Get noticed, Stay Safe

The biggest threat to any motorcycle rider, no doubt, is the other maniacs that we have to share the road with. Each of us, when we ride, has to remain hyper-vigilant for the slightest movement out of place around us. Unfortunately, the auto drivers around us do not share our fear and so they drive around oblivious at times to the potential dangers around them (like us).

So, if you haven’t already checked out the blog post on behaviors that you should be adopting to stay safe, I highly recommend heading over to http://www.permit.bike/the-top-five-motorcycle-safety-tips-to-remember-this-summer/ for some basic ideas about safety while you are riding.

Now, outside of staying out of blind spots and remaining aware of the drivers around you, there are several actions you can take to increase the chances of a driver seeing and perceiving you. Yes, there is a difference.

              Seeing you, the driver goes through the physical motion of having their eyes pass over you. This alone is no guarantee that the driver will know you are there and avoid crossing into your lane, especially if they’re trying to retweet a cute kitten.

We’ve all been there: driving and convinced we’ve checked our rearview mirror before merging, only to get a honk from the person beside us. You may have looked, but you didn’t register the car there.

              Perceiving you– The driver not only physically passes over you with their eyes, but also takes note that you are there. This is what you want. Not only to be in a position to be seen, but also to have the most factors going in your favor to have other drivers perceive you.

Stay visible

This is the obvious one. Suppose you have gone through your motorcycle safety class. In that case, they have given you the rundown on the proper riding position, avoiding car blind spots, and giving an adequate cushion to other drivers.

Don’t speed!

All of us have had moments when we want to stretch our bike’s legs, but this increases the likelihood that other drivers won’t notice you. If you are out of sight when the driver checks his mirrors first and have shot into his blind spot by the second time he checks and changes lanes, then you may find yourself off the road.

Illumination catches eyes

The lighter your bike produces, the more likely the headlights will catch attention. I have seen several bikes that have just blended into a group of headlights at night.

There are plenty of companies that sell aftermarket lighting kits that not only increase the light you produce but also make your turn signals more dynamic.

Style

This is the one that many people overlook, yet it is essential and might make the difference between seeing and perceiving.

You might be scratching your head for this one, but what I am talking about is the overall look of you and your bike. If you ride a black motorcycle with a grey riding jacket and black or grey helmet, then the person driving next to you might not even give you a second look — and we need them to provide you with a second look.

Check out the YouTube video of the Predator bike, where the rider is dressed exactly like the character Predator and is riding a pretty evil-looking bike.

Now, how likely is it that the rider will actually go unnoticed on the expressway? The answer is he is most likely stared at constantl,y which also means that he is highly perceived.

Using your own personal style can also help you get perceived. Try looking through custom looks for your helmet. Add reflective strips to your current riding jacket, or find something that matches your personality and stands way out.

Finally, if you are so inclined, you can add chrome, custom paint, louder pipes (hear you coming), or other unique characteristics to your bike to help grab other people’s attention. The more attention you can grab, the more likely you are to avoid being on the wrong end of that tweeting driver.

PERCEIVE you and see you on the road