Suzuki Developing Tunnel Lighting System for Motorcycles
Suzuki has filed patent application for a system that would improve a motorcycle’s visibility when traveling through a tunnel.
As most experienced riders know, and as John Burns noted in a safety tips article earlier in the week, drivers just don’t see motorcycles very well. Whether it’s because motorcycles are relatively small, or if drivers just have a blind spot for anything that uses less than four wheels, motorcycles might as well be invisible to them.
If visibility is a problem in broad daylight, Suzuki suggests it’s a bigger issue when riding through a tunnel, with the low lighting, and tight quarters making it more difficult for motorcycles to be seen by other drivers.
Suzuki’s solution is to have motorcycles project a beam of light vertically onto a tunnel’s ceiling, creating something like a beacon or a halo alerting others to the presence of a motorcycle.
The tunnel lighting system would be mounted to the tail cowl, giving it a clear projection to the ceiling of a tunnel. Suzuki specifies the lights should be sufficient to cast a tight cone of light (about 18-19 degrees or so), like a small spotlight.
While there could be a switch to manually activate the tunnel light, Suzuki’s proposed system would also operate automatically, without the rider having to remember to turn them on when entering a tunnel. The system would use various sensors to detect when the motorcycle has entered a tunnel and then check if there are any vehicles following. The lights would then automatically turn on if the sensors determine the bike is in a tunnel with other vehicles behind it. The light would also turn off once the motorcycle exits the tunnel.
While we applaud Suzuki for thinking of new ways to improve motorcycle safety, it does seem odd to develop technology for one specific, and rather limited purpose. There is some utility for those who often ride along a route that includes a lot of tunnels or overpasses, we don’t expect Suzuki’s tunnel lighting to be useful enough for widespread adoption.
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I’ve scared myself silly in tunnels on many occasions, especially when it’s also raining and my visor is running with water. Every available light should come on when you hit a tunnel. It’s also rough when you go from bright sunlight into a tunnel with sunglasses and tinted visor. Like riding with your eyes closed while your pupils dilate. How are you supposed to flip up your visor, remove your sunglasses, put on your clear prescriptions, adjust the volume on the Sirius XM and the temperature of the grips and saddle, all while texting and riding? I ask you!
The same lighting effect can be achieved by any bike with no new equipment. Just pop a wheelie for the length of the tunnel.