STAY SEEN, STAY SAFE

Visibility isn’t just about how well you can see the road ahead, but it’s also how easily other road users can see you. The Police Rider’s Handbook (Roadcraft) says that a third of drivers involved in a daylight collision with a motorcyclist claim to have not seen the bike or scooter before the crash. At night that figure rises to half. Part of the reason is that bikes can be hard to see from head-on as they are relatively small compared to most other road traffic, making it difficult for the driver to assess their speed and distance.

Also, if the road is very busy, then motorbike and rider can all too easily get lost against a cluttered background, often with disastrous results. This is why you need to make yourself as conspicuous as possible when you are out on the open road.

Statistically, junctions can be a big hazard. Make eye contact with the driver and watch their wheels as they creep out from the junction