How to Ride a Motorcycle Safely at Night

• Table of Contents
• 1. Dress Appropriately on a Night Ride
• 2. Avoid Dark Spots By Planning a Route
• 3. Inform someone of Your Plans
• 4. Ride with Extreme Caution
• 5. Speed of the Motorcycle at Night
• 6. Traffic
• 7. Battle Fatigue to Stay Vigilant
• 8. Wear a Bright-Colored Helmet at Night
• 9. Blink Light Before Overtaking
• 10. Drive within range of Headlights
• 11. Wipe the visor clean before night riding
• 12. Take Care of Your Eyes
• 13. Night Riding Glasses
• 13.1 Individuals who can wear Night-Driving Glasses
• 13.2 Lens colors for Night Driving Glasses
• 14. Night Riding for Seniors
• 14.1 Safety Precautions
• 15. Conclusion

Midnight is one of the most exciting times to ride your bike. And if you work 9 am-5 pm, driving at night can sometimes be your only option when the winter sun sets before you get through the security pass and leave the office.

Knight riders not only do their favorite local loops on their commutes and in the dark, but they also blind possums on mountain bike singletrack.

Night riding is a completely different phenomenon from daytime travel. Some people prefer to drive after dark, others prefer to avoid perceived risks even if the roads are quiet! Are you worried about driving at night? After seeing how pretty everything looks after the darkness with light barely shining through the shadows, you might reconsider.

Whether you love or hate night riding, most motorcyclists hit the road after it's completely dark. Driving at night has its own risks and increases the chances of an accident. However, drivers can greatly reduce the risk of injury while driving at night by taking proper precautions.

Below are some motorcycle safety tips you can follow to keep your motorcycle peaceful and safe at night.

1. Dress Appropriately on a Night Ride

Regular biker clothing that is reflective and appropriate for the weather is always the best option. It is recommended to wear a biker's jacket because it provides excellent protection from the cold elements of the night weather.

It is also critical to wear leather clothing, gloves, and boots with nonskid soles to protect the body from serious injuries in the event of an accident. When a rider wears this type of leather clothing, he or she won't have to worry about getting wet, especially during the rainy season. When biking at night, you can make yourself quite visible. You can also wear completely reflective jackets, gilets, and even shoes that, in addition to flashing lights, can make you shine like a Christmas tree. Whatever the case may be, you want to be noticed.

2. Avoid Dark Spots By Planning a Route

You might think that this is the end of lighting. However, the daytime route changes when it gets dark. The quiet, comfortable country average in the midday sun turns into a pitch-black guessing game when the sun goes down, hiding blind corners, dips, and speed bumps.

Well-lit roads are generally safe to travel on, although other traffic can cause some congestion. The glow of a streetlight will help you stay sane and spot obstacles in your path such as wet leaves, potholes, puddles, etc. It can also be used by a mechanic under the beam of a lamppost if something goes wrong. It is much easier to repair. It is more dangerous at night, especially since motorcycle headlights illuminate only a small portion of the road, making it difficult to see debris on the road. Whenever possible, avoid the tire tracks of vehicles that have passed in front of you. While not a surefire way to avoid hazards, overtaking car tires in advance makes this route the least likely to contain risks.

3. Inform someone of Your Plans

Let someone know where you plan to ride and how long you expect to be there, especially if you're going off-road. Far fewer people go out at night to check for breakdowns or injuries, especially if you go off the beaten path.

If you don't move, the night will get cold very quickly. This is another reason to pack or wear an extra layer in case of an unexpected stop.

4. Ride with Extreme Caution.

If you're new to night riding and venturing into uncharted territory, go slow. When driving after dark, it's best to assume that other road users may not have seen you. It may feel a little aggressive, but stay up to 3 feet away from the curb. It's easiest to put yourself in the right place. Not only does this ensure that all drivers can see you clearly and allow you more headroom when overtaking, but it also keeps you away from the drain cover in case someone or something crosses your path. It takes a little longer to react.

“Watch out for hazards such as slippery leaves and, whenever possible, ride on familiar roads or choose well-lit trails,” advises Bennett. Also, it is easier to encounter invisible obstacles at night. Even knowing the route, it looks quite different at night. So don't try to beat it or take on something too ambitious.

If you are riding with other people, leave enough space between you and the driver in front of you so the lights don't cast a shadow in front of you and make it difficult for the driver to find your way

5. Speed of the Motorcycle at Night

Drive at a visible speed. Less light on the road means less time to react to potholes that would otherwise be easy to avoid. Even if the speed limit is 60 mph, it doesn't mean you have to drive that fast. Always check the road ahead to see if animals or debris are slowing you down.

6. Traffic

Drive at a visible speed. Less light on the road means less time to react to potholes in the road that could otherwise be easily avoided. Even if the speed limit is 60 mph, it doesn't mean you have to drive that fast. Always check the road ahead to see if animals or debris are slowing you down.

7. Battle Fatigue to Stay Vigilant

A side view of a young man wearing glasses sitting on his motorcycle, yawning, covering his mouth with one hand, and looking at bright lights in the background is a sign of fatigue. Most common between midnight and 6 am. Therefore, please be careful of drowsiness while moving. Have some caffeine and rest in a safe place or stay overnight. Some drivers report other activities that may be helpful.

Engage in activities such as turning on the radio (not too loud) with your Bluetooth EarPods to avoid using the phone, talking to yourself, or singing.

8. Wear a Bright-Colored Helmet at Night

Helmets are one of the most important pieces of protective equipment for motorcyclists. Helmets protect a motorcyclist's head from injuries, collisions, and impacts in the event of a serious accident. There are many different types of helmets on the market. Choose your helmet wisely and don't compromise on quality. Although we focus solely on helmet fit and quality, helmet color also plays a role. Helmet color can affect road safety. It has been observed that wearing a brightly colored helmet can reduce the chance of accidents due to night vision. Bright colors such as yellow, orange, white, and silver are eye-catching and easier to see in the presence of night light.

Buying a colorful helmet with reflective panels is the best type of helmet you can own. Invest in a good helmet as it can prevent you from injuring your head in a fall.

9. Blink Light Before Overtaking

When passing a vehicle, always turn on your lights so the driver in front can see your intentions before moving on. In winter, many cars close the windows to keep out the cold, so the horn may not sound. So instead of just honking, you turn on your lights to let the driver in front of you know you're about to pass.

10. Drive within range of Headlights

Don't make the mistake of driving further than you can see your headlights. It's always a good idea to keep speed within manageable limits. In an emergency, you have plenty of time to stop the motorcycle before hitting the person in front of you. He overcomes this limitation by installing aftermarket headlights on his motorcycle. This gives you a wider field of view, especially when driving on unlit roads.

11. Wipe the visor clean before night riding

Dirt and grime on the windshield/visor of a motorcycle helmet can deflect light from oncoming traffic and create a haze that makes it difficult to see ahead. Before driving, clean the visor/windshield with a soft cotton cloth or old newspaper. wipe clean. You can also clean your visor with a handkerchief if you don't have it handy before you leave.

12. Take Care of Your Eyes

You should check your eyes regularly. Regular eye exams ensure you have the latest prescriptions for improving your night vision. An eye exam can also help determine if you have night vision problems as a symptom of another related eye problem, such as Cataracts or myopia.

Give your eyes time to adjust. It's important to give your eyes time to adjust to the darkness. On average, it takes our eyes about 25 minutes to go from being bright to being completely dark. One way to help your eyes adjust is to keep your eyes closed when you first move from a bright environment to a dark environment. This allows for smooth transitions of the eyes and improves night vision.

13. Night Riding Glasses

Visibility is reduced at night, requiring drivers to be more focused and alert. Lack of light can make it difficult to concentrate on the road. Driving in the dark with poor visibility can result in serious injury.

Luckily, night driving goggles have a few features that make cycling in the dark easier. Specifically designed to reduce the risks of night driving, these glasses help you focus better at night. But some people wonder if night-driving goggles work. In this connection, we have provided a complete overview of night driving glasses. Most drivers have a big misconception that glasses don't work when driving at night.

Yellowish anti-reflective and polarized lenses are usually very helpful for night driving. This is because it reduces glare and allows you to see the road and other vehicles. Also, some yellow glasses block blue light, which strains the driver's eyes. This reduces driver stress when a bright backlight hits the eye. In cloudy or overcast weather, these glasses will increase the contrast with the sky and allow you to ride your bike safely.

Also, elements such as dust and dirt can suddenly get into your eyes and make you feel uncomfortable while driving. In this case, wearing motorcycle goggles, which are ideal for night riding, can protect your eyes from these elements. This ensures both eye protection and clear vision.

13.1 Individuals who can wear Night-Driving Glasses

There are also people who exist who cannot see well at night. It has been researched that 32% of riders have poor night vision, which makes them unable to see on the road properly at night.

Night-Driving glasses are also significant to wear on the medical issues discussed below:

Myopia

People who suffer from myopia are also known as nearsightedness because they have problems seeing distant objects. This causes them difficulty to spot objects or things at night.

Nyctalopia

This condition is known as night blindness. Individuals who have night blindness have trouble seeing at night especially when the light is low, but they are not completely blind at night.  Night Blindness can also be caused by a deficiency of Vit A which disables the rider to see the road properly at night. The problem due to vitamin A deficiency can be reversed by eating vitamin A-rich foods such as leafy green vegetables, Eggs, carrots, and sweet potatoes.

13.2 Lens colors for Night Driving Glasses

Amber, Orange, and Copper Lens

These colors of the lens increase the contrast and brightness

Brown lens

These lenses reduce the glare so the motorcyclist can glance without obstruction.

Green Lens

The Night Driving Glasses with these lenses are used to enhance the contrast with low light conditions.

Gray lens

These lenses are used to minimize color distortion.

14. Night Riding for Seniors

We have to admit that in old age many physical and visual limits arise. After 60+, the seniors might not be able to respond quickly to emergencies and it disables them to calculate the distance between oncoming vehicles.

There are many problems associated with aging. A person tends to become weak. Reaction time and reflexes may slow down. Anyone who has ridden a motorcycle long enough knows that reflexes and the ability to react quickly and appropriately can save lives on the road. Vision may deteriorate and the eyes may tire quickly in old age.

If you as a senior have trouble reading signs, judging gaps between traffic and intersections, and overall tracking all the movements around you, it can be a recipe for trouble and if you no longer feel safe or comfortable while riding a motorcycle, it can be a good sign that something is suspect.

Balance is everything when traveling on two wheels. Sure, at high speeds you don't have to worry about balance, but at low speeds, it can be very tricky to maneuver. It can feel very wobbly and unstable at low speeds. Especially if you are riding a heavy bike that is generally difficult to ride at low speeds.

However, it does not mean that they should quit the joy of riding. The senior riders can only stop riding especially at night when having these indications listed below and a few discussed above.

• Serious medical conditions include hypertension, neuromuscular conditions, or any psychological disorders that weaken judgment.
• If I lose a limb, it will be very difficult to ride a motorcycle. It does not matter how skilled one is, it is advised to stop riding.
• There are chances of a lack of handling a motorcycle if the bones are fragile, especially at night.

14.1 Safety Precautions

In advancing years, it may be agonizing to get stuck due to any unforeseen incidents. To calmly enjoy the ride, the veteran should follow these precautions.

• The lights of the motorcycle should be working properly
• Be sure about the clarity of vision
• Ride the Motorcycle slowly and carefully by keeping control of the speed
• Try avoiding riding in dangerous areas.
• Wear clothes that fit properly and are also suitable for the weather in which you riding
• Do proper planning before stepping out and also measure the proper distance of the journey.
• Keep all important pieces of stuff with you which could be required.
• Check the engine, tires, and brakes before stepping out. Maintaining the motorcycle before the commencement of the journey is very important for safety.
• Carry the tablets if on any medication.
• If you find difficulty in riding a motorcycle, it is suggested that you should try to avoid riding at night.

15. Conclusion

Although, riding at night has some risk factors but if you will follow precautionary measures and stay vigilant, you will be able to enjoy the beauty of the night. You can also improve your motorcycle's appearance by installing useful parts available at Viking Bags, including saddlebags, fairings, crash bars, and handlebars.