Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating, fun, and freeing. That being said, it can also be dangerous.
Motorcycles lack even the most basic safety features that the majority of cars have. Traffic fatalities disproportionately affect motorcyclists, with around 5,000 riders dying each year.
Luckily, riding a motorcycle doesn’t have to be as dangerous as many people make it. The truth is that there are plenty of motorcycle safety tips that can make a big difference.
So what do you need to know?
Keep reading to learn about four tips that can help you create a motorcycle safety foundation.
1. Always Check the Weather Beforehand
Make sure to always check the weather before you head out on the road. Rain, snow, ice, and wind can all make it difficult to drive and increase your chances of getting into an accident.
Aside from making your drive more treacherous, bad weather can also be painful. Rain might not hurt you when it falls when you’re stationary, but when you’re driving at 50 mph, it can feel like chunks of ice.
Avoid the pain and the danger altogether by staying home or hopping in a car.
2. Be Extra Cautious at Intersections
Intersections are one of the most common areas for motorcycle accidents to take place. Oftentimes, drivers find it difficult to see motorcyclists. This can lead to them turning into you.
Make sure to be extra cautious when passing through any intersection. Make your presence known and ensure that other drivers see you.
To ensure that you have the necessary skills to navigate places like intersections, you might want to consider taking a motorcycle safety course.
3. Be Aware of Your Location on the Road
It’s easy to forget that as a motorcyclist, you’re not that easy to see. This is especially true when you’re in another driver’s blind spot.
Be careful when passing cars and trucks, as they might not know that you’re there. Try to pass them as fast as possible, and make sure that they don’t try to move over while you’re still going by them.
4. Always Use Turn Signals
Zooming around on a motorcycle is fun, but that doesn’t mean that you get to skimp on safety. Before you make any lane changes or turns, don’t forget to turn on your turn signal. Other drivers need to see it.
If you do use a turn signal and you still get into an accident, make sure to pursue the matter in court. Have a look here to learn all about motorcycle accidents and lawyers.
Make Motorcycle Safety a Priority
If you don’t want to be a part of a statistic, you need to take riding a motorcycle seriously. That means making safety your number one priority at all times.
Make sure to follow this guide and the different motorcycle tips mentioned. In doing so, you’ll have no problem enjoying your ride will also staying safe.
Are you interested in learning more about how to create a motorcycle safety foundation? If you are, spend some time checking out some of the other posts on our site.