Motorcycle lighting: design for safety
by E.J. Fulton, G.L. Donne, F.G. Stroud
International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD), Vol. 9, No. 4/5, 1988

Abstract: 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 motor-cycles. 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. Specifications for better lighting for day and night-time use are not necessarily incompatible.

Online publication date: Mon, 26-May-2014

The full text of this article is only available to individual subscribers or to users at subscribing institutions.

 
Existing subscribers:
Go to Inderscience Online Journals to access the Full Text of this article.

Pay per view:
If you are not a subscriber and you just want to read the full contents of this article, buy online access here.

Complimentary Subscribers, Editors or Members of the Editorial Board of the International Journal of Vehicle Design (IJVD):
Login with your Inderscience username and password:

Username:        Password:          Forgotten your password?

Want to subscribe?
A subscription gives you complete access to all articles in the current issue, as well as to all articles in the previous three years (where applicable). See our Orders page to subscribe.

If you still need assistance, please email subs@inderscience.com