Night Riding in Bali: Safety Tips for Scooter Riders

Riding at night, at sunset, and during dusk always requires extra caution from any driver, no matter where they are. But in Bali, there are a few additional things you really need to keep in mind.

Riding at sunset

The main danger at sunset is the sun itself. Pay attention to where it is. If the sun is behind you, remember that oncoming traffic is probably riding almost blindly, because the light is hitting drivers straight in the eyes. Avoid sudden maneuvers or turns that require a quick reaction from people coming toward you. Make sure they can actually see you.

If the sun is blinding you instead, keep in mind that drivers behind you are dealing with the same problem. They may miss your lane changes or turn signals. Try to change your line less often and stay predictable. It also helps to repeat your turn signals with hand gestures.

Dusk is the time when human vision works worst. Road accidents always become more frequent during this period. In low light, it is harder to judge distance, so leave more space than usual. Slow down — pedestrians, dogs, and other obstacles are much harder to notice now. They can seem to appear out of nowhere. That is simply how our eyes work: cones do most of the work during the day, rods take over at night, and at dusk the visual system is in an awkward in-between state.

Riding at night

Reduce your speed compared with your normal daytime pace. Visibility is worse, and surprises are more common.

Make sure the bike’s headlights and running lights are switched on and working both front and rear. Do not forget that the bike has both low beam and high beam. For normal riding, use low beam. High beam is useful on poorly lit roads. Just try not to blind oncoming traffic.

Here is a simple trick for dealing with bright headlights from the opposite lane: do not look directly at them. Shift your gaze slightly toward your own roadside, around 20 meters ahead. That helps you avoid being dazzled. Do not worry — your peripheral vision will still let you track what is happening on the road.

If you notice a rider in the distance who seems to have forgotten to switch from high beam, flash your own high beam once. Most likely, they will realize it and correct it.

One of the bigger dangers at night in Bali is local dogs. There are a lot of them, and they love lying on warm asphalt after dark. Because of their coloring, they can be very hard to spot. On top of that, they tend to dart across the road suddenly and without warning. Another good reason to keep your speed down.

Poor lighting and rough road surfaces are a bad combination. Potholes are common in Bali. So the rule is simple: never ride faster than your actual visibility allows. If you spot a pothole too late and there is no way around it, do not panic. If possible, shift your weight onto your legs, relax your grip on the handlebars, do not brake in the pothole itself, and release the brakes before you hit it. Hitting a hole does not automatically mean you will crash. Most likely, you will feel the удар and keep going. Still, stop afterward and check your rims and wheels.

If you know you will be riding at night, check whether your helmet visor is dusty. Wash it and wipe it clean — at night, dirt and streaks on the visor interfere much more than during the day.

An empty road does not mean a safe road. Do not fly through empty intersections at full speed. Any vehicle coming from a side road is still a risk. After all, the road may feel empty to them too.

Keep in mind that some riders travel without headlights at all and may even overtake using your lane.

Scooters with broken brake lights are another hazard. There are not too many of them, but keeping a safe distance is always the right choice.

Tourist areas have their own problem: reckless and drunk tourists, many of whom have only just started riding scooters. Stay away from them, and be extra careful in these areas. If you pass bars or nightclub entrances, watch out for intoxicated pedestrians. Their behavior is impossible to predict, so the safest option is simple — slow down as much as you can.