Motorcycling safety is paramount, and cyclists are always encouraged to do their best to avoid danger. Most of these precautions depend on the actions of motorcyclists while on the roads. However, safety also extends to the clothes they wear and other protective accessories. It is imperative for motorcyclists to ensure that they wear protective gear like helmets, jackets, gloves, and boots. However, while they are all important, there are many other aspects of protection that are often overlooked. For instance, one aspect of clothing that is commonly overlooked is its visibility.
Experienced lawyers like accident attorney Ronny Hulsey can attest that a lot of motorcycle accidents occur as a result of drivers being visually unaware of motorcyclists. In this article, we will examine the significance of motorcyclist visibility and how clothing plays a role.
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How Visible Clothing Increases Safety
Many motorcycle accidents occur because drivers of other vehicles and pedestrians fail to notice the presence of motorcycles on the road, as they are significantly smaller in size compared to them. Wearing high-visibility clothing is one effective way to prevent such accidents from occurring. According to a study, motorcyclists who wear high-visibility clothing are 37 percent less likely to be involved in a motorcycle accident.
During the day, motorcyclists are advised to wear fluorescent clothing colors. Because of the sun’s rays, these colors begin to glow, making the motorcyclist more easily identifiable. Alongside ensuring that the headlights are working, wearing high-visibility yellow, orange, or bright red jackets can help reduce accidents resulting from failure to recognize motorcyclists.
This becomes even more important when it comes to nighttime visibility. When riding a motorcycle at night, it is always best to wear reflective clothing. This is because when you shine a light on such types of clothing, it reflects or shines right back, creating awareness of the presence of a motorcyclist.
While it might not seem apparent, a large number of vehicles are on the road at night, from cargo transportation vehicles to long-distance truckers and more. This significantly increases the risk and frequency of accidents during the night. Because of this, motorcyclists need to be extra careful with how they ride. Wearing reflective clothing will ensure the motorcyclist is noticeable to other vehicles on the road at night.
A 2013 study in Canada backs up the importance of wearing reflective clothing while riding a motorcycle at night. The study found that wearing reflective clothing can reduce the risk of an accident by 38 percent. If more motorcyclists wore reflective clothing at night, accidents relating to cyclist visibility would drastically reduce.
How Accessories Can Complement Reflective Clothing
Motorcyclists can also choose to wear accessories around their wrists and ankles. A reflective accessory on the wrists is helpful because motorcyclists tend to use their hands to indicate direction or actions. Hence, wearing reflective accessories along with clothing is also helpful during nighttime rides.
Other Ways to Make Motorcyclists More Conspicuous
Aside from wearing conspicuous clothes, here are a few other ways in which motorcyclists can increase their visibility on the road:
- If possible, purchasing motorcycles equipped with automatic-on headlamps is always a good decision.
- Making use of the high beam of a motorcycle’s headlight during the day is another way to draw attention to its presence.
- Using auxiliary headlights for touring and cruising can help signal other drivers and pedestrians.
- Using headlight modulators makes it extremely convenient for motorcyclists.
- Purchasing motorcycles with additional frontal bodywork (the larger the fairing and the brighter the color, the more conspicuity) can also help improve their visibility on the road.
- Having a flashing taillight is another way to ensure that all other vehicles or pedestrians notice the presence of the motorcycle.
Conclusion
Proper clothing and accessories play a crucial role in increasing the visibility of motorcyclists on the road, reducing the risk of accidents. Many motorcycle accidents occur because other vehicles do not see the motorcycles coming. The best way to combat this problem is to find a way to increase the visibility of motorcyclists and their motorcycles.
