Riding motorcycles is a thrilling mode of transportation, but it demands a unique set of skills and major responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is making sure you're at maximum visibility on the road. Since motorcycles are much smaller compared to other vehicles, enhancing your visibility becomes crucial for your safety and the safety of others that you’re sharing the road with. Focusing on proper rider visibility is an important strategy for accident prevention. When other road users can easily see you, both you and they have more time to react, reducing the risk of collisions and creating a safer riding environment for everyone.
Here are some tips for the best ways to help you stand out, remain visible and stay safe on the open road.
Wear high-visibility riding gear. Fluorescent or neon-colored jackets, vests and helmets can significantly increase your visibility, especially when it begins to get dark or starts to rain. You can go one step farther and wear gear with reflective pieces, which will amplify your visibility significantly at night when headlights hit the reflective surfaces. Many riders like to personalize their helmet and motorcycle with decals or paint that help catch the light and draw attention, helping you be more noticeable in traffic.
Keep your motorcycle's headlights on at all times, even during the day. Many modern bikes are equipped with daytime running lights, which make you more noticeable to other drivers. Properly functioning lights including brake lights, turn signals and taillights are all-important and help signal your riding intentions to those in traffic around you
Choose a strategic lane position. When riding in traffic, position yourself where you're most visible to other drivers on the road. Position yourself slightly off-center in the lane to increase your presence. Occasional lane changes can also help maintain your visibility. Changing lanes safely prevents drivers from becoming complacent and helps keep you noticeable. When changing lanes or turning, use clear and early hand signals. While many riders rely purely on their bike's turn signals, using hand signals along with turn signals will make your intentions clearer and more noticeable.
Remain mindful of other vehicles' blind spots, especially large trucks and buses. Since blind spots are one of the most dangerous places for motorcycles to be, you’ll want to stay out of them as much as you can. Whenever possible, adjust your speed or position to ensure you're visible in other vehicles mirrors and get out of the blind spot as quickly and safely as you can.
Finally, try to make eye contact with drivers at intersections or when merging onto a road. Establishing visual contact increases the likelihood that the driver has acknowledged your presence as a motorcycle on the road.
Enhancing your visibility while riding your motorcycle not only safeguards your well-being, but also contributes to the overall safety of all traffic on the road. Stay aware, prioritize high-visibility gear, lane positioning and clear communication with other drivers. With these practices, you will reduce the chances of accidents on the road. Being seen is the first step toward staying safe and enjoying the freedom of the open road.
Hupy and Abraham has been promoting rider safety and awareness for decades with our “Watch for Motorcycles” message. The firm’s efforts work to keep motorcycle riders safe and help them avoid accidents, while keeping other drivers on the road aware of their presence. For more articles on motorcycle safety, news and events, stay tuned to HUPY.COM.
Sometimes riders can do everything right, but still be involved in a serious accident. If you’ve been injured in an accident, call Hupy and Abraham today at 800-800-5678 or chat with us on HUPY.COM. We’ve helped over 70,000 clients receive over $1 billion for their injuries, so we have your back if you’re in an accident.
