THE INFLUENCE OF MOTORCYCLE VISIBILITY ON TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS

A literature review has shown that inadequate motorcycle visibility is considered to be an important factor in motorcycle accidents. In order to quantify the problem, a study of casualty motorcycle accidents occurring in Victoria during 1974 has been carried out. It was estimated that a minimum of 21% of motorcycle multivehicle daytime accidents had lack of visibility as a causative factor. Most of these accidents were in situations in which a motorcar driver would have had close to a frontal view of the motorcycle. Devices for increasing daytime motorcycle visibility have been reviewed and four of these (High beam headlights, low beam headlight, white wind fairing and a red fluorescent rider's jacket) were experimentally evaluated. These laboratory experiments indicate that the high beam headlamp is significantly better than the other devices for improving the daytime detectability of the motorcycle, both in light and dense traffic conditions. The devices, in order of detectability, are: high beam headlamp, low beam headlamp, white wind fairing and red fluorescent jacket. Combinations of devices were not tested in these experiments. Recommendations regarding the potential use and benefit of these devices have been made on the basis of the experimental assessment. /Author/

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored by Australian Department of Transport.
• Corporate Authors:

  Melbourne University, Australia

  Department of Mechanical Engineering, Grattan Street
  Parkville, Victoria 3052,   Australia 
• Authors:
  • Williams, M J
  • Hoffmann, E R
• Publication Date: 1977-7

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 81 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Crash causes; Crash rates; Days; Headlamps; High beamed headlamps; Laboratory tests; Low beamed headlamps; Motorcycles; Visibility
• Old TRIS Terms: High beamed headlights; Low beamed headlights
• Subject Areas: Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00176792
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Traffic Laws Commentary
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 19 1978 12:00AM