LED taillights/brake light

[Darron]

light... study

Flip,

Kinda off the thread's subject, but you stated of not having seen a study on lights. About 25 years ago in Lufkin, Texas, at a BMW rally, I attended a MSF classroom study. The teacher brought up a study I can't find on the web, nor will MSF answer my emails questioning this study.

Here's what was stated, (to the best of my memory):

An insurance company hired non-motorcyclist to do a traffic study. Unknown to these people, the insurance company was only interested in the motorcycle visibility as related to the general public. These people were placed at prescribed intersections to count ALL vehicles passing their check point, I.e. cars, trucks, motorcycles, 18wheelers, all were to be counted separately.

The insurance company also hired 10 seasoned bike riders to ride past these 'spotters' at predetermined times. For a certain number of trips the bikers were dressed in day-glo clothing, riding tourers, cruisers and such all brightly lit and driving legally. For a certain number of trips the bikers were also dressed in fake hair pieces, beards, swazticas (sp), ammo belts, etc. and the bikes were NOT brightly lit and were of dull color as was their clothing and were driving legally.

The summation of this study was the non-motorcycle 'spotters' missed a certain % of the brightly lit riders, but didn't miss even one of the "bad boy" type of biker.

The finding were presented to psychologist to ascertain why the 'bright' guys were sometimes missed, (especially as the day wore on and they got tired), and the 'dull' guys were not. They came up with something they called, " the self preservation instinct". Which they simply concluded with both groups they saw ALL riders, but with the bright group, the sub conscious simply dismissed them as not being a threat and didn't penetrate the conscience mind. But on the "bad bikers", the sub conscience said in effect, "look out these guy could hurt you!" and thus the conscience mind saw them.

What it boils down to is this, (if these finding were correct), anything you can do to penetrate the conscience mind (modulating lights, many extra lights, etc.), will be to your advantage. But to some drivers you will never be seen. Sad, but true. IMO

 

[busajack]

I have found that a pocket full of half inch ball bearings can get there attention..

 

[Darron]

ball bearings

+1

Agreed, a friend who rides a FatBoy, caries 3 links in a piece of 3/8 inch chain to get their attention.

 

[Gunshots]

Being well lit from behind is great I had Flashing LED's, Back Off Brake Light Winkers, and wired in extra running lights. It doesn't do a **** thing for the guy that just pulled out in front of you. Most accidents involve cagers getting "T" boned from a motor cycle. and not the cycles fault. But the hurt and pain are the same. BTDT

 

[Sidecar Flip]

Flip,

Kinda off the thread's subject, but you stated of not having seen a study on lights. About 25 years ago in Lufkin, Texas, at a BMW rally, I attended a MSF classroom study. The teacher brought up a study I can't find on the web, nor will MSF answer my emails questioning this study.

Here's what was stated, (to the best of my memory):

An insurance company hired non-motorcyclist to do a traffic study. Unknown to these people, the insurance company was only interested in the motorcycle visibility as related to the general public. These people were placed at prescribed intersections to count ALL vehicles passing their check point, I.e. cars, trucks, motorcycles, 18wheelers, all were to be counted separately.

The insurance company also hired 10 seasoned bike riders to ride past these 'spotters' at predetermined times. For a certain number of trips the bikers were dressed in day-glo clothing, riding tourers, cruisers and such all brightly lit and driving legally. For a certain number of trips the bikers were also dressed in fake hair pieces, beards, swazticas (sp), ammo belts, etc. and the bikes were NOT brightly lit and were of dull color as was their clothing and were driving legally.

The summation of this study was the non-motorcycle 'spotters' missed a certain % of the brightly lit riders, but didn't miss even one of the "bad boy" type of biker.

The finding were presented to psychologist to ascertain why the 'bright' guys were sometimes missed, (especially as the day wore on and they got tired), and the 'dull' guys were not. They came up with something they called, " the self preservation instinct". Which they simply concluded with both groups they saw ALL riders, but with the bright group, the sub conscious simply dismissed them as not being a threat and didn't penetrate the conscience mind. But on the "bad bikers", the sub conscience said in effect, "look out these guy could hurt you!" and thus the conscience mind saw them.

What it boils down to is this, (if these finding were correct), anything you can do to penetrate the conscience mind (modulating lights, many extra lights, etc.), will be to your advantage. But to some drivers you will never be seen. Sad, but true. IMO

RIDE NAKED Now, that would get peoples attention.

 

[busajack]

When your back tires on fire they see you better too.

 

[Pig9r]

One thing I am not a fan of and I think causes more harm than good are the headlight modulators.

 

[CADFather]

I'd ride around wearing a propeller beanie with a flashing red light if it would stop me from spending one minute more laid up in a hospital bed with my family wondering if I was gonna live or not. I really don't care what it is, headlight modulator, bad boy clothes, day glo neon clothes, flashing read propeller beanies, day glo vests, an aircraft landing light, no matter what it is, do something/anything to be noticed. I had rather not go to another funeral of a fellow biker, because of some oblivitard in a cage, being more worried what they are going to do for dinner. I'm a firm believer in the "Kill a biker, go to jail" movement, if you were to (God Forbid) run over and kill a little girl on a bicycle you would more than likely be charged, not so if the cyclist is an adult male with children. Somehow our lives are not worth as much, is it because we enjoy a dangerous activity or because main stream population sees us as being wreckless partaking in such an activity? What ever it is, I don't really care, but my life is as important to me as that little girls is to her.

There is a state law in Georgia that requires the tail lights to be so far apart in relation to the tail light, as well as one that regulates the color of rear running lights, it may be national IDK.

 

[Sidecar Flip]

It's a Federal Department of Transportation mandate that rear facing lights must be soild red in color with the exception of flashing turn indicators which can be amber. Continuous burning amber lights must face forward, never rearward.

Blue dots are illegal but at the discretion of the traffic officer. Between the lines that means if he's pissed off you are getting a ticket.

I could go to the regs and find it, but I teach it all the time

 

[HeR3tic]

Thanks for that bit of news. At least it's news to me. Anyone have a lead on replacment rear signal lenses, from amber to red??? God knows, you shouldn't torque off the Feds.