New Law Intends to Make Motorcycles Easier to See

Hundreds of new state laws go into effect Tuesday in Texas, including one intended to make motorcycles easier to see after dark.

Many bikers already have extra lights to make themselves more visible at night, but there's some confusion over what's been legal.

"If you ain't got them, all you got is the taillights, headlights, that's it," said Randy Turner. "So if you've got extra lights, running lights and whatever, other people are more likely to see you and not run over you."

A new state law that takes effect Sept. 1 allows bikers to ride with the lights turned on, but only white or amber LEDs that don't flash so other drivers aren't distracted.

"The headlights don't matter once you're beside them," said Rick Bennett, of Dallas. "So once you're past them and you're moving on, they can see a whole lot of you with the lights on."

"Typically on motorcycles when you're passing someone is when it's the most dangerous, because cars just don't see you," said Will Watson, at Longhorn Harley-Davidson in Grand Prairie.

"The typical location for these lights is they will put them here underneath the tanks and underneath the bright side to brighten up the motor so you can see all their shiny chrome," said Watson.

Nearly one in four accidents involving motorcycles happen after dark, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

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