Motorcycle Riding Tips
Updated April 23, 2024 | Published May 3, 2023
-
Categories:
- For Drivers
- Recreational Vehicles
- Safe Driving
May is Motorcycle Safety Awareness month. There are over 160,000 registered motorcycles in Massachusetts. Over 2,000 motorcycle accidents occur every year in the state; 80% of them resulting in a serious injury or death. Operating a motorcycle is different than driving a car; and therefore require separate sets of safety tips to use them without getting into an accident. Let’s dive into some safety tips for motorcyclists.
The first and most important motorcycle safety tip to remember is to be mindful of potential collision spots with cars, and how perform evasive maneuvers. People operating cars often don’t notice motorcycles, which means you need to fend for yourself. Ride within your skill level and acknowledge any situational limits.
Know Your Bike and How to Use It
- It is important to study your bike’s owner’s manual, as well as doing a pre-ride check before you hop on your bike.
- This pre-ride check should consist of checking the lights, tire pressure, and fluids.
- Get formal hands-on training and take refresher courses to ensure you’re always knowledgeable of the most recent safety tips.
- Develop your riding techniques before venturing into traffic. The most important of these techniques are emergency braking and swerving maneuvers. Practice often and in an open space, like a parking lot or road with little traffic.
- Corner within your skill limits. Aggressive cornering maneuvers is a major proponent of accidents.
- Know how to handle your bike in less than optimal conditions, such as wet or sandy roads, high winds, and uneven surfaces.
Before you start your bike, you should also ask these questions:
- Do you feel cramped?
- Are your shoulders relaxed?
- Is your back comfortable?
- Have you checked the clutch and brake levers? Do they have a proper amount of resistance with some jiggle in the handle?
Be Visible
- Remember that car drivers often have trouble seeing motorcycles. Pretend that nobody on the road sees you and drive defensively, and you’ll put yourself at less risk of an accident.
- Test your headlight and ensure it’s on at all times.
- To ensure your own visibility, use reflective strips or decals on your clothing and on your motorcycle.
- Avoid riding in the blind spots of cars and trucks. This is where the evasive maneuvers come in handy.
- If possible, flash your brake light when you are slowing down to notify other drivers that you’re stopping.
Dress for Safety
- Wear a good quality helmet and eye protection. We recommend that you wear a full-face helmet because it provides the best protection. This type of helmet protects the chin which is the most common point of impact in motorcycle accidents.
- For the rest of your body, it’s a good idea to wear leather or other sturdy, protective clothing for jackets and pants
- Make sure to wear over the ankle boots to protect your ankles, and gloves as well.
- Bright clothing and a light-colored helmet increase your visibility.
Apply Effective Motorcycle Safety Mental Strategies
- Constantly search the road for changing conditions. Use the Search-Evaluate-Execute strategy to assess and respond to hazards before you have to react to an emergency.
- Allow for extra time as you search for escape paths when a car overtakes your right of way. It’s also important to allow others on the road extra time to respond to you, because your vehicle is smaller than theirs.
- Utilize lane positioning to see and be seen.
- Identify vehicles that may turn across your path at intersections.
- Use your turn signals for all turns and lane changes.
- Stay off the road when you’re tired or under the influence.
- Know and follow the rules of the road. Consult your local DMV for the exact rules of the road in your state.
WebFirst Insurance offers insurance on motorcycles, along with other Recreational Vehicles. As this biking season starts up, consider checking out WebFirst Insurance to fulfill your insurance needs. We provide exceptional service and years of insurance knowledge to help find you an affordable rate based on your needs.