Evaluation of visibility of tinted helmet visors for motorcycle riders

This study investigates the effect of tinted helmet visors on visibility through objective experiments and subjective evaluation by an on-road test. The method of limits is employed in the experiments. The main dependent variable is the degree of visibility of a Landolt C ring. In the subjective evaluation, the subjects fill out questionnaires to rate traffic evaluation items on five-point Likert scales. The main findings from the study can be summarized as follows: (1) the visibility performance of a transparent helmet visor is superior to that of tinted helmet visors, (2) tinted helmet visors are ineffective in reducing direct glare and also affect visibility performance, (3) the results of the subjective evaluation demonstrate that tinted helmet visors affect the rider's visibility (however, yellow visors do not significantly affect visibility, particularly at night), and finally, (4) this study proposes an optimal tinted helmet visor for motorcycle riders that is effective in avoiding reduction of visibility performance.Relevance to industryThese findings can improve the safety of helmets and reduce the risk of traffic accidents for motorcycle riders. This study can also help manufacturers to develop more effective and safer helmets.