It is disturbing that there is a current campaign (in rural Victoria at least) for all cars to have their headlights on during the day to be more visible.
This removes the advantage that motorcyclists have by having their lights on.
Your thoughts?
Regards
Paul Edwards,
Yarragon, Vic
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'Morning Paul.
Lights-on promotions come and go. These campaigns demonstrate that
many road safety campaigns are based on opinion rather than
scientific fact. That's too often true when it comes to motorcycles &
scooters.
There is no evidence that having headlights on in bright light
conditions reduces collisions. Australia has more very bright
conditions than most places with high volumes of vehicle traffic.
VicRoads had at least two opportunities to conduct real lights-on
research.
1. After we beat the lights-on law/rule for motorcycles &
scooters on roadworthy/legal grounds the industry began to import
"hard-wired" bikes. So there were crash figures before lights-on for
bikes and after. VicRoads chose to do nothing.
2. At the Road Safety Reference Group at VicRoads it was decided to
get fleet operators to hard wire their vehicles. Telstra was one. I
argued that here was another opportunity to study before and after
lights-on to see if it really did reduce collisions. They could also
work out if hard wiring cost fleet operators more in parts and
maintenance.
Having ridden in Australian traffic since 1967 I can tell you I ride
most of the time in daylight with my headlight off. I had a light
switch put on my Guzzi.
I can also say it's my opinion that since most motorcycles & scooters
have their headlights on having more cars travelling, town or
country, with lamps blazing will actually serve to hide motorcycles
& scooters in traffic. This is probably more dangerous when the bike
is back lit. If there is a long shadow in front of my bike I make sure
my headlight is off.
There has also been concern that it is much harder to judge accurately
the speed and distance of an approaching single-lighted object. But no
research has been done, to my knowledge, on that.
The only serious look at lights-on for bikes I know of is
Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into Motorcycle Visibility released in
1992.
Recommendation 5 states. "The Minister for Transport advises the
Federal Government that the light specifications included in
Australian Design Rule 19/01 are inappropriate for Australian
conditions.
Recommendation 6 states. "The Minister for Transport amend the Road
Safety (Vehicles) regulations 1988 to exclude Australian Design Rule
19/01 from roadworthiness requirements for motorcycles registered in
Victoria.
Recommendation 7 states. "The use of daytime running lights for
motorcycles remains voluntary."
Again, in my opinion, motorcycle & scooter riders on their bikes in
areas where there is an active campaign to have car drivers turn their
headlights on in bright sunshine need to be extra vigilant.
"Sorry mate. I did not see you" is a car driver's admission of
negligence or incompetence or both.
Can I put this on the blog and facebook pages? I can remove your ID if
you wish.
Damien
IRG
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Thanks Damien for your comprehensive reply.
For the record, I've left phone messages with
. David Healy, Vice Pres of Australasian College of Road Safety
. Jessica Trong, TAC
. Ted Moulder, Minister for Transport
None have returned my messages
I also rang the Dept of the Premier. Didn't make it past the switchboard. They told me to ring Ted Mulder.
Of course you can add it to your blog & FB. No need to remove my ID.
Cheers ,
Paul
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