8 Safety Tips for Riding a Motorcycle at Night

Riding a motorcycle at night can be rife with risks because of low-visibility, but if you take all necessary precautions you can safely ride without risking yourself or anybody else on the road. Here are a few tips that will keep you safe when you are riding a motorcycle at night. 

Use a brightly colored helmet

By the virtue of being positioned at the highest place on the motorcycle (with you on it), the helmet is usually the easiest thing to spot from a distance. Make use of this fact in a low-lit condition by choosing a brightly colored helmet (along with reflective tapes on it) to let drivers see you from a distance. Neon, bright blue and yellow are some colors that are easier to spot in low light and if you have to ride frequently after sunset through a poorly lit road, choose a branded motorcycle helmet in one of these bright colors. You can complement the helmet with a similarly hued jacket.

Wear reflective protective gears

Adding reflective tapes on your helmet and riding jacket is a brilliant idea of using your old riding gear without investing in new ones and yet making yourself clearly visible to others. Reflective tapes are cheap and can be used on multiple exposed surfaces both on the bike and on your gears. When it comes to riding at night, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Avoid glare from oncoming traffic

Ride in the lane furthest away from the opposite traffic flow. The left-most lane is usually the best for avoiding glare from oncoming cars and trucks and the right-most lane is the worst. While doing that, keep in mind that the left-most lane is also the where vehicles exit highways and busy roads. Stay aware of other vehicles in front or behind you trying to exit out of the lanes. 

Flash headlights before overtaking

While overtaking a vehicle, always make sure to flash the lights so that the vehicle driver in front of you can see your intentions clearly before you actually make the move. While riding during winter, most cars keep their Windows up to avoid the cold air, which means they might not be able to hear your horn so in addition to blowing the horn you must also flash the lights so that the rider in front is aware that you are about to make an overtaking maneuver. 

Ride within the range of your headlights

Don't make the mistake of riding farther than what your headlights can see.  It is always a good idea to keep the speed within a manageable limit so that even if you have to apply the brakes in an emergency you get enough time to bring the motorcycle to a stop before hitting something in front of you. One way to overcome this limitation is to install aftermarket flood lights on your motorcycle which will give you an extended range of visibility especially when riding on a road without street lights. 

Wipe the visor clean before riding at night

Having dirt and grime on the windshield/visor of your motorcycle helmet can diffract light from oncoming traffic which will create a hazy condition making it very difficult for you to see things in front of you. Before beginning the ride, use a piece of soft cotton cloth or a piece of old newspaper to wipe the visor/windshield clean. If you do not have any of these available to you before beginning the ride you can use your handkerchief to clean the visor also. 

Use hazard lights in low visibility

Motorcycles are difficult to spot on the road especially after sunset, and even if you have reflective tapes on the motorcycle helmet and other exposed surfaces of the vehicle, it might be a good idea to use hazard lights in addition to all of that so that other drivers on the road can spot you clearly. If your motorcycle does not come with factory installed hazard lights you can checkout aftermarket options because they are cheap and worth the money.

BONUS TIP–Take care of your eyes

Last but not the least, the most important tip for staying safe while riding a motorcycle in the dark is to maintain a good vision in your eyes. In addition to other vehicles seeing, you clearly, you must also be able to see other people on the road! For that, it is very important that you take good care of your eyes and avoid being bombarded with blue light from mobile phone screens immediately before riding. Consume a healthy well-balanced meal with Vitamin A in it, or take Vit. A supplement after consulting your ophthalmologist.