Riding Your Motorcycle at Night

While motorcycle riding is best done during daylight hours, there are many occasions where it will be necessary to ride before dawn or after dusk. Nighttime presents more risks to motorcyclists for several reasons, which is why you need to be careful and follow these tips to keep yourself safe.

1. Understand the Risks

There are several risks you can encounter as a motorcyclist after dark. First, the road isn’t as visible, so you can’t see steel plates, potholes, or other obstacles as well. Second, other motorists may be tired, intoxicated, or distracted, so they will drive recklessly. Unfortunately for you, this puts you at the most risk since they’re in a nice metal enclosure and you’re exposed to the air and could be thrown in an accident. Finally, many nocturnal animals cross the road at night, especially in rural areas, and they can catch you off-guard.

2. Make Yourself Visible

Seeing and being seen is key to night-riding safety. Because you and your motorcycle have a much smaller profile than, say, a driver of a half-ton pickup truck, you have to maximize your ability to be seen by others. Upgrade your motorcycle lights to LEDs to help you see the way ahead and make your bike stand out.

Add lights along the sides or rear of the bike, too. Wear light-colored and reflective clothing instead of the traditional black gear, or add strips of reflective tape to your jacket and helmet. Even just wearing a blaze-orange safety vest increases your chances of being seen.

3. Ride Defensively

Finally, due to the fact that other motorists who have less to lose than you in an accident may be careless, you’re going to have to increase your own defensive abilities. Remain vigilant at all times and watch for drivers who seem to weave between lanes, speed up or slow down, or are actively on their phones. Give them all a very wide berth. Keep your eyes on the road and check for signs about animals that may leap into the road unexpectedly so you can try to avoid them.

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