Motorcycle Story
By Thomas Rossetti
10 Ways to Be Safe on a Motorcycle
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. Motorcycle
Safety depends on you.
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 right Turners and those
running lights: Beware of oncoming motorists turning right in
front of you at intersections. This is the leading cause of
death of motorcycle riders. 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 right turner. Eye contact is not enough. Watch
out for those who do not pay attention to traffic lights and
those who think that laws do not apply to them.
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 Sunglare: 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.
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.
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