Bikers: Ways to make yourself visible

Ensuring that you are easily visible to other road users is as important as wearing riding gear for motorcycle riders.

• Wear bright, reflective gear

    A motorcyclist is hard to spot in the dark especially with the headlight glare of oncoming vehicles. Dark coloured riding gear therefore is a hazard in the night. Wear bright coloured, reflective riding gear to be easily visible in the dark. These days jackets and pants are also coated with reflective material. Reflective tape/stickers on your helmet, and the rims, bumper and mudguards of your bike will go a long way towards being visible.

• Don’t linger in blind spots

It is important not to get caught in the blind spot created by the A-pillar and C-pillar of cars and to give yourself enough time and room to react. Make sure you can see the drivers of the vehicle ahead of you  in their rear-view mirror. Maintain eye contact, if you can see them; you are also in their line of sight. Keeping a safe distance from the vehicle ahead of you gives you time and space for evasive action in case of emergencies.      

• Use indicators and hand signals

    Using your bike’s indicators to signal your intentions to road users behind you, even when changing lanes, is crucial to avert mishaps. In daylight turn indicators may be hard to spot so use hand signals to indicate your intentions. 

• Use headlights and pass switch

    Besides illuminating the road, headlights also make your motorcycle visible to other road users. Switch the headlights on, on rainy or foggy days. Switch to low beam to not distract or blind oncoming vehicle users. It is a good idea to keep the headlights on even during the day. Use the pass switch to alert the vehicle ahead of you of your presence.