Conspicuity of Motorcycles

Abstract

Accident studies have shown that a major cause of daytime motorcycle accidents is poor frontal visibility. Laboratory experiments are reported which were aimed at investigating the detectability of four devices (high-beam headlight, low-beam headlight, a white triangular wind fairing, and a bright red fluorescent jacket) relative to a standard motorcycle, in both “cluttered” and “clean” environments in daylight. Combinations of these devices were not tested. It was found that the high-beam headlight was superior to other devices in both environments.