Be Seen, Stay Alive: Why Daytime Headlights Are Compulsory

26 March 2024

In Turkey, it is not just a recommendation but a legal requirement for every motorcyclist on the road to keep the front headlight on at all times, even when it is light. This rule covers all types of motorcycle, such as scooters, nakeds, adventure, touring or choppers, and is based on the principle that “being noticed saves lives”. It aims to remove the biggest disadvantage motorcyclists face in traffic: their low profile.

The main legal basis for this requirement is the “Type Approval Regulation on the Installation of Lighting and Light-Signalling Devices on Two- or Three-Wheeled Motor Vehicles (2009/67/EC)” (İki veya Üç Tekerlekli Motorlu Araçlara Aydınlatma ve Işıklı Sinyal Cihazlarının Yerleştirilmesi ile İlgili Tip Onayı Yönetmeliği), published by the Ministry of Industry and Technology. An amendment to this regulation made it compulsory for all new motorcycles sold in Turkey to have a headlight system that comes on automatically as soon as the ignition is switched on (Daytime Running Light, DRL, or Automatic Headlight On, AHO). This is also why a new motorcycle has no option to switch the headlights off.

So, What Good Is a Headlight in Sunny Weather?

The logic behind the daytime headlight requirement is entirely about preventing accidents by making motorcycles more visible. Motorcycles, one of the most vulnerable groups of vehicles on the road, can go unnoticed by other drivers because of their size, especially in a moment of inattention.

Fighting perceptual blindness: Car drivers are generally conditioned to look in traffic for larger vehicles like their own. This is called “perceptual blindness”. A headlight that is on in the daytime overcomes this blindness, so that the brain processes the motorcycle as a light source more quickly and notices it.

Making distance and speed easier to judge: At junctions, when pulling out of side roads onto a main road, or for vehicles changing lanes, it can be hard to judge the distance and speed of an oncoming motorcycle. A lit headlight shows the motorcycle’s position and closing speed much more clearly.

The mirror and blind spot problem: Motorcycles that sit in a car driver’s wing mirrors or blind spots are one of the biggest accident risks. Light reflected from the headlight makes a momentary flash in the driver’s rear-view or wing mirror, sending a critical warning that there is a vehicle at that spot.

Accident Statistics Underline the Importance of Visibility

Data shared by the Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) and the General Directorate of Security (Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü) show how serious motorcycle accidents are. The fact that motorcycles account for a proportionally high share of fatal and injury accidents proves how vital visibility and awareness measures are. Using the headlight in the daytime is one of the simplest yet most effective passive safety measures for bringing these statistics down.

A Rule That Applies to All Types of Motorcycle

The legal regulation makes no distinction by the type or model of motorcycle. All two-wheeled motor vehicles are subject to this rule, from scooters, the practical answer to city transport, to touring and adventure bikes, the mainstay of long-distance adventures, from nakeds that offer pure riding pleasure to choppers that reflect a distinctive style.

In Conclusion: Riding with the Headlight On in the Daytime

In conclusion, riding with the headlight on in the daytime is the clearest way of telling other drivers, “I’m here and I’m moving”. This legal requirement is, beyond any worry about a fine, a riding habit that every rider should adopt for their own safety and for that of the other road users. Remember, being visible in traffic means staying alive.