AHO - automatic headlamp on?

[Jantar]

I was one of the people who encouraged motorcyclists to ride with their headlights on back in the mid 1970s. I raised the issue through 3 different motorcycle clubs, but I pushed it as being a matter of encouragement and education rather than compulsion. Back then if your saw headlight/s approaching then they really stood out and you could imediately identify a motorcycle. Having your headlights on during daylight made a point of difference and hence helped you to be seen.

Now that many cars are driving with their headlights on, that point of difference has gone and any gain in safety for the motorcyclist has gone with it. Instead we have a law which forces us to have headlights on and that makes us just blend in with the cars that are doing the same.

[davereid]

Back then if your saw headlight/s approaching then they really stood out and you could imediately identify a motorcycle. Having your headlights on during daylight made a point of difference and hence helped you to be seen.

I completely agree. You are certainly MORE VISIBLE if you have your headlight on, especially if you are the only vehicle on the road. When mixed in with a number of other vehicles all with their light on, I think that advantage is lost.

I would also make the point that being visible does not mean you are safer.

In WW1 ships were often painted a variety of bright colours and geometric shapes, and lit with single white lights. The idea of the shapes and single light was to confuse gunners about target range, so they would be unable to correctly assess a ships distance and speed of travel.

I think a single headlight on a motorcycle does the same thing, it removes the ability of the human brain to use binocular vision to correctly estimate distance to the vehicle, and the vehicles speed.

Id also bet that motorcyclists suffer more rear-end collisions now.

We don't normally have high-stop brake lights.

With headlights off, a brake light went from OFF to BRIGHT. Now a brake light goes from BRIGHT to BRIGHTER, and it will take most observers a moment or more longer to react to this.

I have modified my Harley to try and address these issues. I have a very bright brake lamp, and have dimmed my park lamp to attempt to gain a decent stop light effect. And to help get binocular vision back my indicators are always on, blinking when they are used.

Once again the law makers are trying to help, but its not been properly researched or thought through.

I used to ride headlights OFF, then if I saw a car at a corner, what ever, use the headlamp flash to give them a burst. IMHO I was saferr and more observable with that technique than I am now.

[SuperMac]

Good point about the brake lights - I'd never thought of that!

[NordieBoy]

1997 DR650 with no light switch.
Means the '96 was the same.

[neels]

I am totally unconvinced that headlights on during the day helps dickhead blind distracted stupid homicidal drivers see me better

It would seem the aussies agree with you....http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/136.html

I'm not too bothered either way regarding lights on/off during the day, the only time it annoys me is when the battery on the bike is a little bit sad and the headlight eats what's left before it gets a chance to start.

[Paul in NZ]

All of my ancient bikes have light switches. The wee suzuki AC50 has such a pathetic 6v system its hardly worth describing it as a light but really its only for high days and holidays...

Both the triumph (1970) and the Moto Guzzi (1980) run modified electrical systems that allow for modern lighting and daytime running of said lighting. Originally both came with a 40W (or so) incandescent globe which produced a very poor yellow puddle of colour just in front of the wheel.. Real candle in a beer bottle stuff. Now they have H4's and a decent white light. The difference in drivers reactions to the bikes was startling. You get noticed (talking open road stuff here) a lot earlier and more consistently...

[Road kill]

I knew guys in the late 80's that had bike with headlights hard wired on.
I think most were Suzuki,was considered quite a novelty at the time.
My own bike 66 Triumph Saint still has the original type wiring and although it's never let me down,I still don't trust it,,had too many mid 70's Yamahas an still have the ghost looking over my shoulder.
Because I don't trust it I do at times ride with the light off,and don't have any more cars pulling out on me,,,not that I ever had anyway.
Hi vis and lights mean nothing to a driver that simply ain't looking to begin with,or to bikers that usually travel at a higher average speed than the surrounding traffic.
Put the two togeather an you have a bent biker and a car driver making excuses.

[FJRider]

That's the sort of thing

I'm trying to get an idea of whether your new(ish) lighting law will actually make a substantial difference to the numbers of riders using lights.

Anyone else have older bikes (2001 is fairly old, no offence intended, tigertimw ) which don't have a switch?

A friend of mine had a 1991 Honda ST1100 that had hardwired headlights as standard new.

[Matt_TG]

My 1991 Yamaha FJ1200's lights are always on when the ignition's on. No headlight on/off switch. The indicator lights also stay on as running lights.

[Tricia1000]

Hi Malc,
Tricia O'Connor here from Roadcraft School of Motorcycling Ltd., in Auckland. I have a 2005 Yamaha FZ1000S which does not have a headlight switch. Although the same 1000 cc bike I had in Ireland before heading back to NZ, DID have a switch. 4 smaller Suzukis all do have a headlight switch. And my 600 has a switch. A few cars here Do have DRL's especially Volvo's. Volvo's can't switch them off.

For cars though, I don't really agree with DRL's, (during weather with good visibility) as the bikes then tend to blend in to a sea of lights. At least if just the bikes have lights on then there is more chance that a biker can be seen further away. Quite a lot of car drivers here drive during the day and night with fog lights on, and parking lights!!!!. Although this is illegal, (fog lights) it is not policed here. Some drivers (I am also a car driving instructor) have no idea how to turn them OFF!!

In order to get a m/c licence in NZ at the moment, there is a short skills test, off road, and then you do your theory test, and you are free to ride on the road from that moment on.
More often than not, without any training!!

[[[As one of the two instructors, currently changing the motorcycle riding tests, and our Basic Handling Skills test (similar to CBT but not on road ) to improve riders skills, it is probably quite important to point out that 75% of cars in NZ are automatics. Therefore drivers aren't as engaged in the process of driving as they would be when driving a manual. Also, until last year, you could start driving at 15! Both of these factors mean that if you ride a motorcycle here, you can't expect to find the orderly driving that most drivers in GB are used to. Drivers here tend to be lazy, with poor observation. So basically, the more the motorcyclist here, can do, to avoid collisions with the cars, the longer their life might be.
Yes, motorcyclists have just as much right on the road as the cars, and we pay more than twice the price each year to keep our bikes on the road, we still need to protect ourselves.]]]

If you need any further information please contact me on rcsom@xtra.co.nz
Regards,
Tricia

Hi,

My first post, and I'd like to ask for help and information.

I'm a researcher in the UK, working in road safety, at TRL, the Transport Research Laboratory.

I understand that NZ has recently had a daytime headlamps law introduced. However, were many of the main manufacturers already selling bikes without an 'on/off' switch for the headlamp ie 'AHO', automatic headlamp on?

If so, do you know when that process was introduced.

Here in the UK we don't have a law - it's just that you can't buy a bike from one of the major manufacturers with a switch!

ALso, are many of the new cars on sale in NZ supplied with daytime running lights (DRL)?


Now, fair exchange is no robbery, so since I've asked for information, here's a 'swap':

Motorcycle training project:
http://www.trl.co.uk/online_store/re...orcyclists.htm
There are loads more free reports available from TRL's web site, although you may need to register.

Conspicuity (of road workers) project:
http://www.highways.gov.uk/knowledge...t_Complete.pdf

From my own blog and rider training experience:
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.co.uk/p/cornering.html
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.co.uk/...-training.html
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.co.uk/...-security.html
http://the-ride-info.blogspot.co.uk/...ses-crash.html


Thanks,

malc

[FJRider]

My 1991 Yamaha FJ1200's lights are always on when the ignition's on. No headlight on/off switch. The indicator lights also stay on as running lights.

My 1993 FJ1200 does have a headlight switch. But it was imported (ex Japan) but not by me.

This may indicate that the intended market of the vehicle, rather than the particular model of vehicle ... that dictates the switch variation.

Volvo seem to have no switch variation in their vehicles during assembly. ALL have "Lights ON" ...

[actungbaby]

[QUOTE=SuperMac;1130378517]Hi,

My first post, and I'd like to ask for help and information.

(I'm a researcher in the UK, working in road safety, at TRL, the Transport Research Laboratory.)


I always rode with my bikes headlight on for many years , well way i see it cant do any harm so why not.

my 1992 vfr 750 Usa imported model has no on of switch i belive been the law over there for some time .

Though i dont think should be the law that you get fine if you dont think thats bit daft.

[caspernz]

It would seem the aussies agree with you....http://www.mccofnsw.org.au/a/136.html

I'm not too bothered either way regarding lights on/off during the day, the only time it annoys me is when the battery on the bike is a little bit sad and the headlight eats what's left before it gets a chance to start.

Yep, my solution is to push the start button (as this turns off the headlight) before I turn the key, then the clutch lever being pulled in will make the bike crank. Mainly do this to stop the HID double firing, but also saves the battery...but hey it's a Shorai...so plenty of juice in there

[FJRider]

Though i dont think should be the law that you get fine if you dont think thats bit daft.

I'm waiting for the english translation ...

But ... New Zealanders have the choice of ignoring laws they don't like ... or think are a bit daft.

Some ... even believe the laws ... don't even apply to them.



Although they may find those choices and beliefs, are not grounds for their defence in court.

[caspernz]

I'm waiting for the english translation ...

But ... New Zealanders have the choice of ignoring laws they don't like ... or think are a bit daft.

Some ... even believe the laws ... don't even apply to them.



Although they may find those choices and beliefs, are not grounds for their defence in court.

Kiwi logic is quite simple - anything is legal until you get caught...