4 ways to increase your visibility on a motorcycle
In 2019, there were 160 fatalities in motorcycle accidents on Ohio’s roadways, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
If you routinely ride a motorcycle, you have probably had more than one close call where a driver did not see you. Of course, if a driver cannot see you, he or she may not be able to avoid causing a serious collision. Here are four ways to increase your visibility to other drivers when you are riding your bike:
1. Buy a brightly colored motorcycle
When purchasing your bike, you must keep your safety in mind. While they have a cool look to them, gray and black motorcycles are not necessarily easy to see. Therefore, try to ride a brightly colored motorcycle. Choosing a white, red or yellow bike may increase your visibility by as much as 50%.
2. Install some reflective tape
Your stock motorcycle likely has some reflectors on its front and rear fairings. You can improve these reflectors, though. Install some reflective tape around your motorcycle. Clear reflective tape is available if you do not want to ruin the overall look of your machine.
3. Wear a high-visibility helmet and other gear
Construction crews often wear high-visibility vests, T-shirts and hardhats for a good reason: Bright gear keeps workers safe. The same is true with a high-visibility helmet, jacket and other riding gear. If you make yourself bright, you increase the chances other motorists can see you.
4. Avoid blind spots
All motorists should turn their heads to check blind spots before changing lanes. Of course, this does not always occur. Therefore, to protect yourself, you should try to avoid blind spots altogether. If you must enter a driver’s blind spot, you should also exit it as quickly as possible.
While riding a motorcycle is usually more dangerous than driving a car, you can improve your chances of staying safe by increasing your visibility. With effort and some defensive riding, there is less need to worry about sustaining a serious injury in a motorcycle wreck.