Travelling at night - Dangers?

**rocketman1** · 29th May 2010, 11:07

Just coming home from Tauranga the other night in the car, thinking about the poor chap that hit a cow in car at Hinuera, killed himself and injured his passenger.
I was remembering the number of times I have travelled at night, on my bike, probably too fast for the conditions, and even with the excellent lights on my SV have put myself at risk by not seeing all the obstacles that present themselves on NZ highways, like animals, cowshit, dead opposums, lumps of wood, trees, shredded truck tyres etc etc
I got thinking that probably travelling at night you are safer to travel behind a car than venturing out in front all by yourself. At least if there is an obstacle the car driver will alert the bike rider to it.
Not long ago I had to swerve to miss a large sack of wood the middle of the road on the way to Raglan, if it was dark I doubt I would have seen it.
Any thoughts on this from other night riders.

**Sentox** · 29th May 2010, 12:17

I don't night ride anymore, as a policy. I had several incredibly close calls with rabbits making a run for my front wheel, and a nicely deposited cow turd causing my front to nearly tuck in a corner. I took the hint and stick to daylight now.

If I had some decent HIDs, maybe I would venture out at night, but it's not worth the money for me.

**Motu** · 29th May 2010, 12:23

Motorcycle riding is just too dangerous - the sooner they ban it the better.

**george formby** · 29th May 2010, 12:35

Riding at night always makes me feel amazingly alive & constantly a bit scared because of the hazards. I only ride at night if I have too now but in a perverse way love the challenge, particularly if it's belting down with rain. Sick, i know. The biggest worry for me is the dazzle from other traffic, being momentarily blinded as each vehicle goes past. Fortunately their is very little traffic up here & I usually have the road to myself.

**Love my Bonnie** · 29th May 2010, 12:37

I gotta agre with GF, I love riding at night.
I live rural, so no street lights, just me & my Bonnie, alone in the dark.
What a rush!

**bogan** · 29th May 2010, 12:46

well its fucking cold

riding during the day now, so i'd say frostbite is a night riding danger.

**FJRider** · 29th May 2010, 13:01

I have no issues with riding at night, and I have travelled thousands of km's at night. Trust your own judgement on what is safe (speed/how far/much you can see) and slow down if you don't feel safe. It helps if you know the road well, or at least know where you are going. Time seems to drag if you dont. Following another vehicle does help show you where the road goes, but dont follow too closely. (Gives you longer to register there is a reason to slow down/avoid a problem ahead)
Don't stare at the lights of on-coming vehicles (you go where you look ... REMEMBER)
Night rides CAN be a lot of fun .... and convenient for going places when daylight is in short supply. It is not always fun ... but is something that needs practice ... and patience to learn the skills necessary to do it well.

**slofox** · 29th May 2010, 13:10

In the olden days I rode heaps at night - every time studying got me down I'd go for a blast through the Port Hills in the gloom of night. Nothing too untoward happened - usually - although one night the lights failed mid corner with a vertical face on my right and a million foot drop on my left (non fenced). THAT got the adrenalin buzz going...

Lighting back then wasn't much - equivalent to a single glow-worm in a tin as I recall...modern day lighting is way more betterer. I still go a little slower at night though - as Sentox said - there can be problems with livestock...

**Berries** · 29th May 2010, 15:35

Love riding at night, if I am familiar with the road. if I'm not then it gets a bit heart in mouth what with all the pretty little animals trying to kill you, like cows and deer, and the odd lump of firewood sitting in the middle of the lane. Unless on full beam I have always found bike lights crap for lighting up the way ahead so being behind a car is ok for a while, if they are traveling at the same speed I want to, which invariably they aren't if I have caught up with them. Depends on how much further I have to go as to whether I overtake them or not. Once you get passed them your forward visibility drops, and then they can keep right up your arse as you have to go slower. I hate having lights shining in my mirrors distracting me.

Only one tip for night riding - use a clear visor. Got caught out again last week having to work late and then get home on unlit rural roads with a dark visor. This reminds me of another tip I heard years ago. A good way of practising riding at night without the risk is to go out during the day but ride with your eyes closed for a bit. Just 30 seconds at a time like, nothing daft.

**Sentox** · 29th May 2010, 16:21

Originally Posted by Berries

Only one tip for night riding - use a clear visor. Got caught out again last week having to work late and then get home on unlit rural roads with a dark visor.

Better yet, get a dual visor helmet. I couldn't live without one (ok, slight hyperbole, but they are great).

This reminds me of another tip I heard years ago. A good way of practising riding at night without the risk is to go out during the day but ride with your eyes closed for a bit. Just 30 seconds at a time like, nothing daft.

And if you want to go faster, just enter some hairpins at a higher speed than normal. Nothing daft, just 250kph or so.

**Gremlin** · 29th May 2010, 18:01

I've done a lot of night riding and continue to do so. A good smooth technique and simply ride to the conditions (without sounding like a govt ad). I enjoy it, and it can be very peaceful

**CookMySock** · 29th May 2010, 18:20

I enjoy riding at night, but I think I'd be sticking to main highways that were well swept by traffic. Heated clothing makes it much safer - to dangerous being cold at night.

Steve

**Ixion** · 29th May 2010, 18:27

I enjoy night riding. I don't think it is any more dangerous than by day. Fewer cops on country roads at night so that has to be safer

**ellipsis** · 29th May 2010, 23:26

Originally Posted by Berries

A good way of practising riding at night without the risk is to go out during the day but ride with your eyes closed for a bit. Just 30 seconds at a time like, nothing daft.

...hmmmm, real clever, must duck in here know and again, see what kind of really intelligent survival skills I can glean from such people as you, like nothing daft...