Motorcycle
Safety
1.)
Assume Drivers Can't See You: Ride
assuming that you and your motorcycle are totally invisible to motorists. That
means you must never assume that drivers can see you. The odds are, they can't
so believe it yourself and always have an "out" for dangerous traffic
situations.
2.)
Maintain Safe Spacing: Leave plenty
of space in front and back and to the sides from all other vehicles. Be an
island. Stay away from traffic as much as possible. This gives you more
visibility and more time to react to situations.
3.)
Anticipate Trouble: Anticipate
trouble situations and know what to do when you see them. Analyze what vehicles
are doing and try to predict the outcome. Then make sure you're ready to avoid a
bad traffic situation.
4.)
Beware of Oncoming Left Turners: Beware
of oncoming motorists turning left in front of you at intersections. This is the
leading cause of death of motorcycle riders. I'm deadly serious here. I have
personally lost many friends to this accident. If you only remember one tip
here, let it be this one. Slow down before you enter an intersection. Have an
escape route planned. Stay visible. Don't travel too close to cars in front of
you. Position your bike so it can be seen by the left turner. Eye contact is not
enough.
5.)
Ride Your Own Ride: Don't try to
keep up with your friends who may be more experienced. Know your personal
limits. Ride your own ride.
6.)
Watch Out for Curves: Beware of
taking curves that you can't see around. A parked truck or a patch of sand may
be awaiting you.
7.)
Don't Give In to Road Rage: Do not
give in to road rage and try to "get even" with another rider or
motorist. If you follow these tips, most likely you won't fall victim to road
rage. It's better to calm down, slow down, and collect your thoughts first. Then
continue on and enjoy the ride. That's what we're all out there for in the first
place.
8.)
Don't allow Tailgating: If someone
is tailgating you, either speed up to open more space or pull over and let them
pass. Life is too short. Remember that a bike can stop faster than a car so you
don't want a truck on your tail when you find yourself trying to brake to avoid
an accident. Also, don't tailgate the vehicle in front of you. Oncoming drivers
can't see you.
9.)
Don't Be Blinded by Sun glare: Beware
of riding your motorcycle into sun glare. All it takes is turning a corner and
finding the sun either directly in your face or passing straight through your
windshield. Some helmets have shields to block the sun. Face shields help
somewhat. But sometimes you just find yourself blinded by the light. Slow down,
pull over, shield your eyes and look for a way to change direction.
10.)
Avoid Riding at Night: Avoid riding
at night, especially late Saturday night and early Sunday when drunken drivers
may be on the road. It goes without saying that you shouldn't drink and ride.
Going bar hopping? Leave the bike at home and find a designated driver.
What
Am I Trying To Say?
The
best way to be safe is to take a Motorcycle Safety
Foundation (MSF) course to learn the basic ways to control your motorcycle
and to learn how to recognize traffic situations that you need to be ready to
handle.
Always
wear protective clothing and a helmet. A tiny beanie helmet held on by a thin
strap and affixed with a fake DOT sticker is not enough.
Maintain
your bike so it is safe too. Keep records of the intervals when you replace
tires, chains, clutch cables, batteries, brakes, etc. You don't want an
equipment malfunction to contribute to a motorcycle accident.
Practice
riding under all kinds of traffic situations. Ride with a buddy if at all
possible. Avoid riding long distances alone.
Become
a member of any of our Motorcycles forums and read what other experienced riders
have to say about how to ride safely.
I want you to become an aged motorcyclist because you know how to survive on a motorcycle. I don't want to read about you in the newspaper or on a motorcycle forum or mailing list as yet another motorcycle statistic. Learn how to be safe and responsible on a motorcycle.
Be
Safe