AHO - automatic headlamp on?

[SuperMac]

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

[Madness]

What are your thoughts on compulsory hi-viz clothing for motorcyclists? This is quite a contentious topic here currently (I haven't looked at your links as I'm multi-tasking).

Welcome to KB by the way.

[tigertim20]

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

I have two bikes, a 2001 R1, and a K4 GSX-R 1000, I can not turn the neadlights off on either of them, if thats what you were asking?

[SuperMac]

I have two bikes, a 2001 R1, and a K4 GSX-R 1000, I can not turn the neadlights off on either of them, if thats what you were asking?

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?

[tigertim20]

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?

no offence taken, shes getting on, but I will never sell her!

what sort of differences are you looking for? Im a regular rider, commute, shopping, weekend rides, long tours, you name it, I do it regularly on my bikes. If you are curious about the safety aspect, frankly I have seen absolutely no benefit whatsoever as a rider, I find that the occurrence of not being seen until the last moment, or not at all, is as high as it ever was before the new law, and back when i had bikes that werent auto-on headlights.

From the discussions I have had with riding friends of mine, none of them feel it has made them feel any safer on the road, nor have they noticed any improvement in being seen.

[Rhys]

My first road bike had no on off switch for the lights and that was made in 1991

[Riderskills]

Hi Malc

Philip McDaid here - Chief Instructor at riderskills motorcycle training (www.riderskills.co.nz) and ex-member of TVAM (your local IAM group). I head up the IAM motorcycle division here in New Zealand.

Hope you are having better weather in crowthorne than we are having here. I had the pleasure of doing some training at TRL a few years ago.

So to help with your question - NZ still imports bikes with fully functioning headlight switches (eg Suzuki GN125), though most modern bikes have them hard wired in. The process for informing existing riders of law changes could do with a little more robustness here so it would be no suprise to find that some riders are not aware that the change came into effect in November 2009.

From the amendment rule:

'This subclause applies to the driver of a moped or motorcycle
manufactured on or after 1 January 1980. The driver other than
during the hours of darkness must use the moped’s or motorcycle’s
headlamps or, if fitted, the moped’s or motorcycle’s
daytime running lamps.'

My experience is that not many cars have headlights permanently on - though you might be interested to find that the waikato district have a road safety campaign actively encouraging ALL drivers to keep their headlights on. From memory you might want to contact Megan Jolly for more info.

Hope this helps.

If you need any more information contact me on info@riderskills.co.nz

Best regards,

Philip

[Ender EnZed]

There are plenty of older bikes still on the road here with headlight switches.

[SuperMac]

From the discussions I have had with riding friends of mine, none of them feel it has made them feel any safer on the road, nor have they noticed any improvement in being seen.

I've had a couple of riders say to me "Hey Malc, your headlamp's not on!" So how did you see me . . . ?

what sort of differences are you looking for?

Just interested to know when the 'big four' etc. started selling bikes in NZ without switches. IIRC it was 2003 over here.

My first road bike had no on off switch for the lights and that was made in 1991

Blimey! What is it?

[Cochise4]

I have a 2003 Suzuki GSX250 and can turn the headlights off if I want to.

[SuperMac]

Hi All,

Great info - really appreciate it!

Are there any links to on-line versions of that 'car' lights campaign?

My own views (not TRL's) on hi-viz clothing? Well, I wear black and grey 'Phantom' suit, black golc=ves and boots, but a white lid. My bike is white, and I don't have my headlamp on unless it's dark, dim or raining etc.

Philip McDaid here - Chief Instructor at riderskills motorcycle training (www.riderskills.co.nz) and ex-member of TVAM (your local IAM group). I head up the IAM motorcycle division here in New Zealand.

Hope you are having better weather in crowthorne than we are having here. I had the pleasure of doing some training at TRL a few years ago.

Weather? hah! Typical UK summer However, as you may have seen from Olympic TV coverahe, the last two weeks have mainly be good. I'm off to Cornwall for a week soon, so it had better improve

TVAM, eh? We may well have crossed paths! I was TVAM's link to the MSF which resulted in TVAM starting Look Lean Roll when the USAF largely pulled out of the UK and access to the MSF course was no longer available. I think I was TVAM member 35 . . .

[neels]

My 1998 ducati and 2000 drz both have lights permanently on.

To answer your later question, pretty much the only cars here with day running lights are saabs and volvos, it's unusual enough that people will flash you to let you know your lights are on.

[gammaguy]

all my bikes are old(98,87 and 88)

Two are NZ new

One is an import from Japan

All of them have headlight switches

I dont ride with my headlight in bright sunlight thru choice i use the Position Light on two of them and the one that does not have it,I have made a LED day running light.

If it is anything like dark I put my headlights on.

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

I prefer to assume I have not been looked at,noticed or in fact seen.

So far this attitude has served me well.

Laws are of course made for the lowest common denominator,we all know that

in ten years time there will be so few bikes with headlight switches,and cars too,that the law wont matter anyway

[SuperMac]

My 1998 ducati and 2000 drz both have lights permanently on.

To answer your later question, pretty much the only cars here with day running lights are saabs and volvos, it's unusual enough that people will flash you to let you know your lights are on.

Ah, OK.

Over here, all new cars now have to have DRLs - some are bright enough (IMHO) to cause enough glare to be uncomfortable in daytime (so why the Hell they have them on at night . . . ?).

[yachtie10]

cant turn off headlight on my 2009 bike

FYi in case your interested there are countries where having you motorcycle headlight on during the day is illegal and they do ticket for it (usually to get Tea money (Bribes)) example Cambodia