Riding A Two-Wheeler at Night: Top 5 Safety Tips

Long distance tourers and cruisers often have to ride after sunset to get to their destinations, but there are some inherent problems of riding a motorcycle in the dark. Whenever possible, try to avoid riding long distances in the dark, but in the rare case that you have to do that, here 5 safety tips that will keep you safe and help you reach the destination without any incident.

Boost your Situational Awareness

In order to ride safely after sunset, you need to be very careful of everything that is happening around you. in the rider community, this is known as situational awareness. Keep an eye out for every irregular movement on the road. Don't tell get any vehicle, neither allow anyone else to tailgate you. there is a very good chance that people on the road are driving with a fatigue mind after a stressful day, which is why you need to be aware of everything around you to avoid being in an unpleasant incident. Do not use earphones to listen to music or talk to anyone when you're riding a two-wheeler in the dark. Keep your ears open to listen to any loud honking behind you and take necessary evasive action as safely as you can.

Avoid ‘Target Fixation’

A common problem of riding a two-wheeler in the dark is known as ‘target fixation’. In very simple words, this is a problem when a rider focuses on oncoming traffic rather than on the road ahead, which leads to the brain sending inputs to the hands to steer in the direction of the oncoming traffic. Always make sure to keep your eyes away from bright light coming directly in front of you and try to focus on the clear patch of road ahead.

Reduce stopping distance according to the throw of your headlight

Manage your speed in such a way that you can stop the vehicle easily. One way to ascertain that is to ride with a gap of as far as the through of the headlight is. Anything beyond that might not be clearly visible to you which will result in a panic breaking situation If something suddenly appears from the side of the road. people jaywalking or crossing the road in the dark is a major problem and one of the leading causes of panic braking, which can be completely avoided by reducing the speed of your motorcycle within manageable limits.

Keep your visors clean

Accumulation of dust on the surface of the visor can lead to diffraction of light, and make everything look hazy especially under street lights. Make sure to clean the visor properly with a soft cotton cloth or handkerchief before beginning your ride. If there are lot of scratches on the visor, it might be good idea to replace it with a new visor as soon as possible. If your helmet has a tinted visor, it might be difficult to see in the dark, which is why we recommend using a clear helmet visor, or a dual visor helmet which has a special sun visor for riding in bright sunny conditions, and a clear visor for dark conditions.

Make yourself clearly visible to others

In order to stay safe while riding in the dark, it is very important that you make yourself very clear to other motorists. One way of doing that is to use brightly colored motorcycle riding gear such as a light-colored motorcycle helmet and riding jacket. Another practical tip is to use reflective tips on the surface of your motorcycle, especially below the number plate on the mudguard as well as on the sides after motorcycle. The key is to find a balance between making yourself visible and not being too garish with the visibility upgrades.