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Stand Out!

Ride To Be Seen

From material supplied by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -(Origional Publication Texas DPS)

RIDING TO BE SEEN

Riding to be seen is essential to safe motorcycle riding. More than half of all motorcycle accidents occur because the motorist simply

“did not see the motorcyclist coming”

Motorists tend to look for other cars, not for motorcycles. In addition, motorcyclists are hard to see because of their small profile. Finally, because motorcycles accelerate quickly and motorcyclists often change lanes to adjust to road conditions, drivers often misjudge motorcyclists and fail to predict their patterns.

Therefore, when you are riding a motorcycle:

Never assume that you are visible to a driver;
Ride where you can be seen; and
Increase your visibility so others will notice you.

A smart rider should “Stand Out”.

Ride Bright and Be Seen

RIDE BRIGHT

As a rider, you are more likely to Stand Out if you if you keep these suggestions in mind:

Use Color
Select (and wear) a brightly colored helmet. Wear bright, contrasting clothing, particularly on the upper part of your body. If you prefer darker colors, brighten them with fluorescent vests or straps.

Add Reflectors
Apply reflective materials to your helmet and the motorcycle itself. Adding reflectors is an effective and inexpensive way to stand out and increase your visibility.

Brighten Headlights
Keep your headlights on at all times to help ensure that you are noticed day and night. For maximum effectiveness, keep your headlights in optimal working condition. Use high beams rather than low beams during the day, and consider the use of modulating headlights.

Use Running Lights
Running lights, whether used on the front, back, or side improve visibility. Install running lights if you don’t have them, and keep them in good operating condition.

REMEMBER
The front and sides of a motorcycle are much more important to your visibility than the rear of the cycle. To Stand Out, brighten those areas first.

BE SEEN

The most common accident between drivers and motorcyclists occurs at an intersection when a driver is making a left turn in front of an oncoming motorcyclist. A typical response from the driver after the accident is,

“I never saw him!”

In addition, accidents where the motorcycle is the only vehicle involved often result when drivers pull out in front of motorcyclists, causing them to overbrake, slide, and fall.

As a motorcyclist, you are more likely to Be Seen in these and other high-risk situations if you keep these tips in mind.

Proceed Cautiously at Intersections
Make sure that drivers in front of you and facing you know that you are approaching. Be particularly careful when a driver is about to make a left turn in front of you, even if you think that the driver has seen you.

Ride Where You Can Be Seen
Remember that there is no ONE safe place to ride. You must ride where you can Be Seen. Avoid the driver’s blind spots. Give yourself room, and be prepared for emergency braking situations or avoidance maneuvers. Make your lane moves gradually, and always use appropriate signaling.

Never Share a Lane with a Car
Although they may seem to save time or avoid traffic snarls, sharing a lane or riding between cars is dangerous. A driver simply does not expect you there and may proceed accordingly.

Signal the Driver
Clearly signal your intentions. Use your horn to alert drivers that seem unaware. Flashing your headlights from high to low beam also alerts a driver that you are approaching. Let drivers know where you are and how you plan to proceed.

Never Assume the Right of Way is Given to You
Proceed only when you are sure that it is safe to do so.

TO STAND OUT

Ride Bright
Use bright colors, reflective materials, and lights so that others can see you.

Ride To Be Seen
Position yourself where your presence is evident, and be especially careful when motorists make left turns. Make moves gradually, with appropriate signaling. Never assume the right of way.

You Can Help!

Ride smart.

Stand out.

Ride to be seen.

You can contact the Motorcycle Safety Unit at:

Motorcycle Safety Unit
Texas Department of Public Safety
P O Box 4087
Austin, Texas 78773-0001

Phone: (512) 424-2021
or 1-800-292-5787

SAFETY AND MOTORCYCLE L.E.D. ACCENT LIGHTING

The price of gas has affected everyone, motorcycle riders included. Long time riders are using their motorcycles more to go to and from work and on errands around town, new riders are joining our brother and sister hood in record numbers and discovering the wonderful freedom (and gas savings) of a motorcycle. With more of us on the road than ever before a tragic event is happening far too frequently---car vs motorcycle accidents.

According to a major study* the following facts were major causes of motorcycle crashes which included fatalities:

The failure of motorists to detect and recognize motorcycles in traffic is the predominating cause of motorcycle accidents. The driver of the other vehicle involved in collision with the motorcycle did not see the motorcycle before the collision, or did not see the motorcycle until too late to avoid the collision.
Intersections are the most likely place for the motorcycle accident, with the other vehicle violating the motorcycle right-of-way, and often violating traffic controls.
Visibility of the motorcycle is a critical factor in the multiple vehicle accidents.

Motorcycles make smaller visual targets, which are more likely to be obscured by other vehicles, or by road and weather conditions. This is an issue especially at intersections, where approximately 70 percent of motorcycle-versus-vehicle collisions occur.

As the study shows—they (the car drivers) do not see us. It is suggested that motorcycles run with their headlamp on in the day time.

So what about at night?

Take a Proactive Step to Protect Yourself

Light Up Your Bike! Get L.E.D. motorcycle lights on those bikes, Be Seen and Be Safe.

Look at your motorcycle at night from the side---this is what a car driver sees as you go through an intersection—it is dark, not very visible.

With motorcycle L.E.D. lights in your engine area the side view of the motorcycle becomes visible giving the car driver the opportunity to see you.

When you are on the road at night and you have L.E.D. lights from one end of your motorcycle to the other you are making yourself visible, you are letting the car drivers know you are there and where you are. You are protecting yourself and reducing the chance of becoming the next sad statistic.

*Motorcycle Accident Cause Factors and Identification of Countermeasures, Volume 1: Technical Report, Hurt, H.H., Ouellet, J.V. and Thom, D.R., Traffic Safety Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles