10 Easy Ways to Keep Yourself Safe on a Motorcycle
Riding a motorcycle can be one of the most thrilling things you do. However, they are inherently one of the most dangerous activities as well. Here are 10 easy ways to keep yourself safe on a motorcycle.
1. Safety should always start with wearing proper protective gear. Make sure you dawn a road-legal helmet, safety goggles, heavy rubber riding boots and knee and elbow pads before you saddle up for maximum protection.
2. Also, before you saddle up, make sure you’re ready to ride. Start by preparing yourself mentally—clear your head of distracting thoughts to ensure your full attention is on the road. And you should always do a quick self-assessment to make sure you’re not too tired to focus or stay awake. Plus, you’ll want to make sure you’re not angry or frustrated about certain issues so you can avoid dangerous road range.
3. Try to avoid driving in inclement weather. Ever notice motorcyclists camped out under bridges on the highway? These are smart riders waiting for the rain to stop before they continue riding again.
4. Make sure you maintain full control over your motorcycle at all times, which includes keeping both hands on the handlebars at all times and avoiding silly stunts like wheelies and burnouts.
5. Avoid excessive speeds. Sure, it’s definitely fun to feel the wind whipping past, but it’s not fun to feel the pavement whipping past. Plus, avoiding excessive speeds will help your fuel economy.
6. Be aware of your surroundings at all times. This includes looking well ahead to know what possible obstacles are approaching. This way, if a nearby accident occurs, you’ll be able to safely maneuver around it.
7. Constantly check your mirrors and glance around you to keep a constant lock on your blind spots. Make sure to look for no more than three to four seconds though to make sure you stay aware of what’s in front of you.
8. Be aware of your line of sight. Make sure to always reduce your speed when approaching tight corners or areas of low visibility.
9. Before you go through an intersection, especially busy ones, check all directions before you proceed to ensure no other vehicles have ignored the traffic devices.
10. Impatience creates more waiting. Why? Because by following too closely and riding impatiently can inevitably cause you to have to wait in line at the emergency room. Maintain a two to four second following distance at all times.
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