How to Choose Motorcycle Helmet Color
Sometimes, the color that you choose for your motorcycle helmet can make the difference between life and death.
When choosing motorcycle helmet colors, you must keep visibility in mind. All helmets — whether black, white, pink, or blue — have their own associated risks and benefits. But when you’re going to be riding on the open road, nothing is scarier than not having visibility.
Which Colors Are the Most Visible?
As a biker, you might be itching to show off your badass style with a sleek black helmet. Be aware! A black helmet does not stand out much on a busy highway or black pavement.
White and hi-viz colored helmets are better than black in this respect because they are reflective. The colors have an impact on how visible you are to other motorists. When you wear a bright color like yellow or orange, your chances of being seen by drivers who might otherwise have missed you go up.
This is especially true at night when visibility is limited and people may be more tired than usual behind the wheel. By contrast, wearing a black or dark-colored helmet will put you at risk of being overlooked in low light conditions. To ensure that motorcyclists stand out from their surroundings and remain safe while riding their bikes, it’s important to choose the right color helmet.
Look at this chart of the number and percentage of motorcyclists’ deaths in 2019.
Despite the fewer number of motorcycles on the road during night time (especially between midnight and 6 am) the percentage of nighttime accidents is almost equal to daytime accidents.
Why Are Motorcycles Hard to Spot in Traffic?
While it might seem like most crashes between motorcycles and cars or trucks are caused by distracted drivers not paying attention to their surroundings, these types of accidents aren’t usually the result of one specific thing.
Motorcycles are smaller than other vehicles, so it’s tough to spot them in traffic. There are also times when motorcyclists might ride out of view or behind a vehicle, making them more difficult to notice.
Another potential reason is the blind spots in cars and trucks. Blind spots are places that are out of a driver’s visual reach because something is in the way, such as a mirror. These blind spots may be especially large on pick-up trucks and other vehicles with larger mirrors.
The fact that car and truck drivers might not notice motorcycles is one reason why motorcyclist deaths occur so frequently in car crashes.
In addition to these factors, weather conditions might also play a role in car vs motorcycle crashes. Rainy seasons and bad weather create slick surfaces that can lead to skids as well as visibility issues for both drivers and riders alike.
Can Colorful Motorcycle Helmets Be a Solution?
The chart above clearly shows the high percentage of nighttime accidents and subsequent deaths. It happens because of low visibility along with a few other reasons.
Riders can reduce the death toll by using some highly visible products, such as high-viz helmets, fluorescent straps on the jacket, strobe lights, etc.
Choosing a brightly colored helmet can increase a rider’s visibility and decrease the chances of being involved in an accident or injury while riding.
Most newly purchased cars come with bright headlights to improve night vision for both the driver and others around them, which increases their ability to see motorbikes as well. Look at it this way: would you rather be seen by everyone driving around you or just glanced over?
The Bottom Line
Motorcycle helmets come in all different colors imaginable these days. When choosing your motorcycle helmet color, consider how visible you want to be. If you choose a hi-viz helmet or one with reflective decals, it’s sure to increase your safety while riding. It also ensures the safety of other drivers who might otherwise have a hard time seeing you on the road.
