Being seen
Questions and answers
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In crashes with motorcyclists, drivers often say they never saw the motorcycle. What is one reason?
Most drivers are not looking for motorcycles
A motorcycle's outline is small and it is hard to see something you are not looking for.
Increasing Conspicuity · Increasing Conspicuity ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Even when a driver sees you coming, why might they still pull out in front of you?
Smaller vehicles seem farther away and slower than they really are
Drivers misjudge a motorcycle's distance and speed and think they have plenty of time.
Increasing Conspicuity · Increasing Conspicuity ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When do most crashes occur?
In broad daylight
Most crashes happen in daylight, so bright clothing matters during the day too.
Increasing Conspicuity · Clothing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How much of the visible surface area of the rider and motorcycle is the rider's body?
About half
Your body is half of what drivers see, so what you wear has a big effect on being seen.
Increasing Conspicuity · Clothing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Which jacket or vest colors are your best bets for being seen?
Bright orange, red, yellow, or green
Bright colors stand out. Any bright color is better than drab or dark colors.
Increasing Conspicuity · Clothing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Besides protecting you in a crash, what can a brightly colored helmet do?
Help others see you
A bright helmet adds to your visibility on the road.
Increasing Conspicuity · Clothing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What kind of clothing does the manual call best for being seen?
Reflective, bright-colored helmet and jacket or vest
Bright colors combined with reflective material give the best chance of being noticed.
Increasing Conspicuity · Clothing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Reflective material on a vest and on the sides of the helmet helps which drivers in particular?
Drivers coming from the side
Reflective material on the sides helps drivers coming from the side, and it also helps drivers ahead and behind.
Increasing Conspicuity · Clothing ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What is the best way to help others see your motorcycle?
Keep the headlight on
A headlight that is always on makes a motorcycle much easier to notice.
Increasing Conspicuity · Headlight ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When should you use your high beam?
Whenever you are not following or meeting a car
Use the high beam whenever it will not blind a driver ahead of you or coming toward you.
Increasing Conspicuity · Headlight ↗PDF, 8 MB -
During the day, how much more likely is a motorcycle with its light on to be noticed?
Twice as likely
Studies show a headlight doubles the chance of being noticed in daylight.
Increasing Conspicuity · Headlight ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When should you use your low beam?
At night and in fog
Low beam is for night riding and fog.
Increasing Conspicuity · Headlight ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Since what year have new motorcycles sold in the USA automatically had the headlight on when running?
1978
Motorcycles sold new in the USA since 1978 turn the headlight on automatically when running.
Increasing Conspicuity · Headlight ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When is a motorcycle's brake light especially hard to notice?
When the taillight is on
The brake light is usually less noticeable than a car's, particularly with the taillight on, which comes on with the headlight.
Increasing Conspicuity · Brake Light ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You are turning off a high-speed highway and will slow more quickly than others expect. What should you do first?
Flash your brake light before you slow
Flashing the brake light warns drivers behind before you slow more quickly than they expect.
Increasing Conspicuity · Brake Light ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Which is a place where others may not expect you to slow, so you should flash your brake light?
The middle of a block or at an alley
Drivers expect slowing at signals and signs, not in the middle of a block or at an alley.
Increasing Conspicuity · Brake Light ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why is it a good idea to flash your brake light when a tailgater is behind you?
The tailgater may be watching you and miss a hazard ahead
A tailgater focused on you may not see what is making you slow down. Flashing warns them and may discourage tailgating.
Increasing Conspicuity · Brake Light ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Should you use your turn signals when you think no one else is around?
Yes, it is the car you do not see that gives the most trouble
Signal any time you change lanes or turn, even when the road looks empty.
Increasing Conspicuity · Signals ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why use your turn signals even when what you plan to do is obvious?
Signal lights make you easier to spot
Blinking signals add to your visibility as well as showing your plans.
Increasing Conspicuity · Signals ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why must you make sure your signal is off after you turn?
A driver may pull into your path thinking you will turn again
A signal left on sends a false message that you plan another turn.
Increasing Conspicuity · Signals ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How does signaling help when you enter a freeway?
Drivers coming from behind are more likely to see you and make room
A blinking signal on the ramp helps approaching drivers notice you and leave space.
Increasing Conspicuity · Signals ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You are stopped at an intersection. Why should you check your mirrors?
To watch cars coming up from behind
A driver who is not paying attention could be on top of you before seeing you.
Increasing Conspicuity · Using Your Mirrors ↗PDF, 8 MB -
You signal to turn at a driveway, but there is an intersection farther ahead. What might the driver behind you think?
That you plan to turn at the distant intersection
Check your mirrors before you slow, because the driver behind may misread where you will slow.
Increasing Conspicuity · Using Your Mirrors ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How do the rounded (convex) mirrors on most motorcycles affect what you see?
They make cars seem farther away than they really are
Convex mirrors show a wider view but make vehicles look farther away, so practice judging distance with them.
Increasing Conspicuity · Using Your Mirrors ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Even after you have practiced with convex mirrors, what should you do before changing lanes?
Allow extra distance
Because convex mirrors make cars look farther away, leave extra room before moving over.
Increasing Conspicuity · Using Your Mirrors ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Before you change lanes, what should you do in addition to checking your mirrors?
Turn your head and look to the side
Motorcycles have blind spots like cars, so mirrors alone are not enough.
Increasing Conspicuity · Head Checks ↗PDF, 8 MB -
On a road with several lanes, which lanes should you check before changing lanes?
The far lane and the lane next to you
A driver in the distant lane may be heading for the same space you plan to take.
Increasing Conspicuity · Head Checks ↗PDF, 8 MB -
When is it a good idea to give a quick beep of your horn?
Before passing anyone who may move into your lane
A quick beep gets the attention of someone who might drift into your path as you pass.
Increasing Conspicuity · Horn ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Which situation is a reason to use your horn?
A parked car has someone in the driver's seat
A driver in a parked car may pull out or open a door. Other reasons include a bicyclist or pedestrian in the street.
Increasing Conspicuity · Horn ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How should you sound your horn in an emergency?
Loud and long, and be ready to stop or swerve
In an emergency, use a long blast and be ready to stop or swerve away from the danger.
Increasing Conspicuity · Horn ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why should you not rely on your horn alone?
A motorcycle's horn is not as loud as a car's
Use the horn, but also keep time and space to maneuver.
Increasing Conspicuity · Horn ↗PDF, 8 MB -
How fast should you ride at night?
Even slower than you would during the day
Slowing down at night, especially on unfamiliar roads, increases your chance of avoiding a hazard.
Increasing Conspicuity · Riding at Night ↗PDF, 8 MB -
Why are distances harder to judge at night?
Your eyes rely on shadows and light contrasts, which are missing or distorted
Under artificial light, the contrasts your eyes use to judge distance and speed are missing or distorted.
Increasing Conspicuity · Riding at Night ↗PDF, 8 MB -
What following distance should you open up at night?
Three seconds or more
Because distances are harder to judge at night, increase your following distance to at least three seconds.
Increasing Conspicuity · Riding at Night ↗PDF, 8 MB -
At night, how can the car ahead help you?
Its headlights can show the road better than your high beam
The car ahead lights the road farther than your own high beam can.
Increasing Conspicuity · Riding at Night ↗PDF, 8 MB -
At night, what can taillights bouncing up and down on the car ahead tell you?
There are bumps or rough pavement ahead
Watching the taillights ahead warns you of rough road before you reach it.
Increasing Conspicuity · Riding at Night ↗PDF, 8 MB