Using high beams during the day

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Quattro Pete

Quattro Pete

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I realize this is a rather controversial topic, but I'm just curious what other motorcycle riders here do and think.

On most US forums I generally see approval of using high beams while riding a bike during day time. Many motorcycle safety books/manuals also mention to use high beams during the day to increase your visibility. Whether it's permitted by law - I'm not sure. I suppose this varies from state to state.

But on many European forums I noticed that this practices of using high beams during the day is considered extremely rude. Most folks there claim it blinds all other road users and therefore should be avoided.

Personally, when driving a car during the day, I have never felt blinded by a motorcycle riding with their high beams on. Therefore, if I'm on the bike, I use my high beams during the day too, as I feel it isn't really causing much harm to others drivers. I do switch to low-beams at night if I'm approaching other vehicles.

Any thoughts?
 
I can't see that using the high beam on MC is all that blinding on other oncoming drivers in broad daylight. I've never noticed any issues. As risky as MCs can be for the rider, anything that offers more protection to you would be fair enough. Being seen, even if bright beams are somehow annoying to others in daylight is a minor inconvience to them, but could be vital to your safety, I would think. It's not like others out there won't "recover." Of course, night time would be a different matter, as you indicated. Besides that, Europe is a lot different than here. There are a lot more MC on the streets and roads there compared at anytime to here! Anywhere I've been in Europe MC (Scooters) are everywhere! That MC density makes the issue entirely different IMO. I rarely see more than a couple of MC as I'm coming and going on our roadways. I doubt just about anyplace in the U.S. has a density of MC-scooters anywhere like most any place in Europe have.
 
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I dont mind high beams. What i do not like are the strobe lights. They are distracting to me when im in a vehicle and have one behind me or coming at me.
 
Anything to be seen, I guess short of a flashing orange beacon--which could attract a drunk. Back when I was a rider, I always cringed when going through an intersection with opposing left turn traffic. I can't imagine a high beam being an issue in daylight. If I became a rider again (no plans) think I would stick to the freeways so no opposing traffic (normally).
 
I've never seen or noticed a motorcycle with high beams on during the day, however cars with high beams on during the day are extremely annoying.
 
Canucks have been using "reduced" high beam as DRL (daytime running lights), mandatory since 1986, and been successful in reducing visability-related traffic fatalities due to ever changing road conditions (fog/rain/snow, etc.)

While I do consider regular high beams (aftermarket HID retrofits onto cars that didn't came stock with HID to begin with) to be rather rude, esp. during the nite, I'm used to reduced high beam as DRL and no issues at all.

Q.
 
I always ride with my high beams on during the day. Its about being seen. I believe it is effective. Been riding since 1974
 
I do notice high beams on bikes, and in the Neon, it is a bit annoying as I'm low enough to get the full effect. But it does its job and I'm not angered by it, I like to think its not for me anyways as I try not to be doing 17 other things when I'm driving and I'm almost as vunerable as a bike anyways in that car...
 
Originally Posted By: Quest
Canucks have been using "reduced" high beam as DRL (daytime running lights), mandatory since 1986, and been successful in reducing visability-related traffic fatalities due to ever changing road conditions (fog/rain/snow, etc.)

While I do consider regular high beams (aftermarket HID retrofits onto cars that didn't came stock with HID to begin with) to be rather rude, esp. during the nite, I'm used to reduced high beam as DRL and no issues at all.

Q.


Quest, he's talking motorcycles here...
 
Always, for a couple of reasons. Primarily to be seen, but I ride a lot more in daylight hours than I do nighttime. If my high beam burns out, I can still get home on low after dark. The other way around, not as safe. High beam and headlamp modulator is the ideal combination to be noticed on a bike.
 
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I don't like it when I face bikers with HBs on in the daylight and I usually give them HBs right back. I feel blinded by it.

I never ran my HBs in the day on bikes, but I tried it a week or so ago after some woman talking on a cell phone almost pulled out in front of me. A little while later I faced a car coming at me and blinking his lights off and on many times, trying to get me to dim my HBs. Since then I have not ran HBs and I don't plan to.

IMHO, it's OK to run them, but dim them before you get too close to oncoming traffic. I don't like to offend anyone, and some people definitely do NOT like it.
 
My Harley has auxiliary running lights which stay on with the low beam & go off with the high beam, so I have the low beam & aux lights on in the daytime. I've passed other Harleys- some with the HB on and others with the 3 low beams on, and the 3 lights catch the eye much better than the single high beam.

I could care less about being "rude" when on my bike when it comes to being seen. When I rode single-light bikes I always had the HB on in the daytime. If I'm pizzin someone off with it then they obviously see me, and their "discomfort" only lasts a few seconds. They'll live and so far, so have I.
After almost 40 years of riding I've enjoyed great success with this approach...
 
Originally Posted By: jstutz
I dont mind high beams. What i do not like are the strobe lights. They are distracting to me when im in a vehicle and have one behind me or coming at me.



I am with you - I hate those strobe lights. Surprised they haven't caused somebody to have a seizure! I usually see them on GoldWings.

I run my high beam because with so many cars having DRL's I need to stand out somehow for my safety. Motorcycle hi-beams (atleast HD) are not blinding to other drivers at daytime like a car would be. Lastly, it saves my low beams..if my high beam burns out...I still got my low beam for night use. If your low beam goes out you surely would hate to blind people at night with your hi-beam.
 
And I've enjoyed great success in 40+ years of riding WITHOUT offending others by running high beams. It can be done.
HBs can't take the place of a daydreaming rider. I will continue to give HBs back to any inconsiderate rider. If they can dish it out they can take it. I don't like it, never did, any more than I like to have a cell phone talking person tailgating me in a car.
 
Back when I took motorcycle training they told us to run the high beams during the day. I have been doing it since the 80's. I only had one guy give me a hard time over the years.
 
I don't always ride with my lights on,and never with high beam. I don't consider making myself conspicuous to car drivers a great factor in my own safety....that comes from me being aware of my surroundings and other road users,proactive rather switching my lights on or wearing a hiviz and thinking ''now they can see me''.

A bike with high beam on during the day is more difficult to pick it's closing speed...this is dangerous I feel.
 
These "strobes" are called headlight modulators. I run one on my Silverwing. They flash the low and high bulbs together, about 3-4 times per second. They are perfectly legal. Combined with my hi-viz jacket and hi-viz helmet I can/will do anything legally possible to be seen by those idiots who are texting/talking/eating/applying makeup or just plain daydreaming while they're driving their cages.
 
Originally Posted By: Silk
I don't always ride with my lights on,and never with high beam. I don't consider making myself conspicuous to car drivers a great factor in my own safety....that comes from me being aware of my surroundings and other road users,proactive rather switching my lights on or wearing a hiviz and thinking ''now they can see me''.

A bike with high beam on during the day is more difficult to pick it's closing speed...this is dangerous I feel.


I thought you need headlight on to be legal on the road. That's why all new cycle do not have headlight switch.
 
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