When you’re beginning your journey toward becoming a full-fledged motorcyclist, the first area of focus you need to consider is safety. Understanding all the ways you can stay safe, and all of the hazards that you’ll need to learn how to avoid becomes essential. However, if you’re a beginner, knowing where to start can prove difficult. If you’re ready to become a safe biker, here are nine safety tips that brand-new motorcycle riders simply must know:
1. Inspect Your Bike Before Every Ride
Nothing can get you into trouble faster on a motorcycle than a mechanical malfunction. Knowing that your bike is in proper riding condition before every ride is critical to staying safe. Performing regular maintenance and checkups on your bike will also help you avoid high costs repairs in the future, so be sure to do a proper bike inspection before every ride.
2. Take a Motorcycle Safety Course
Especially if you’re a new driver, you need to understand how to ride your motorcycle in a proper, safety-minded fashion. Simply getting on your bike and spending a few hours to learn balance and the mechanical nature of your bike is nowhere near enough. Some states even require you to take a motorcycle safety course to get a bike license, but even if this practice is optional, you should heavily consider it.
3. Always Stay Visible to Other Drivers
If other motorists cannot see you on your bike, the chance of an accident occurring is significantly increased. Knowing how to ride far enough from other vehicles becomes particularly important in keeping yourself fully visible at all times. If you’re ever in a situation where the weather might make you hard to spot, you should consider waiting for this inclement weather to pass before hitting the road. If you find yourself hit by a vehicle through no fault of your own, contacting the motorcycle lawyers at RIL can help you find the legal help you need!
4. Wear Full Motorcycle Gear At All Times
Even if you think you look cool riding in regular clothes and no gear, everyone else realizes that you’re simply being unsafe. Not having a properly fitted helmet not only puts you in danger but the way your distractions will be increased from not wearing one puts everyone else on the road in danger as well. Wear all of your gear at all times, or you’ll be setting yourself up for a deadly accident (and fines depending on where you’re riding).
5. Maintain a Safe Distance from Other Vehicles
Beyond simply staying visible to other motorists, maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles puts you at a much smaller risk of being in an accident. Sudden stops, accidents, and a lack of visibility all become significantly less dangerous if you’re keeping at least three car lengths between yourself and every other vehicle on the road.
You’ve likely seen motorcyclists sharing lanes before. However, despite this being a common sight, it’s both incredibly dangerous and often illegal. If you do not have a full lane to ride in, it becomes difficult for you to correct your riding to prevent accidents. Additionally, other motorists will have a difficult time understanding where you’re intending to go if you’re sharing lanes with another motorcycle.
7. Carry a First-Aid Kit on Your Bike
Even if you’re not in an accident, a first-aid kit can help you save others if an accident occurs. Minor accidents on bikes are not uncommon and can lead to frustrating (if not serious) injuries like road rash. If you have a first-aid kit on your bike, you can easily treat road rash, and prevent nasty infections. Especially if you tend to ride in groups when on your motorcycle, having a first-aid kit handy is highly recommended.
Knowing that you’re following all traffic rules at all times is critical to staying safe on your bike. Because motorcycle accidents are more often deadly (when compared with larger vehicles), dismissing the traffic rules and road signs around you is incredibly irresponsible. If you think you’ve been in an accident that was in no way your fault, you may need to consider seeking qualified, professional legal help.
9. Never Ride Under the Influence
While it may not need to be stated for everyone, many people still fail to avoid driving under the influence. Because of the more deadly nature of motorcycle accidents, you’re putting your life at serious risk if you decide to drive under the influence while on a motorcycle. Additionally, you’re putting every other driver on the road at serious risk of death or major injury anytime that you decide to drive under the influence.
Staying Safe is Your Responsibility
Staying safe on the road in 2022 is your biggest responsibility as a motorcyclist. Even if you feel completely confident in your riding abilities, refreshing yourself on safety tips (or taking a training course) now and then is a great way to boost your dedication to riding safely.