Total stopping distance is broken down into 3 parts: Perception distance, reaction distance, and braking distance. Perception distance is the time/distance it takes you to see and perceive and highway hazard. Reaction distance is the time/distance it takes you to begin reacting to the highway hazard. Braking distance is the time/distance it takes you to actually come to a stop. 90% of drivers need a minimum of 2.5 seconds just to perceive the hazard and another second to start reacting. Factor in a drivers age, driving experience, visibility and other distractions and you’ll quickly realize why it takes at least 5 seconds to see, understand and start reacting to something in front of you. The minimum time needed to stop or maneuver around a hazard (in ideal weather/roadway conditions at a moderate speed of 40mph) is 4 seconds. If you are speeding, the roads are wet or covered in debris or your tires/brakes are worn, then more time would be needed. At a speed of 68mph you will travel roughly 100ft per second. Overall, the minimum stopping time from perception to fully stopped is roughly 7.5 seconds (750ft minimum distance traveled at 68mph). When you are stopping for a life threatening hazard, every second (and foot) counts.
The Average Stock Headlight Distance
On a motorcycle, the average stock low beam headlight shines about 88 feet and the high beam is about 153 feet. In a car or truck, the low beam will shine about 148 feet while the high beam reaches roughly 600 feet. In any of these vehicles, the total distance you can see is less than the total distance it will take you to stop in an emergency situation. This is called “overriding your headlight” and is an incredibly common and dangerous problem among drivers and riders alike. This is the reason DENALI developed a full line of auxiliary lighting solutions for any vehicle type. No matter what you drive or ride, adding DENALI LED’s to your vehicle increases your odds of survival out on the road. And that alone is enough motivation for those of us at DENALI to create the best and most reliable LED lights we can.
The DENALI D7 is the brightest and most powerful light pod of the bunch, and spreads a beam of light over 1700ft which means you get a whopping 17 seconds to see and react. If you are looking for something bright, but a bit smaller in size, the DENALI D4 shines a beam over 1100ft, giving you 11 seconds! All of our lights are compatible with the DataDim Dual Intensity Controller, which means you can dim your LED’s to half intensity to avoid blinding oncoming traffic when they are nearby.
Don’t Forget Conspicuity
Auxiliary lighting isn’t all about being able to see hazards so you can react, it’s also about making sure other highway users can see you!
On a motorcycle, you are invisible to the majority of other drivers and the small, weak stock headlights don’t help all that much. Drivers not only have a hard time seeing you but also judging your speed and distance. Strategically placing auxiliary lighting on your ride can greatly increase your chances of being seen and not becoming a greasy stain on the asphalt. DENALI’s auxiliary headlight kits are perfect for increasing visibility to oncoming traffic. Using a smaller pod with a concentrated beam pattern (like our DM or D2) is a great way to be visible day or night. DRL’s (daytime running lights) are also available in LED strip form, which provide a bright white or amber running light to supplement your headlight. No matter which light you choose for your use case, company recommend they are mounted below and to the left and right of your stock headlight to create a triangle pattern which is easier for oncoming drivers to recognize. If you can mount these lights lower on your front wheel, even better! Company fender mount kits can help make that happen. These low mounted lights also double as great fog lights! Keep in mind that in most states it’s illegal to run auxiliary lighting that sits above your stock headlight, not to mention it can be confusing to other drivers.
The same goes for 4-wheeled vehicles as well, better lights on your car or truck means it will be easier for others to see you, especially during adverse conditions like when it’s raining, foggy, or when the sun is in their eyes. Mount your DENALI lights on your front bumper, A-pilars, or in the factory fog light housing! DENALI also offers a variety of brake lights and horns. Not only will you be seen with DENALI, but you will also be heard!
The DENALI Promise
Here at DENALI Electronics, your safety is company #1 concern. DENALI want you to arrive at your destination safely, so you can spend more time with your family and friends. Company team of engineers don’t take this responsibility lightly. Brand work hard to ensure that when you purchase DENALI LED’s, you are purchasing the highest quality and most reliable lighting solutions possible. On top of that, company trusted team is standing by to answer any questions you may have, so you get the best kit for your application.
Who Can Use Auxiliary Lighting?
DENALI offers a variety of products for various motorcycle applications. From Harley cruisers to ADV touring BMWs and everything in between, company have the best selection of custom lighting options for your ride!
But auxiliary lights aren’t limited just to road going vehicles! If you ride a SxS or ATV, you know all too well what it’s like to be out on the trail as it gets dark. If your vehicle doesn’t have stock headlights, or even if it does, you probably know from past experience that those lights (or lack of) just aren’t going to get you out of the woods when the sun goes down. Not only does it make it hard for you to see, but other trail users don’t see you! If you want to avoid head on collisions on the trail, and increase your own visibility when the sun dips below the horizon… Auxiliary lighting is a critical component of your rig’s setup.
If you take your truck or Jeep off-road, you will also need adequate lighting for the trails, not just so you can see but so others can see you! DENALI offers a variety of headlight and auxiliary light options for trucks and Jeeps, so you can light up the night!
Maybe you’re a farmer, and you wake before dawn to get an early start plowing your fields. A simple set of DENALI lights on your farming equipment can make all the difference in being able to see!
If you just built an overlanding rig so you can live off the grid out of your van or bus, you’ll also want to look into lighting options. DENALI lights are useful while traveling as fog and ditch lights or backup lights when pulling into your campsite for the night. When you’re at camp you can also make use of DENALI lights as camp scene lighting or even interior lighting by utilizing our flush mount T3, DRL or B6 pods.
Maybe you drive big trucks for a living, and are worried about your own visibility and conspicuity. Auxiliary lights on the front of the truck will help you see further down the road, and using our flush mount lights on the sides and rear of the trailer will increase your visibility to others from all sides!
No matter what type of vehicle you use, quality auxiliary lighting is a must!