| When Darkness Falls
Reprinted from Winter 2005 Enthusiast®, with editor's permission.
It's no surprise that the challenges motorcyclists face
multiply when the sun goes down and night prevails. Your field of
vision is reduced to the distance of your motorcycle headlight,
and other motorists are even LESS likely to recognize a motorcycle
at night than they are during daylight hours. To improve your
safety, take note of the following precautions.
- Making yourself visible is always important, but especially
so after dark when it's more difficult for others to
see you. Improve your visibility by wearing
"retro-reflective" clothing and accessories that
reflect projected light back to its source (Note: H-D makes
highly reflective vests available in Motorclothes). There are
many varieties of these available on the market today
including "BLACK" retro-reflective stickers that are
not easily seen during the day.
- Wild animals tend to be more active at night and are a
serious hazard to motorists. Constantly SCAN the sides of the
roadway for the reflection of your headlight off their eyes
and use your horn if necessary.
- Avoid overriding your headlights by riding at a speed that
allows you to stop within the distance illuminated by it. You
can also use the light cast by the headlights of vehicles in
front of you to see further down the road.
- Make sure the eye protection you choose is suitable for use
after dark. Any tinting (including yellow) will lessen the
light that reaches your eyes and make it harder to see. Be
sure your eye protection is clean and free of scratches.
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