Motorcycle Headlighting: Experimental and Computer Simulation Comparisons of Nighttime Visibility Distances Obtained with Various Headlamp Beams

Abstract

The distances at which a target could be identified by five motorcyclists using various headlamp beams, at night, were measured. The target was positioned either at the right or at the left of the lane. A typical Japanese symmetrical low beam, a European asymmetrical low beam, a U.S. asymmetrical low beam and two high beams were used in the test. The results were compared with predictions of the identification distances made by a computer simulation program.

There were significant differences in mean target identification distances due to the beams and target positions. The simulation program closely predicted the low beam visibility distances, but overestimated those obtained with the high beams.