As cyclists we put ourselves at risk every time we ride. It seems like we are invisible to drivers sometimes. I have vehicles pull out and turn in front of me all the time. I’ve even been struck from behind and I’m sure the driver didn’t see me until I landed on her hood. Being more visible in traffic is a life saver.
The best way to make yourself more visible is to add front and back Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) to your gear. It makes sense that a cyclist with lights is easier to spot than a cyclist without lights. Lights increase our contrast with the background so we don’t just blend into the environment. In fact, one study, Safety effects of permanent running lights for bicycles: A controlled experiment – PubMed (nih.gov), shows that bicycles equipped with (DRLs) have a significant (19% lower) reduction in crashes with vehicles as compared with bicycles without. I’m so convinced of the effectiveness of DRLs that I’ve mounted a set on my helmet so I can direct the light by moving my head as needed by my situation.
If you don’t already have DRLs don’t wait another second, I suggest adding a set of bright high-quality front and back DRLs to your gear today. Be Eye-catching flashy. It could save your life.
Ken Whittaker