QUOTE(darcym @ Thu 23rd Nov 2006, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think daytime headlights on motorcycles worked better before all of the cars on the road had daytime headlights. But whatever makes the rider stand out from the crowd, that's what's going to make us safer. Bright vests, bright lights, clown suits, day glo colors. All of the above, imho.
The fact is that motorcycles have less than half the profile of the autos on the road. People in cages are looking for that wide profile coming toward them, not the narrow one. They're making a decision to turn before their brain has processed all the information about what is coming toward them -- they've only processed as much as they're used to processing ... i.e. "no car coming, ok to turn".
For our part as motorcyclists, we just have to always keep in mind that the rest of them out there Don't See Us! And ride accordingly.
The fact is that motorcycles have less than half the profile of the autos on the road. People in cages are looking for that wide profile coming toward them, not the narrow one. They're making a decision to turn before their brain has processed all the information about what is coming toward them -- they've only processed as much as they're used to processing ... i.e. "no car coming, ok to turn".
For our part as motorcyclists, we just have to always keep in mind that the rest of them out there Don't See Us! And ride accordingly.
What would work best, as laffin says, is if people all looked properly. If they ain't looking, no amount of lights or bells or whistles is gonna make a difference. Even if they is looking they ain't always seeing.
Riding like an incomplete twat may appear to work, but riding predictably - being where drivers look, and doing what they expect - will give you more chance of being seen.
