Summer brings more motorcycles out on the roads, but also more distracted drivers and heavier traffic. One of the leading causes of motorcycle accidents is a driver "not seeing” the motorcycle and leading to an accident. Staying as visible as you can will help prevent accidents and keep you safe on the road.
Here are three tips to help you stay seen and stay safe all season long.
1. Wear Gear That Gets Noticed
What you wear matters. While black leather may look good, it does little to help you stand out on busy roads. Bright colors and high visibility fabrics help you break through and stand out to drivers on the road. Consider wearing a jacket or vest with reflective strips, or if you choose to wear a helmet, make it a brightly colored one that contrasts with the road and environment. Reflective tape on your gear and bike also increases your visibility at night or in low light conditions. Shoes and gloves with reflective patches are small details that can make a big difference.
2. Make Strategic Use of Lighting
Your lights are not just for riding after dark. Keeping your headlight on during the day makes you more noticeable from a distance. Adding auxiliary lights can further improve your visibility, especially in your lane positioning and while cornering. Another helpful upgrade is a brake light modulator. A brake light modulator will cause your brake light to flash a few times before staying solid, catching the attention of drivers behind you. It is a simple enhancement that can prevent a rear-end collision.
3. Position Yourself to Be Seen
Being visible is not just about what you wear or what you ride, it’s about where you are on the road as well. Avoid riding in the blind spots of other vehicles, especially larger ones like trucks or buses. If you cannot see the driver’s face in their mirror, they likely cannot see you either. When stopping at lights or in traffic, position yourself slightly to one side of the lane rather than directly behind a vehicle. This not only makes you more visible to the driver ahead, but also gives you a better escape path if needed. When changing lanes or merging, use both turn signals and body movement to make your intentions obvious. Predictability helps other drivers react in the correct way, so you should avoid sudden maneuvers unless in an emergency.
Through our "Watch for Motorcycles" campaign, Hupy and Abraham, S.C. has spent decades educating the public about motorcycle awareness to help riders across the Midwest and beyond. If the unthinkable happens and you’re injured in a motorcycle crash due to a negligent driver, we are here to help. We have recovered billions of dollars for injured riders and other accident victims and continue to support the motorcycle community through any way we can. Call us today at 800-800-5678 or visit hupy.com so we can start fighting for you.
