{"body":"\n<p>In night riding two problems grow at once: you see less of the road, and other drivers see you less. A motorcycle's narrow silhouette and single headlight make it harder to judge distance and speed in the dark. So at night you need separate measures for both seeing and being seen.</p>\n<h2>1. Seeing: headlight and lighting</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Headlight aim:</b> A headlight pointing too low shortens your sight distance, and one pointing too high dazzles oncoming drivers. When you carry luggage or a passenger the rear sags and the headlight tilts up; check the aim accordingly.</li>\n<li><b>Cleanliness:</b> If the headlight lens is dirty or yellowed, the light is greatly reduced. Wipe the headlight before a long trip.</li>\n<li><b>Bulb:</b> Halogen bulbs weaken over time. When replacing, use an approved product suited to your motorcycle. Cheap LED bulbs fitted in an unsuitable housing scatter the light, spoiling your vision and dazzling oncoming drivers.</li>\n<li><b>Auxiliary fog/driving lights:</b> Very useful for lighting the roadside, especially on adventure bikes. They should be fitted at the right angle and in line with the regulations; see the <a href=\"#/kurallar\">rules</a> page for details.</li>\n<li><b>Main beam:</b> Use it when there is no vehicle ahead or oncoming, and dip it immediately when a vehicle appears.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>2. Visor and glasses</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Don't ride at night with a tinted visor.</b> A dark visor reduces vision in the dark to a dangerous degree. If you use a tinted one in the daytime, carry a clear visor with you, or prefer a helmet with an internal sun visor.</li>\n<li><b>Scratched visor:</b> Scratches you don't notice in the day shine like stars in the headlights of oncoming vehicles at night. Replace a scratched visor.</li>\n<li><b>Fogging:</b> The air cools at night and the visor mists. Pinlock (anti-fog inner visor) is the most effective solution.</li>\n<li><b>Cleanliness:</b> Insect splatters scatter light at night. Clean the visor with water and a soft cloth at breaks.</li>\n<li>Yellow-lensed \"night glasses\" sold for night use in most cases reduce the total amount of light; don't rely on them to improve your vision.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>3. Being seen: reflectors and colour</h2>\n<p>A black jacket, black helmet and black motorcycle are almost invisible at night. Other drivers notice the light first; they need extra cues to identify you as a motorcycle.</p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Reflective strips:</b> On the shoulders, arms and back of the jacket; on the back of the helmet; on bags. Reflectors on moving parts (wrists, boots) draw more attention.</li>\n<li><b>Reflective vest:</b> Cheap and light, worn over the jacket. Especially effective on dark roads outside town.</li>\n<li><b>Light colours:</b> A white or fluorescent helmet increases visibility by day and at dusk.</li>\n<li><b>Tail light and brake light:</b> Check that they work before every ride. A motorcycle with a faulty brake light is a major danger to those behind.</li>\n<li><b>When braking:</b> When approaching a junction or slowing down, lightly tapping the brake a few times flashes the brake light on and off and draws the attention of the driver behind.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>4. Coping with glare</h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Don't look directly at oncoming headlights. Shift your gaze to <b>the right edge line of your own lane</b> and follow the road from there.</li>\n<li>Reduce speed when dazzled; it can take a few seconds for your eyes to readjust to the dark.</li>\n<li>If main beam from behind is dazzling the mirror, change the mirror angle slightly and let the vehicle pass.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>5. Night road hazards</h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Animals:</b> On rural roads, animals such as dogs, cows, pigs and deer are more active at night and at dusk. Slow down when you see eyes shining at the roadside.</li>\n<li><b>Road defects:</b> Potholes, patches, debris and manhole covers are the obstacles hardest to notice at night. Ride at a speed that matches your sight distance.</li>\n<li><b>Drunk and tired drivers:</b> Late at night, leave a wider following distance behind vehicles that stray from their lane and take extra care at junctions.</li>\n<li><b>Wet roads:</b> Rain at night brings the oil in the tarmac to the surface, and the wet surface reflects light and hides the lines. See <a href=\"#/rehber/yagmur\">riding in the rain</a>.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>6. Fatigue and concentration</h2>\n<p>Night riding coincides with the body's sleeping hours. Heavy eyelids, not remembering the same road and drifting in the lane are serious warning signs.</p>\n<ul>\n<li>Avoid long journeys during the hours when you normally sleep.</li>\n<li>Take breaks more often than in the day; a short walk and water help.</li>\n<li>Coffee is a temporary fix; if you are sleepy, stopping at a safe place for a short sleep is the only real solution.</li>\n<li>The air cools quickly at night; being cold reduces both attention and reflexes. Take a thin extra layer even in summer.</li>\n</ul>\n<h2>Night riding checklist</h2>\n<ol>\n<li>Do the headlight, main beam, tail light, brake light and indicators work?</li>\n<li>Are the headlight lens and visor clean, and is the visor clear?</li>\n<li>Is there a reflective surface on the jacket or vest?</li>\n<li>Do you have a spare layer and water with you?</li>\n<li>Are the fuel stations on the route open at night?</li>\n</ol>\n<div class=\"callout\">Night visibility is as much a matter of habit as of equipment. When choosing gear, look at reflective details too; details in the <a href=\"#/rehber/ekipman\">gear guide</a>.</div>"}