Bright Lights and Dark Shadows - Where Is The Sun Located?
As motorcyclists, a sunny day almost screams to us to “Get out and go for a ride”! Most of us like riding on a sunny day for any number of reasons, especially staying dry and not having to clean all the highway gook off our bikes when we get back home. While these bright days are fun to ride, there are a two times of the day that can create increased risk for the motorcycle rider, and that is early morning and early evening. There are a number of reasons why these times of the day are inherently more risky (other motorists going to and from work tend to be in a hurry and less attentive, animals such as deer are on the move, etc.), but what this article deals with both the shady side and sunny side of life, so to speak.
That bright orb in the sky, the sun, does create issues for the motorcyclist, especially at sun rise and sun set, or any time it is bright and low in the sky. I think we have all had the sun shining in our eyes while riding and have been temporarily blinded, or at least, have difficulty seeing clearly what was down the road, even wearing sun glasses or having a tinted visor. But have you ever thought that if it is difficult for you to see, say, vehicles ahead of you when the sun is shining in your eyes, how difficult is it for other drivers to see you if they are behind you? After all, the size of a motorcycle and rider is far smaller than a car or truck, and if you are wearing black, you are even harder to see clearly. Flashing your brake lights as vehicles approach from behind you will help them see you, hopefully! You as a rider must be prepared to “vacate” your spot at all times in case the vehicle approaching from behind is unable to stop in time (see the article Exit Strategies). If you are having a hard time seeing, so is everyone else. A trick you might want to use to help out with your ability to see is to take a strip of electrical tape and place it across your visor so that you can tilt your head slightly to use it to block out the sun, just like a sun visor on a car.
That bright orb in the sky, the sun, does create issues for the motorcyclist, especially at sun rise and sun set, or any time it is bright and low in the sky. I think we have all had the sun shining in our eyes while riding and have been temporarily blinded, or at least, have difficulty seeing clearly what was down the road, even wearing sun glasses or having a tinted visor. But have you ever thought that if it is difficult for you to see, say, vehicles ahead of you when the sun is shining in your eyes, how difficult is it for other drivers to see you if they are behind you? After all, the size of a motorcycle and rider is far smaller than a car or truck, and if you are wearing black, you are even harder to see clearly. Flashing your brake lights as vehicles approach from behind you will help them see you, hopefully! You as a rider must be prepared to “vacate” your spot at all times in case the vehicle approaching from behind is unable to stop in time (see the article Exit Strategies). If you are having a hard time seeing, so is everyone else. A trick you might want to use to help out with your ability to see is to take a strip of electrical tape and place it across your visor so that you can tilt your head slightly to use it to block out the sun, just like a sun visor on a car.
Now, let’s reverse the scenario. Instead of facing into the sun, you now have that low-lying sun on your back. Presto! You have great visibility and are able to cruise along without the distractions of the sun in your eyes. However, those vehicles coming toward you on a street or 2-lane highway, are having to deal with the sun in their eyes, and you may “disappear” until you are almost upon them, which is especially dangerous at intersections or any time a vehicle wants to make a left turn across traffic. In some instances, where the highway may only have temporary markings, or no markings at all, be prepared for crowding on your side of the road-way. Be aware of all possible issues that may occur. Help yourself out in cases such as this by putting your headlight on high beam or, if you have auxiliary lighting, now is the time to use it. It doesn’t help you see any better, but it sure makes it easier to see you!
Now, let’s put both the low-lying sun and shadows together to create another obstacle to good vision. A little about those peepers of yours: Our eyes are a very delicate and complicated piece of equipment, and while approximately 85% of all we gather from our surroundings comes via our eyes, they can be upset very, very easily. As most people know, the pupils of your eyes react to the amount of light entering them. They open wider in darkened areas, and become smaller when stimulated by brighter lights. Do this quickly and you might have a hard time seeing for a moment as your eyes adjust (turn on a bright light after you have been in a dark area for a few minutes, then turn the light off and “see” how long it takes to get accustomed to the lack of light). These same principles can occur to your eyes if, as you are riding, the sun is low and bright behind trees along the side of the road, and as you pass by the trees, it becomes dark for a fraction of a second as the sun is now behind a tree, then bright for a fraction of a second as you pass by the tree. This process continues to repeat itself as long as trees or other obstacles cause your eyes to try and adjust back and force to the light / dark stimuli quickly, making it extremely difficult to see. The shadows caused at this time may also make things along the road “disappear” as well, especially as your eyes are trying to recover.
I am not trying to dissuade anyone from riding during the times of a low lying sun (early morning, late afternoon), as for many riders it is one of the few times they can get out, or they use their bike for transiting to and from work. The message here is trying to help the motorcyclist be more aware of their own limitations with seeing during these times, and also for those around them as well. Every little bit of extra information and caution helps us to
Ride Skilled – Ride Smart – Ride Safe.
Ride Skilled – Ride Smart – Ride Safe.