visual vs. audio alerts

[bigdaub]

i got into a discussion about effective ways of alerting a motorcyclist with a friend.  the situation is this: say we want to come up with a better way of letting you know that either you are low on fuel, or you have left your blinker on.  would a bright, flashing light located either on top of the gauges or next to one of the mirrors be a more effective way of alerting you, or an audio beep of some sort coming from your helmet.  obviously you would have to have some sort of speaker attached to the inside of your helmet for this.

which alerting method would be less distracting to you or have a less chance of startling you, and which method you would like better?

your 2 cents will help us determine who had the better idea.

[a-train]

i think an audio alert would be sweet, but it'd need to be battery powered and VERY small... a beep wouldn't help much, so it should maybe have some presets that alert in words... don't know if this relates, but there is a company that makes a helmet mounted HUD display for speed, rpms, 0-60 time, quarter mile, etc.... it might even have fuel as an option...

[GeeP]

Neither.  

The light would just be a nuisance.  I would definately object to the buzzer.  If it talked I'd be liable to damage it.

Remember your turnsignals through habit.  Gas is a planning issue.

Don't make things more complicated than they need to be.  

[Church6360]

out of the two, i'd opt for the dash light, i look at my dash alot.

[starwalt]

I'm a ham radio operator. RADIOs are always my answer to everything that involves communication. For those not licensed, the FRS radios are just too easy to use, require no license, and work with ear buds and clip mikes.

I saw an ad for a really neat setup that attaches to helmets. Probably very $$$$ as compared to FRS.

Of course it would suck to have the bud fall out while you have the helmet on...

[bigdaub]

okay, a new discussion came up.  how about some sort of vibrating alert, like a necklace or wrist/bicep band that you wear that would vibrate.  what do you think?

[manofthefield]

No way a vibrating alert would work on a bike; too much vibration from the bike already.  I have never ever felt my phone vibrate while I was riding.  I rarely even feel my phone vibrate when I'm driving my truck.