How Can We Make Our Motorcycle More Visible?
In 2023, I narrowly avoided a head-on collision with a vehicle that turned in front of me at an intersection. That was the second or third time that this had occurred. On one previous occasion, I was forced to drop my bike to avoid striking the vehicle damaging the bike fairing and the paint.
How do we as motorcyclists get people to pay attention?
It doesn’t suffice to have a car driver say, “I simply didn’t see you” as was the response of the driver. It’s time there were repercussions for those who won’t take the time to look before turning. I have gone to extreme measures trying to be seen. I wear high-visibility clothing, and I weave approaching intersections when there are cars that look like they might turn. I’ve installed driving lights that are hooked up to my bright lights which I can flash as I approach the intersection, all to no avail.
I recently decided to purchase under-glow lighting for my motorcycle which will connect to my bright lights on the bike. (No, It won’t look like a pimp’s bike.) The idea is simple. Whenever I approach an intersection, I will flash my brights which will then illuminate bright white LED lights underneath my motorcycle for as long as I hold the bright switch in order to draw the attention of drivers also approaching an intersection from the opposite direction. (And yes, I realize this will only work at night.)
According to the NHTSA, 35% of fatalities to motorcyclists occurred at intersections, while 55% of all accidents involved impacts with other vehicles. Forty-one (41%) of all motorcycle fatalities involved alcohol, while 34% of motorcycle fatalities involved excessive speed.
If you deduct those who rode without a valid driver’s license, and those who were under the influence of alcohol, combined with speeding, we could lower the number of motorcycle fatalities by about 60%.
But what about those of us who don’t drink and ride? How do we lower our risks of being killed or injured by another motorist? It is a lot harder to have other drivers become more aware of motorcyclists and pay attention, particularly at intersections.
One way is to add driving lights and/or under-glow lights to your motorcycle, which can be flashed on and off as you approach intersections. While there are no stats to justify their use, it makes sense that the more visible your motorcycle is, and the more your motorcycle can draw the attention of other drivers, the safer you will be.
This begs the question, is it legal to install under-glow lights on your motorcycle? The unequivocal answer is, maybe. You need to check with your local jurisdiction. In most cases, you are allowed depending on the color chosen (white usually, but check with your provincial or state authorities). However, having lights that constantly display may not be legal. Again, you need to check.
The lights I intend to install on my motorcycle will be hooked up to my bright lights so that they will only display when I toggle the bright lights of my bike. This should draw the attention of drivers approaching an intersection and make them aware that there is a motorcycle in front of them. Let’s face it, anything you can do to be more visible is a plus.
If you have other ideas, please send them to me. Every one of us deserves to be able to ride safely without fear that other drivers will not see us and thereby strike our bikes. Drive safe, take all the precautions you can, and survive. It may not be enough, but its at least a start.
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