Electric scooters are a convenient, affordable, and eco-friendly way of getting around, but with the days getting shorter, you may end up travelling in the dark sometimes. So, can you ride electric scooters at night? A night ride can be incredibly peaceful, but it does mean a bit of extra preparation…
If you need to ride your scooter at night, it’s important to be careful to stay out of harm’s way and ensure you get to your destination safe and sound. Before you hit the streets after dark, take a look at our top tips for riding an electric scooter safely at night.
Can you ride electric scooters at night?
Electric scooter lights at night
The most important thing when riding your electric scooter at night is visibility. E-scooters are small and quiet compared to other vehicles on the road, and if you’re riding in an area with poor lighting, or even on a busy street with lots of other activity, it’s easy for other drivers not to notice you.
At night, you need to do everything you can to make sure you’re seen. Always ride with your front headlight and rear lights on, and check the quality of the light to ensure it’s not too weak. The light beams should project far enough for another driver to see you coming from a distance. We’ve made sure you’re covered with the Nought.One, but it’s always best to check with other scooters.
If you plan on travelling at night a lot, maybe you work the night shift, say, then consider an e-scooter with reflectors like the Nought.One for extra visibility. Alternatively, consider adding extra LED strip lights of your own to your electric scooter so that you’re visible, even in traffic.
E-scooter protective gear
Even if you do everything right while riding your e-scooter at night, it’s impossible to control what other drivers do on the roads, so it’s important to wear protective gear.
The first place to start is with a good helmet. According to 2016 study, wearing a helmet reduces the risk of serious head injury by almost 70%. Considering that our heads are pretty fragile and at night, the risk of falls or accidents is increased, it makes sense to wear a helmet, no matter how short the trip.
Check your electric scooter’s battery
Before you head out into the night, make sure that your scooter battery is fully charged and that all your lights are working. Lights generally use more power, and the last thing you need is for your battery to die mid-ride.
You never want to find yourself stuck on the side of the road in the dark. Plan your route beforehand so you know how much battery power you’ll need to get there and back.
Your electric scooter night ride checklist
Follow these quick tips when riding your e-scooter at night to ensure you get from A to B safely:
- check your scooter’s battery and electronics before going out
- make sure your battery is fully charged
- keep all of your lights on while riding
- ride with others if possible
- consider reflectors or LED strips for better visibility
- always wear a helmet
- wear reflective clothing if possible
- plan your route beforehand
- exercise caution when riding
- keep an eye out for potential hazards
- stay in well-lit areas
- go slow so you can react quickly
- always have a charged mobile phone with you.
So, can you ride electric scooters at night? Riding an electric scooter at night is perfectly safe if you take the right precautions. Follow the rules of the road and stay alert to oncoming traffic as well as pedestrians, and your nighttime rides will be a breeze.