MOTORCYCLE LIGHTING: DESIGN FOR SAFETY

Studies have shown that a large proportion of motorcycle accidents, both in daylight and at night, involve another driver's failure to see an approaching motorcycle. At night there are also accidents associated with misinterpretation of the visual cues given by motorcycles. These problems might be alleviated by the use of appropriate lighting displayed at the front of the motorcycle. Experiments were carried out, both in daylight and darkness, to discover what types of lighting arrangements best assist other drivers to see and make correct judgements about motorcycles in urban traffic conditions. Results showed that, in daylight, use of a large headlight or pairs of daytime running lamps can effectively improve the conspicuity of motorcycles. At night a large headlamp is also beneficial. The use of daytime running lamps in addition to the headlamp does not have advantages at night. Improvements in the identification of motorcycles in other traffic at night were achieved by using illuminated fairings or vertical strip lights in addition to the headlamp. Specification for better lighting for day and night-time use are not necessarily incompatible.(a)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/14775360
• Corporate Authors:

  Inderscience Enterprises Limited

  World Trade Center Building, 110 Avenue Louis Casai
  Geneva,   Switzerland 
• Authors:
  • Donne, G L
  • FULTON, E J
  • STROUD, P G
• Publication Date: 1988

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 489-98
• Serial:
  • International Journal of Vehicle Design
  • Volume: 9
  • Issue Number: 4/5
  • Publisher: Inderscience Enterprises Limited
  • ISSN: 1477-5360
  • Serial URL: http://www.inderscience.com/jhome.php?jcode=IJVD

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Daylight; Evaluation and assessment; Headlamps; Improvements; Luminance; Motorcycles; Night; Performance; Prevention; Rear lighting; Safety; Visibility
• Uncontrolled Terms: Rear light
• ITRD Terms: 1661: Accident prevention; 9008: Daylight; 5910: Durability; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 1342: Headlamp; 9108: Improvement; 525: Luminance; 1221: Motorcycle; 9052: Night; 1331: Side light; 6783: Visibility
• Subject Areas: Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00483483
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS, ATRI
• Created Date: May 31 1989 12:00AM