Do you adjust your lane positon in the dark?

[OCMagnum]

So here is a riding strategy question for you guys...

In daylight, I always try to position myself in the lane so that I follow either of the wheels of the cars in front. I do this to avoid any crap and fluids that might be in the middle of the lane and pose no problem for cars, but could be an issue for bikes.

That said, as I was communting on the Freeway in the dark this morning, I started to wonder if I position myself that way, could cars behind me perceive my rear light to be part of the car in front of me? I know the shape will be different etc, but let's face it there is lot of bad drivers out there period and the darkness does probably not help them assess a situation any better.

Any thoughts? Do you position yourself differently riding in the dark?

Cheers!

[NevadaWolf]

I do, but not usually for the cars benefit. Outside of the towns, most of the desert is open range and the ranchers all seem to have Black Angus or similar breed. So black road + black night = well concealed black cow.

If the road is wide open and I can see clearly in front and behind me, I will right well near on the yellow line. Gives me the greatest maneuvering area should I see a cow, horse, deer, or such large critter soaking up the heat of the road.

If the road isn't wide open or a car is coming up on me, I'll shift to the center of the lane to give a larger buffer if the other driver drifts towards my lane or if an animal is on the shoulder.

Never thought about being mistaken for the car in front, though i have wondered about my headlight blending into the car behind. I'll have to pay attention to that from now on. Thanks.

[adouglas]

No, but I have taken measures to make me more conspicuous from behind at night.

- I have a bright blue/white license plate LED that came with my fender eliminator. My plate is very well lit.

- I covered my license plate frame with red retroreflective tape.

- My helmet has a big patch of SOLAS tape on the back (SUPER bright and reflective).

- My riding gear has miscellaneous bits of reflective material that came it (heels of boots, logos on pants, etc.)

If they can't see me with all that, my lane position wouldn't matter anyway.

[alex.s]

drive faster and it won't be a problem

[Alex]

/moved to riding skills

[Skullz]

I ride all over depending on conditions, and whether there are cars in front or in back. I will ride in the left most part of the lane most of the time, and will switch to the far right when on two lane roads, and coming up on a tractor trailer coming towards me in the opposite lane so those behind the truck can see me and not pull out thinking they have a clear lane. There are times i will ride in the right part of the lane even on the white stripe when the road is so bumpy it makes it impossible to ride, and there are times where i'll just ride in the middle with no one around just to have the most room on each side in an event something were to come up. To me you just ride your ride and do what you feel is safest for you.

[ally99]

I try to stick as close as I can to the center of the road in the dark (unless there's oncoming traffic, then I merge a bit farther away). The middle gives me an equal amount of space and time to react to a deer or other wildlife that may try to cross the road at the same time I do. Again, lane position varies based on innumerable conditions, but when all conditions are light and stable, I stick more near the center on my dark morning commutes to work.

[rasta]

+1 on reflective gear/accessories (on your backside obviously)

[Foxrider64]

At night I never stay on the track of the car's wheels in front me at night.

Doing so aligns your brake light with theirs and people behind you might not have the visual acuteness to see you at all-- at least here in FL.

[Motofool]

And for the every same reason, I sometimes wave the bike when I see headlights approaching from behind.

[adouglas]

Originally Posted by Motofool

And for the every same reason, I sometimes wave the bike when I see headlights approaching from behind.

You must have amazing arm strength. Not to mention catlike reflexes that let you hop off the bike, pick it up, wave it around and get back on while traveling.

[ally99]

Originally Posted by Foxrider64

At night I never stay on the track of the car's wheels in front me at night.

Doing so aligns your brake light with theirs and people behind you might not have the visual acuteness to see you at all-- at least here in FL.

Agreed. It also impedes your wide-scope vision of what's ahead. I still try to stay to the right or left (usually the left) of the car in front of me.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by NevadaWolf

I do, but not usually for the cars benefit. Outside of the towns, most of the desert is open range and the ranchers all seem to have Black Angus or similar breed. So black road + black night = well concealed black cow.

If the road is wide open and I can see clearly in front and behind me, I will right well near on the yellow line. Gives me the greatest maneuvering area should I see a cow, horse, deer, or such large critter soaking up the heat of the road.

If the road isn't wide open or a car is coming up on me, I'll shift to the center of the lane to give a larger buffer if the other driver drifts towards my lane or if an animal is on the shoulder.

Never thought about being mistaken for the car in front, though i have wondered about my headlight blending into the car behind. I'll have to pay attention to that from now on. Thanks.

Like this?

[NevadaWolf]

Yep, that's exactly what I picture when an approaching car is looking at me and a car behind me. I'll shift around in the lane to break up the effect if I can.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Whiskey

Like this? ...........

And that is during the day !!!

Imagine the mental calculations of that driver ready to make a left turn in front of that car with a loose headlight (the bike and the car)?

[EsrTek]

Link to original page on YouTube.

[NevadaWolf]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Imagine the mental calculations of that driver ready to make a left turn in front of that car with a loose headlight (the bike and the car)?

My dad and i used to ride a lot and often at night. We would ride staggered but not too far apart from each other. So i could imagine anyone approaching us would see two headlights and think car.

Once we were flashed by a semi thinking we had our brights on. Due to a variety of factors, my dad and I returned our "these are on low" blink at slightly different times. So his blinked hi/lo then I did about a half second later.

I could imagine the poor driver thinking we were some whacked out car with independently controlled headlights.

[Whiskey]

Originally Posted by Motofool

And that is during the day !!!

Imagine the mental calculations of that driver ready to make a left turn in front of that car with a loose headlight (the bike and the car)?

It was originally done to show the problem with the safety nazi's idea of always on lights for all vehicles.

[cbinker]

I am always adjust my lane position at any time of the day. big thing is to pretend that the other drivers dont even see you, because they usually dont.

[ez12a]

all day erry day/night.

I move in a position to protect my spot in the lane (biased on the right), but sometimes i would move to the left side (assuming #1 lane) in order for oncoming left-turners to see me faster if i'm following a car. I also flash my highs briefly to make sure.

i also have the integrated sequential LED tail light that flashes a few times whenever i apply the brake, to hopefully differentiate myself from a car from behind. Knowing this i brake a little early at night and tap the brakes again to keep it flashing for a bit. When i'm stopped and see a car approaching from the rear, if i'm not splitting i tap my brakes again so it flashes.

[Sirref]

Usually I don't mind if someone behind me thinks that I'm a car so long as they know I'm there. If they start tailgating me then I start getting a little antsy looking back to make sure they're sober/notacop and then either gunning it or moving out of their way to let them pass.

Normally though I adjust my lane positioning from time to time depending on the traffic around me. I like to be in the far left lane most of the time on the right side of the left lane but as I pass cars that look like they may want to cut into my lane (typically in heavier traffic this is the case) I move over the the left side to give myself more room just in case. Rarely do I like being right next to a car when they could perceive me as an open lane for them to shift into.

One possible technique is to just practice slaloms from time to time while staying in your lane. This will definitely catch the attention of someone behind you at night. It also helps alleviate some boredom on your commute.

[alex.s]

one more reason not to follow centered behind a car at night:

at night, neither you or the car will see the debris they are about to run over until it is flying directly at your face.