Dusk is Coming Earlier

It’s time to adjust our riding strategies

After an exhilarating 350-mile (550-kilometre) ride through cottage country—riding around scenic lakes and carving my way through adrenaline-pumping twisties—I began to feel the day catching up with me. The sun had started to sink, and I could practically taste the barbecued ribs and pint of craft-brewed ale waiting for me when I got home. But, just as I started to think about relaxing, dusk snuck up on me, turning the once-bright roads shadowy, forcing me to adjust my riding to accommodate the elevated danger of riding at dusk.

Dusk is that tricky time of day when the light doesn’t just fade—it messes with your ability to see. For motorcyclists, this can be a serious riding challenge. Most of us have heard that a large number of accidents happen around dusk, but why? Let’s dig into it.

It’s all about the science

First off, there’s a physiological reason why our vision struggles at dusk, and it’s all about how our eyes work. The light-sensitive cells in our retinas—the rods and cones—play a crucial role. The cones give us sharp, clear vision during the day, while the rods help us see in low-light conditions like dusk and nighttime. Here’s the catch: during twilight, our cones can’t get enough light to do their job properly, but our rods aren’t fully switched on yet either. It’s like our vision is in a visually impaired in-between state which suddenly makes everything harder to see. Hazards on the road disappear into the twilight, and distances are harder to judge.

This doesn’t just affect you, though—it impacts every driver on the road. YIKES! That’s why dusk is one of the most dangerous times to be out riding. And if you needed any more convincing to light yourself up, here it is. Adding extra lighting to your bike, like AdMore’s rear Light Bar (shameless plug, I know, but it’s been a game changer for me), can make sure you are seen, noticed, and safer on the road.

As the light fades, your motorcycle becomes less visible to other drivers. Car drivers are already notorious for missing bikes on the road, but when dusk settles in, the odds of them spotting you drop even further. To make matters worse, you’re kept busy because potholes and debris are harder to see. You start to rely heavily on your headlights, but even they only do so much.

As the sun sinks towards the horizon, those riding directly into it have impaired vision. And, as the sun sinks even lower, you’re suddenly contending with a barrage of oncoming headlights. That glare—along with reflections off streetlights or damp pavement—can make it hard to maintain a clear view of the road. The shifting contrasts between light and dark zones mess with your vision, making it hard to focus and tricky to navigate. This is especially apparent when you are riding perpendicular to the setting sun in a wooded area. The staccato effect of rapid light-dark transitions can almost blind you.

Dusk also affects your depth perception. Distances can become deceptive, and gauging the speed of oncoming traffic can be a real challenge. You might find yourself wanting to slow down just to feel safe, but on busy highways, slowing down can put you in even more danger. Instead, I increase my following distance to three seconds and pay close attention to any vehicles following me. Cars may think they are further away from you than they are. That’s why if I do have to slow down quickly, I check my mirrors. That said, the pulsing LED brake light feature of the AdMore Light Bar warns anyone following me that I am slowing or stopping. If the slow-down is especially abrupt, I put on my hazard lights as a warning to drivers behind. The flashing LEDs on the light bar are particularly noticeable. I don’t rely on my light bar to keep me safe, I still need to pay attention and know what’s going on, but I’m glad I have it to add that extra bit of visibility—especially in diminished light conditions.

Then, of course, there’s the wildlife factor. Dusk is prime time for animals like deer and moose to come out. Even roads you’ve ridden a thousand times before can become wildcards during twilight hours, with unpredictable critters darting across at the worst possible moments.

There is also the human element. After a long ride—or even after a day’s work—fatigue starts to settle in. Our reactions are slower, our focus isn’t as sharp, and we’re sharing the road with drivers who are in the same state. Add rush hour into the mix, with everyone talking on their phones and hurrying home, and you have a cocktail of risk factors that makes dusk riding even more dangerous.

In urban and suburban settings, your headlight and taillight can easily disappear into the visual chaos of streetlights, neon signs, and brake lights. If you want to be seen, what helps is good lighting (mentioned already) and good gear. Wearing reflectivity on your jacket or helmet can significantly improve your chances of being seen. Using a polarized visor or wearing polarized glasses can help you see through this visual cacophony—keeping your focus sharp when the light fades. These might seem like small tweaks, but they help when you’re riding in low light. Whatever you can do to increase your chances of seeing or being seen can make all the difference.

Your riding technique also needs to shift. Dusk is when defensive riding is especially critical. You need to stay extra aware of your lane positioning, give yourself more space from the vehicle ahead (it deserves being said twice), know where other drivers are, and anticipate their actions because they might not be as alert or aware as you. Every move on the bike must become more deliberate and calculated.

Well, that probably doesn’t cover everything, but hopefully, it will provide you with enough to get you thinking about how you ride at dusk. It is not the same as daytime riding. You need to make a mental shift when you’re riding at dusk. A shift that tells you that it’s not quite night, but it’s definitely no longer day. You’ve got to mentally prepare yourself for night-riding conditions, even though it doesn’t feel like it yet. If you’re not ready for that transition, dusk can catch you off guard. If you are, it can be a beautiful time of day to ride.

Ride safe and be seen. I hope to see you out on the road sometime soon. Remember, becoming a skilled and confident rider is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it slow, enjoy the ride, and never stop learning. As I’ve discovered, motorcycling is more than just a hobby—it’s a lifestyle and a lifelong adventure.

– John Lewis


John Lewis

John is a passionate moto-traveller and motorcycle enthusiast who enjoys sharing stories that inform, inspire, and entertain. Specialising in motorcycle touring, safety, travel, or just about anything motorcycle-related, John’s insights, travels, and experiences have been featured in national magazines such as Motorcycle Mojo and The Motorcycle Times, as well as on various blogs and websites. When he is not riding or writing, he works as the service manager at a boutique motorcycle shop where he’s always ready to share a story or helpful tip.

One comment

  1. John Brennand

    Another tip I was given a long time ago, and it is also applicable early in the morning. If you are casting a long shadow in front of yourself, be aware that a driver – of any type of vehicle – may have a hard time seeing you as they sit at a STOP sign trying to gauge if it’s safe to enter the road. You are in an extreme backlighting set up and as a motorcycle you are substantially smaller in silhouette that any cage/pylon.

    (I only had time to skim the article, so I could have missed this)

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