There’s something special about riding a motorcycle that draws so many people to bikes over cars. Motorcyclists love the feel of the wind in their hair as they breeze along the open road on two wheels, able to weave around traffic more conveniently than car or van drivers, but these thrills and freedoms come at a cost.
Statistics show that around 5,000 motorcyclists are killed in the US each year, and it’s clear to see that riding a bike is often more dangerous than being behind the wheel of a car, with far fewer forms of protection available to bike riders. It’s only in recent years that we’ve started to see stronger helmets and airbag-equipped biker attire becoming available, for example.
But even with these new advancements, riding a bike can still be a risky endeavor, and failing to follow motorcycle laws, driving recklessly, or being unaware of your surroundings can make accidents much more likely to occur. With this in mind, let’s look at some simple but effective tips for bike riders to bear in mind for safely riding a motorcycle.
Get Equipped
Having the right safety equipment can be the difference between life and death for motorcycle riders. It’s as simple as that. Wearing a solid helmet will increase your chances of survival in an accident exponentially, and these days, there are plenty of other options for bike safety gear to go along with helmets.
Examples such as tough leather attire, clothing with airbags built-in, smart visors that let you see behind you, reflective tape that helps you stay safer in low-light conditions, and strong leather gloves too. Given that bikers are estimated to be about 27 times more likely to die in an accident than car drivers, it’s important to get all the help you can get to improve your odds.
Be Defensive
Something that many motorcycle riders learn quite early on is that they tend to be at a bit of a disadvantage on the roads when compared to car and van drivers. Since you and your bike constitute a smaller presence when compared to a big truck or family car, you’re less visible and it’s more likely that other road users may cut in front of you or drive too close.
In fact, a lot of motorcycle accidents are caused by car and van drivers not noticing or failing to respect proper distances from bike riders, and unfortunately, this is something that bikers have to cope with. The best way is to ride defensively, making your presence known with your headlights and horn if needed, avoiding blind spots of other vehicles, and always using your signals.
Stay Aware
Following on from the last point, it’s also extremely important for bike riders to be fully aware of their surroundings at all times and respond to the other road users around them, as well as weather conditions, hazards, and other elements that might affect their driving.
Being aware and alert can massively help you stay safe on the roads, as you’ll be able to identify hazards before they become more serious problems, taking evasive action accordingly. Naturally, a big part of being aware is ensuring that you never drive while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medications that could cause drowsiness or fatigue too.
Stay Calm
Another way to stay safe on the roads, which applies to all kinds of drivers and riders, is to keep cool, calm, and collected. Road rage is a leading cause of traffic accidents, and it’s especially easy for bikers to suffer from road rage if they feel that other road users are putting them in danger or driving recklessly around them.
It’s very easy to let your emotions get the best of you, wanting to speed up or get too close to another vehicle, but whenever this happens, you’ll be putting your own life at risk through your actions, becoming less aware of the conditions around you and having less control over your bike as well. Try to keep calm and handle other drivers’ carelessness with a more collected response.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why bike ownership is on the rise across America, as riding motorbikes can be a lot of fun offers something totally different to sitting behind the wheel of a car. However, in order to enjoy your bike riding, it’s so important to take proper safety precautions for safely riding a motorcycle. Follow these tips and improve your chances of avoiding accidents the next time you hit the road.
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