Sandy Springs Motorcycle Accident Lawyer

Tips for Motorcycle Safety

While riding motorcycles can be fun and exhilarating, it can also be very dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. What you’ll find below is a list of tips to ensure your safety during every ride.

Take a Safety Course

When riding a motorcycle, you need to have good skills and judgment. Taking a safety course can teach you the appropriate actions to take when you are faced with the unpredictability of riding a motorcycle. It will also provide you with the rules of the road. A safety course can help you practice skill and good judgment when riding a motorcycle.

Avoid Bad Weather

Inclement weather such as rain, ice, and snow can cause hazardous road conditions for any type of motor vehicle, but is especially dangerous for bikers. Motorcycles have less traction and lower visibility than cars and trucks. Checking weather conditions before you go for a ride can prevent an accident from occurring. If inclement weather is in the forecast for the day, it would be best to choose a different day to go riding.

Wear Protective Gear

Wearing protective gear can protect you from things like debris, road rash, and other injuries. Protective gear should include a DOT-approved helmet, goggles, leather jacket, leather pants, boots that cover the ankles, and non-slip gloves.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), helmet use can reduce the risk of motorcycle accident victims from experiencing a head injury by 69% and can reduce the risk of fatality by 37%.

Keep Your Motorcycle in Tip-Top Shape

Inspecting your motorcycle before each ride can help ensure it is as safe as possible. You can inspect your motorcycle by checking the headlights, tail lights, turn signals, brakes, fuel, oil, tire pressure, mirrors, handlebars, and horn.

Follow Traffic Laws

Obeying traffic laws like using your signals and driving the posted speed limit might sound repetitive, but it’s crucial to ensuring your safety along with the safety of others.

Increase Visibility

You should never assume that you are visible to all other drivers. The Hurt Report published by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration states that 75% of accidents that involve motorcycles are the result of the car and truck drivers not being able to see the motorcycle. Some ways to stay visible to any and all drivers would be to avoid the blind spots of other drivers, drive with your headlights on at all times, wear bright or reflective clothing, and always use your turn signals and hand signals.

Avoid Dangerous Road Conditions

Defensive driving can help anticipate any traffic problems and road hazards that may arise. Certain things like sand, oil, and gravel can cause you to lose traction. You should also avoid potholes and bumps because they are just as dangerous. Lastly, it’s important to cross railroad tracks at the appropriate angle.

Keep Your Distance From Other Vehicles

Following too closely behind another vehicle is not safe. The recommended distance between vehicles is at least four seconds. Keeping this distance between you and another vehicle will allow you to stop in case of an emergency situation. It’s also a good idea to have an escape route in mind in case you are not able to stop in time, such as moving to the shoulder.

Carry a Small First Aid Kit

Having a first-aid kit on hand when you’re riding your motorcycle is a good idea should you sustain an injury. A small first-aid kit should include essentials such as disinfecting wipes, bandages, hand sanitizer, gauze, Band-Aids, and adhesive tape.