7 Tips to Stay Visible While Riding Alongside Traffic

The challenges of riding a motorcycle among traffic are two-fold: You’re completely lacking the protection of a car’s four doors, and motorists usually have no idea how zippy motorcycles are.

This means they can wildly misjudge where a motorcycle will be at any given point. While there’s no way to stop an utterly careless driver, here are some of the easiest ways you can keep yourself visible when riding alongside cars:

1. Dress Accordingly

While we’re not saying to light yourself up like a Christmas tree, wearing clothing that’s easily seen will go a long way in not getting hit by a car. Some of the best colors to wear during the day are bright yellow, orange, or green.

Color doesn’t really matter at night, but reflective tape on your motorcycle or gear can make a big difference.

2. Use Your High Beams

This is a bit of a heated subject, but a lot of people like to ride with their high beams on during the day.

The argument here is that if a motorist sees your high beams, he or she will be blinded and can’t see you at all.

This shouldn’t be “obnoxiously bright” as it is during the evening or night, but it should get more drivers to see you, again, only during the daytime.

3: Ride in a Group

If one high beam is easy to see, 5 will be downright startling. A large group of motorcycles is far more visible than one.

Motorists tend to be more cautious around large groups as well. Finally, it’s simply more fun to ride in a group!

4: Position Yourself Well

One of the best ways to not get hit is to ride predictably. If you intend to ride directly through an intersection, stay in the middle of the lane. Hugging the right-hand side of the lane may lead drivers to assume that you’re turning right, or worse, that there’s plenty of space to pass you.

5: Wear a Bright Helmet

A New Zealand study showed that not only bright clothing reduces your chance of crashing, a white helmet can reduce your odds of getting into a crash with a motorist by up to 25% when compared to wearing a black helmet.

Riders with light-colored helmets are also 19% less likely to be in a crash than those with dark-colored helmets. This should really go without saying, but you should always wear a helmet when on a motorcycle.

6: Flash Your Brakes

This is pretty well known, but if you flash your brakes quickly and lightly, you’ll create a flashing red light that’s pretty easily visible to any vehicles behind you. It’s like a red strobe light telling vehicles “I’m right in front of you - Don’t hit me.”

7: If All Else Fails - Look Like a Cop

The biggest problem is not always being seen, but getting cut off by motorists. An interesting way to avoid this is by using a motorcycle and gear that’s similar to your local police force. For example, many police departments use motorcycles similar to a Kawasaki Concoursor Harley FatBoy. This bike coupled with a white helmet should really get drivers’ attention.

This article was provided by Personal Injury Help and was not written by an attorney. Be sure to consult your state’s local traffic laws to ensure you ride safe and ride legally!