By wearing bright clothing and a light coloured helmet, the guy who is talking on his cell phone about last night's game, has a better chance of seeing you. If all car drivers were as vigilant as the average motorcycle rider, we wouldn't have to take these measures, but their not, and saying sorry just isn't enough. Always ride with your headlight on.
CRASH HELMET
We've already talked about the crash helmet, but it's such a crucial piece of kit that it deserves another mention. A white or silver helmet is favourite, but there's another aspect of the lid that's probably more important; the fit. An ill fitting helmet can cause an accident by distraction. If it's too small, it's going to be very uncomfortable, but if it's too big, you'll be forever pulling it back down onto your head or adjusting the strap that feels like it's going to decapitate you, when you should be watching the road.
SPEED
This probably should be number one. Excessive speed causes more motorcycle accidents than anything else. Apart from being downright unsociable, speed can not only be a sure-fire way of losing your licence, it can also empty your bank account, but I suppose having no money doesn't matter when you're dead.
YOUR BIKE
Hopefully, your motorcycle will have been maintained to a certain degree, but before you set out on a journey, whether it be long or short, check that your lights are working and the tyre pressures are what they should be. A visual check of the chain (if you have one) is also a good idea. If you're riding your own bike, you will notice if there are any unusual sounds coming from the machine. If there are, stop and investigate.
CLOTHING
As we said, bright clothing is better, but a yellow pair of shorts isn't exactly what I was thinking of. Anyone who has slid across the tarmac for more than two feet will tell you that your clothing needs to offer some protection. If you do come off your bike, the first thing you're going to do is reach out with your hands in order to protect your face, so wear a decent pair of gloves or forfeit your skin.
ALCOHOL AND DRUGS
I shouldn't really have to include this section, and the people who use the road under the influence of alcohol or drugs aren't going to listen to anyone anyway, but I'd just like to ask anyone who does, to let me know when they're going to be out and about, so that I can keep myself and my family off the road. No, no, no.
RIDING AN UNFAMILIAR BIKE
If you've just bought a new bike, or you've borrowed your mate's machine, take a little time to familiarise yourself with the handling before you get too carried away. Even bikes of the same make have their own little foibles and need to feel loved.
TIREDNESS
Tiredness is a definite killer, especially on a motorcycle when you need to be on the ball one hundred percent of the time. I know if you're on a long journey it's not easy to pull over to the side of the road and have forty winks, but it may be well worth stopping for a coffee.
RIDING WITH A PILLION
Riding with a pillion can turn your beautiful-handling machine into a monster, especially if you're not used to it. A pillion affects the balance, performance and handling of any bike, so be aware from the outset that there's someone behind you. Another thing to bear in mind is that your pillion doesn't need the living daylights scared out of them. Be courteous to your passenger.
ANTICIPATION
One of the most important weapons in your armoury is anticipation. Try to anticipate trouble before it happens. Ride as if you're invisible and expect cars to pull out in front of you, so that when they do you are mentally prepared and have adopted a good road position and speed to handle it.
If you fancy it, it may be a good idea to attend a training session or two. I know; I'm not your Dad, but I do want you to arrive safely. Safe riding.
Motorcyclists are amongst the most vulnerable in the motoring public. In any collision with a four-wheel vehicle, a motorcyclist is always at a severe disadvantage. An accident that is just a simple panel-beating exercise for a car or truck can mean death or disability for a motorcyclist. It is not difficult to lose a limb, seriously damage internal organs, or become paralysed.
Motorcycle Safety Tip #1: Buckle On That Helmet
There is often disagreement between those who believe in wearing a motorcycle helmet and those that don't. Commonsense would say it is hard to isolate one single argument from the no-helmet brigade that makes any sense. Research statistics further substantiate the case for wearing helmets, showing that huge numbers of motorcyclists escape death by wearing them.
A very common motorcycle accident scenario is a rider being thrown off and landing on their head. For those wearing a good helmet, serious head injuries can usually be averted. An ejected rider might end up with a severe headache, but at least they are alive!
Even head injuries sustained at low impact can be fatal. A recent case was reported when a stationary motorcyclist was messing around in his driveway, lost his balance, fell off the bike and hit his head on the concrete driveway. He died from the injury a few days later. Because he was not going anywhere, he did not have his helmet on. The result was tragic and could easily have been averted.
A helmet is certainly not an iron-clad guarantee that an accident or serious injury will be avoided'no safety device is. However, wearing a motorcycle helmet will certainly improve the odds of surviving a motorcycle accident.
Motorcycle Safety Tip #2: Wear Brightly-colored, Protective Clothing
Motorcyclists should always wear the appropriate gear for protection and be clearly visible to other motorists. Motorcycle accidents can be pretty horrendous. Bikers ejected from their motorcycle can skid along the bitumen, and without protective leather clothes or boots can forcibly embed rocks, glass and other objects into their flesh. This can have disastrous consequences in pain and suffering which could easily have been avoided.
Motorcycle Safety Tip #3: Keep Awake And Stay Sober
Drowsiness and fatigue can seriously impair a motorcyclist's reflexes and ability to react. Bikers should avoid riding when very fatigued and take regular short breaks from driving. Alcohol and other drugs also seriously affect judgment and should be strictly avoided when riding a motorcycle.
Motorcycle Safety Tip #4: Abide By Traffic Laws
A substantial number of motorcycle riders involved in accidents are driving without licenses or are improperly licensed. Motorcyclists should ensure their licence is always up to date, and take care to obey the traffic laws. A regular refresh of road rules and local traffic laws is highly recommended, and most importantly ?? don't speed!
Motorcycle Safety Tip #5: Bike Safety And Planning
Motorcyclists should perform a motorcycle safety inspection before each ride. Accidents often occur as a result of mechanical problems. Plan ahead when riding in a group. Determine your route in advance and make sure it is coordinated with the other riders.
Motorcycle Safety Tip #6: Continuous Learning And Improvement
A large percentage of motorcyclists involved in accidents have had no driver training. Enrolling in a motorcycle training course is a good way of developing basic riding skills. Once the basic techniques are acquired, motorcyclists can sharpen their street-riding and accident-avoidance skills by taking an defensive driving course or advanced program for motorcyclists.
Motorcyclists have a responsibility to protect themselves as far as they can. By learning motorcycle safety tips such as wearing a good helmet, eye protection, protective clothing, and good boots, bikers can be better equipped when riding. You know it makes sense!
Both Alan Liptrot & Jean Littman are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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