Wales by Bike

Being on two wheels means that you are more vulnerable than other road users and the lack of visibility at night means that you need your wits about you even more after dark.

To make riding at night safer and more enjoyable.

• Keep your lights clean and make sure they are working properly before you set off
• If you are a frequent night rider, replace your visors regularly - scratched, dirty or damaged visors are even more of a hazard in the dark
• Never wear a tinted visor at night - it's illegal and you won't be able to see anything
• Keep your distance and slow down - it's more difficult to judge distance and speed in the dark so make sure you can stop safely
• Make sure you, and any pillion passengers, wear high visibility clothing so that you can be seen by other road users from a distance. If you are carrying luggage such as rucksacks, think about investing in some high visibility sticky strips
• Don't forget it gets colder at night, even in the summer, so make sure you've got warm clothing or plenty of layers
• Plan ahead - it is more difficult to spot hazards at night
• Try not to look at the beams of oncoming traffic
• Never ride if you're tired, particularly at night - if you're on a long journey, make regular stops and drink plenty of tea/coffee
• Carry some spare bulbs just in case
• Remember it can be more difficult for other motorists to see you at night as your lights will blend in with all the other vehicles - be extra observant