Motorcycles face a never-ending struggle to be seen by drivers on the road. We take up less real estate than cars, our lights are lower, and there are simply less of us on the road than four-wheeled vehicles.
Particularly through winter, where there are less motorcycles on the street than normal, drivers get used to our absence pretty quickly. Unfortunately, they don't register our presence on the roads again quickly when spring finally rolls around. That's why—right at the beginning of riding season—we celebrate Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month. Get started with these motorcycle safety tips to stay safer on the road.
Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month Riding Tips
While these motorcycle safety tips apply at all times, this time of year requires extra attention while we're out riding.
1. Stay Visible
High-visibility gear, like a reflective vest or a brightly colored helmet, is a great way to stand out on the road. Try to maintain lane positions that keep you out of blind spots. Grab your instant motorcycle safety upgrade—Brake Free—to add a smart helmet brake light to your riding gear to increase visibility when you're reducing speed. No apps, no wires, just attach it to your helmet and be seen.
2. Ride Defensively
We've all heard the adage "ride like you're invisible" before, and it's held true over the years. Treat every vehicle as if it cannot see you and ride vigilantly. Scan ahead, stay out of blind spots, and maintain an exit path when you're at a stop should a car fail to see you at a light.
3. Wear Your Gear
We're fans of ATGATT—all the gear, all the time. A helmet (of course, where else would you put your Brake Free?), a jacket, pants, boots, and gloves will all help protect you in case of an accident. Dress for the slide, not for the ride.
4. Pre-Ride Inspections
Before you get on your bike, go over critical safety components. Make sure your brakes are functioning, your tires are adequately inflated and free from wear, and all your lights and signals are working properly.
Instantly Improve Your Visibility During Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month
Brake Free uses an accelerometer, gyrometer, and our patented brake-detection algorithm to light up whenever it detects a reduction in speed. That means engine braking, emergency braking, and regular braking cause the unit to illuminate—and its position right at drivers' eye level helps make sure they notice you slowing down.
Motorcycle brake lights are often small and below the average driver's field of view. By positioning a motorcycle brake light right at eye level, you're increasing the chance that they'll both notice you slowing down and notice you being there in the first place.
The NHTSA conducted a study that found the addition of a center high-mounted stop light (or CHMSL) led to a 35% reduction in rear-impact crashes in cars.
Additionally, the NHTSA noted that a center high-mounted stop lamp is less likely to be confused with a turn signal based on its proximity to either side of the vehicle, leading to a less ambiguous indication of what the driver (or in this case, rider) is doing: slowing down.
By adding Brake Free to your gear, you're improving your chances of being visible on the road. No apps, no wires, just attach it to your helmet in minutes and go. Don't risk reduced visibility on your motorcycle when the solution is so quick and easy—and don't forget, you can swap your unit between helmets in seconds. All you need is an extra mount.
How Brake Free Improves Motorcycle Visibility in Different Riding Conditions
Like we mentioned earlier, the positioning of a smart motorcycle brake light right at drivers' eye level can make a huge impact in being noticed on the road. Brake Free doesn't just stop there, though: there are three operating modes that are suitable for different conditions.
With Active Mode, you can get 8+ hours of use out of a single charge. Stealth mode reduces battery usage and provides higher contrast when braking. Pulsing mode is great for drawing attention to yourself, and can be used as a roadside flare in case of a breakdown.
Active Mode: All four LED panels run at 20% power—essentially acting as running lights. When any kind of braking is detected, all light panels activate to full brightness, and then automatically revert to 20% when it senses that you're no longer decreasing speed.
Pulsing Mode: The side LED panels pulse for additional visibility while you're riding. They pulse at 20% brightness continuously, and when the unit detects a decrease in speed, all four panels light up to full brightness. Once again, when the unit no longer detects a decrease in speed, it returns to its pulsing pattern.
Note: Pulsing mode will only function if your battery is more than 25% charged.
Stealth Mode: Only the center LED panels run with 20% brightness during normal activation. When braking, all four LED panels light up to full braking, and when the unit no longer detects a decrease in speed, it returns to its normal pattern.
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