BRIGHT brakelight!

[Ulvetanna_imp]

Was reading on another thread about motorcycle accidents that perhaps nothing can be done to prevent certain accidents.

This is one thing that CAN be done and can help prevent being struck from behind.

I have only been rear-ended once in 34 years and it was MY fault. That is, even though the guy who thumped me (no real damage or injuries other than to my license plate) was legally at fault, I knew I could have done a few things to have prevented it happening.

One of those was to have a much brighter brake light. The bike I was riding had single, lame 1157 bulb. I replaced the entire brake light with one having 27 bright LEDs and an initial "triple-flash" and also added a supplemental license plate-mounted light, somewhat smaller than the one shown in this post.

I also make sure that as I move off from a stoplight change, I pull away slowly and keep the brake pedal depressed just enough to activate the brake light until I know I'm well clear of the vehicle following me, and I have enough room in front to react.

At a stop light the vehicles close up and it takes a few hundred feet of movement after the light changes to allow for proper following distance.

We have to do some of the driving for the cars around us, because most of the time they are not as smart or aware as we are.