent red, orange, yellow, or yellow green colored materials are optimum during the day. At night, retroreflective sheeting or fabric as a trim to outline shape or as a full-area covering is recommended. The safety helmet and upper torso clothing (which can be reversible) are the prime areas for improving visibility. Motorcycle treatments and special panels/signs are less effective and less desirable in terms of durability and aesthetics, although reflective tires and reflectorization of registration plates are advantageous. Passive devices to enhance visibility are cost-effective from both a benefit-cost standpoint and as a form of low-cost insurance against unknown, uncontrolled risks.
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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 1107-28.
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Corporate Authors:
Motorcycle Safety Foundation
780 Elkridge Landing Road
Linthicum, MD United States 21090 -
Authors:
- Vanstrum, R C
- Austin, R L
- Publication Date: 1980
Media Info
- Features: References;
- Pagination: 22 p.
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Clothing; Cost effectiveness; Days; Helmets; Motorcycles; Night; Reflectorized materials; Retroreflection; Visibility
- Old TRIS Terms: Retrodirective reflection
- Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00390513
- Record Type: Publication
- Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report/Paper Numbers: HS-029 709
- Files: HSL, USDOT
- Created Date: Nov 30 1984 12:00AM