Safely Riding Your Motorcycle at Night

While it’s always preferable to do your riding during daylight hours, there are going to be times where it’s necessary for you to ride after dark. Maybe you’re commuting home in winter when the sun sets early; maybe you just have somewhere to be in a hurry. Whatever the reason, it pays to know some good strategies for riding your motorcycle at night to stay safe.

Understand the Risks

Collisions and accidents are much more likely to occur at night for a couple of reasons. First, it’s just harder for motorists to see where they’re going and what’s in front of them. Second, motorists may be fatigued, which can make them lose focus while driving. Third, bars tend to close after midnight and reckless drivers may be operating their vehicles while intoxicated, which leads to unsafe driving conditions for everyone else on the road. Fourth, nocturnal animals will be awake and likely to hop across the road at the worst moment. Bear all this in mind whenever you need to ride after sunset.

Make Yourself More Visible

One of the best and easiest ways to increase your own safety as a nocturnal motorcyclist is to increase your visibility and make sure that you can see the road ahead. Swap out your black motorcycle gear for white or light-colored gear that’s got reflective qualities, or apply reflective tape to your motorcycle and helmet. Even tossing on an orange safety vest can help.

Check your lights to make sure they’re bright enough; you can swap out the bulbs for LED lights if they aren’t. You can add more lights to your bike to help you see and be seen, too.

Ride Defensively

As a motorcyclist, you’re at more risk than drivers in their cars if an accident occurs. So you have to be more proactive than they do and really watch out for yourself. Here are some things to monitor:

Keep an eye on the vehicles around you and ahead of you.
Avoid any vehicle that is swerving in and out of traffic or speeding.
Watch for animals, pedestrians, or obstacles in the road, such as deep potholes or steel plates.
Maintain a consistent speed that’s under the posted limit.
Look for ways you can escape if a vehicle suddenly swerves into you or brakes hard; the shoulder of the road, a grass median or an exit ramp may save your life if you can pull into them quickly enough.

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