Important and Useful Tips on Night Riding for Bikes
A lot of commuters have to deal with riding in the night. Riding a bike in the night can be quite dangerous even for the most experienced rider. The low lights on the road and the high beams coming from the other vehicles are some of the few reasons for most of the accidents that take place at night. And to add to that, bikers have to face the fatigue hit drivers on the road. But if you take a few safety measures, then night riding can be as safe as riding during the day.
Why is it dangerous to ride in the night? Lack of illumination it is. One of the most important aspects of night riding is illumination in the dark. Even if your eyesight is normal you tend to get blinded by the high beam of the vehicles coming towards you or you are left in a blind spot as it is too dark on the road.
If your bike has weak headlights, it is better to upgrade them to a bigger and a brighter light set-up. While travelling at night, one must be equipped with front light that is either a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible from at least 200 m in front of a vehicle. Avoid using a higher beam to blind other riders. One can also use strobe lights to remain visible. If travelling in rain or fog, keep the fog lights on to remain visible for the other vehicles. A low beam will give a wider, shorter throw of light which saves the oncoming driver of a direct blinding throw.
One of the main reasons for accidents is that the bike is not seen by the other vehicles. Avoid wearing dark coloured riding gear that will only make you more invisible on the road. The best way to be seen on the road is to use auxiliary lights. If one cannot invest on auxiliary lights, it is wise to choose a riding gear that can be seen in the night - riding jackets which have reflective strips. The helmet should be preferably light coloured and with reflector strips. Reflector strips can also be pasted onto the bikes.
For better vision, always wear a helmet that has a clear, clean and an unscratched visor.
Always follow the 3 m rule. Do not let anyone tailgate you and vice versa. Give yourself plenty of distance to be able to stop at a safe distance in case of an accident.
The final tip is to stay alert. Always stay alert throughout the course even though you might know the roads pretty well. If you are tired or too sleepy, stop the bike and rest.
Why is it dangerous to ride in the night? Lack of illumination it is. One of the most important aspects of night riding is illumination in the dark. Even if your eyesight is normal you tend to get blinded by the high beam of the vehicles coming towards you or you are left in a blind spot as it is too dark on the road.
If your bike has weak headlights, it is better to upgrade them to a bigger and a brighter light set-up. While travelling at night, one must be equipped with front light that is either a flashing or steady white light that is clearly visible from at least 200 m in front of a vehicle. Avoid using a higher beam to blind other riders. One can also use strobe lights to remain visible. If travelling in rain or fog, keep the fog lights on to remain visible for the other vehicles. A low beam will give a wider, shorter throw of light which saves the oncoming driver of a direct blinding throw.
One of the main reasons for accidents is that the bike is not seen by the other vehicles. Avoid wearing dark coloured riding gear that will only make you more invisible on the road. The best way to be seen on the road is to use auxiliary lights. If one cannot invest on auxiliary lights, it is wise to choose a riding gear that can be seen in the night - riding jackets which have reflective strips. The helmet should be preferably light coloured and with reflector strips. Reflector strips can also be pasted onto the bikes.
For better vision, always wear a helmet that has a clear, clean and an unscratched visor.
Always follow the 3 m rule. Do not let anyone tailgate you and vice versa. Give yourself plenty of distance to be able to stop at a safe distance in case of an accident.
The final tip is to stay alert. Always stay alert throughout the course even though you might know the roads pretty well. If you are tired or too sleepy, stop the bike and rest.
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