How to be conspicuous

Being seen is key to being safe on the road. Follow our tips on how to be visible

We’ve all heard the stories. A car hits a motorcycle, and the driver tells police, “I just didn’t see it!” There are lots of reasons for this. Motorcycles are smaller and less noticeable than cars and other vehicles. Drivers aren’t actively looking for motorcycles – and studies have shown that people subconsciously don’t see things they aren’t in the habit of noticing. Or they may have been distracted by something such as checking the GPS. Each rider has the duty to understand their disadvantage and actively take measures to make themselves more visible. Here are a few ways to become more conspicuous…

LIGHT IT UP
There’s divided opinion on whether riding with your main beam on during the day is a good idea. On one hand, a main beam can get you noticed more readily by oncoming drivers. On the other, if your main beam annoys those drivers, you may be doing more harm than good. If it’s allowable by law where you live, though, ride with your main beam on during the day. In bright sunlight, a main beam often looks like “no beam.”

Another way to draw attention is to tap the brakes once or twice when stopping. The flashing of the brake light will help draw attention when you stop or slow down – even if you’re slowing down without using your brakes. Of course, in an emergency situation, maximum stopping power is most important, and proper emergency stopping technique should override flashing your brake light. It’s also helpful to equip your bike with extra lighting. Auxiliary lights – such as Daymaker^® auxiliary and fog lamp kits – help make your motorcycle look bigger and brighter day or night. Keep them on whenever you ride for maximum effectiveness.

And while we’re at it, how modern is your headlamp? Technology has improved greatly in recent years. Harley-Davidson offers a wide range of replacement headlamps that will help you see and be seen. Talk to your local Harley-Davidson^® dealer or visit harley-davidson.com/store to learn more.

WEAR IT WELL
Though dark motorcycle clothing is generally considered more fashionable in Harley^® rider circles, there are still ways you can maximise your visibility without compromising style.

Let’s start at the top with your helmet. Black is traditional; white is more visible. Maybe you’re not willing to give up your dark helmet, but how about adding some reflective tape? These days, it’s even available in black, so it’s barely noticeable in daylight but reflects brightly at night when caught by the lights of another vehicle. You don’t have to go crazy. Even a little bit of carefully placed tape can make a big difference.

You might even consider having two helmets in your collection: one that’s dark and mysterious for daytime and another that’s bright, reflective and conspicuous for riding at night.

The same goes for your riding gear – brighter is better. But again, you don’t have to sacrifice style for visibility. The easiest way to draw attention to yourself is to throw on a brightly coloured reflective vest.

But you can also look for a riding jacket with built-in reflectivity that lights up brightly when headlights catch it. Harley-Davidson offers many options.

While you’re at it, you might even consider a little bit of strategically placed reflective tape on your motorcycle itself. Yes, yes, this will sound like blasphemy to some, but when done carefully, tastefully and subtly it can add conspicuity to your nighttime rides.

CONSIDER THE CONDITIONS
Before riding, also consider the ambient lighting conditions. What’s it like outside? Riding at night presents certain obvious challenges but so does riding in the fog – or riding at early morning or dusk.

For instance, riding in fog can be even more challenging than riding at night because you can’t count on other vehicles’ headlights lighting up your reflective apparel. Visibility can be reduced to almost nothing – not to mention the road surface is probably damp, which can make stopping and turning more hazardous. In some cases, it might even be best to pull over and wait it out or stop for the night. And remember not to use your high beam in the fog.

Dawn and dusk present the challenge of potentially blinding glare. When the sun is low in the sky, it can effectively blind other drivers, particularly when the sun is behind you. This can also be true when riding in the winter. The farther north you are (in the Northern Hemisphere), the lower the sun gets in the sky, which can cause visibility issues even in the middle of the day. Here’s a tip: any time you can see your shadow in front of your front tyre, use extra caution. Assume that oncoming drivers are going to lose you in the glare and be prepared to stop or take evasive action as needed.

BE SMART
How you ride can also make a big difference in getting noticed. In general, the default position should be the lane position which makes you most visible to oncoming traffic and also puts you in view (providing you’re not following too closely) of the driver-side mirror of the vehicle in front of you.

Once you’ve established this position as your “home base,” you can manoeuvre within the lane to make yourself more visible. For instance, imagine riding on a two-lane road when you see a large truck coming from the other direction. It’s a passing zone, so there’s a chance a car might pull out to try to get around the truck. This would be a good time to move your position in the lane and make yourself more visible to any vehicles behind the truck. It also gives you the best opportunity to S.E.E.: Search, Evaluate and Execute.

When making your way through a crowded junction, try to make eye contact with drivers who might inadvertently cross your path. This helps confirm that they know you’re there. A little nod or quick wave of acknowledgement can help seal the deal. But don’t assume they’ve seen you – they may be looking right past you. Don’t dwell on any one thing; take everything in. Watch the driver’s eyes, watch for tyre movement, and keep an eye out for other potential conflicts or threats. Roll off the throttle to create more time to S.E.E. and be seen. Cover the controls to reduce reaction time. Change lane position to create movement that attracts the eye and helps drivers notice you. And don’t flash your headlight, as this can sometimes be perceived as a “go ahead” signal.

Always use your indicator – even when it feels unnecessary, such as when leaving your driveway or pulling out of a parking lot onto an empty road. Make it a habit, an automatic action. It’s the best way to make sure you’ll remember to signal when it matters most.

A well-timed blip of your horn is another effective way to make sure you get noticed. Don’t overdo it, of course. Using your horn unnecessarily is obnoxious and does more harm than good to rider-driver relationships.

BE VISIBLE. THINK INVISIBLY.
When all is said and done, no matter how conspicuous you’ve made yourself, a good rule of thumb is to ride as if you’re invisible. Assume that other drivers (and riders) can’t see you and act accordingly. This will help keep you in a defensive state of mind.

After all, you can’t do anything to make the drivers around you drive better. But you can do a lot to help make sure they see you – and be ready to react when they don’t.

Always follow motorcycle laws and recommendations in the country in which you are riding.

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