A Safety Checklist For Your Next Motorcycle Adventure

Motorcycle touring is one of the most adventurous ways to travel. It’s also one of the most dangerous if you’re not careful. This means that some motorcycle safety tips are really more about having fun than staying alive. However, you can never be too careful when riding a motorcycle, especially on an adventure through foreign lands. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that in 2016, 5,029 motorcyclists died in traffic accidents. That’s 28 times higher than car drivers. Motorcycles account for only 3% of all registered vehicles in the United States, but about 14% of all traffic fatalities. If you or a loved one is injured in a motorcycle accident, you may want to talk to a personal injury lawyer. They will tell you all you need to do in a motorcycle accident.

The following tips will help you reduce your risk of being involved in a motorcycle accident; as well as provide you with some useful information regarding motorcycle safety:

Wear protective clothing.

According to the NHTSA, 37% of all motorcyclist fatalities did not have proper protective gear during their last crash. If you’re going to ride a motorcycle, you should know that it’s not as safe as being inside a car or truck. No matter how much padding you wear, no matter how much protective clothing you have, there is still a good chance of getting hurt in a crash. You should wear full protective gear whenever riding your bike so that you have the best chance of walking away from an accident with relatively minor injuries.

Wear full-coverage helmets.

The most important piece of equipment you should wear is a helmet; you should never ride without one! A DOT-approved helmet can prevent 37% of all brain injuries that could occur during a crash or collision. Full-coverage helmets are designed to protect more of your body in case of an accident than half-helmets or open face helmets. They tend to include things like visors and chin guards to protect your face and eyes from debris if you lay your bike down during an accident. Many states now make it illegal for people under a certain age to ride without a helmet.

Trip planning is important.

Check the weather forecast before you leave on your trip. Weather can have a significant impact on your safety while riding. Make sure that you will drive safely and comfortably in any conditions that might arise during your trip. There are several factors that can affect your ability to see the road ahead of you. You will have the most difficulty driving through rain, snow, or fog. It is always a good idea to check the weather forecast before leaving on your trip. If there is bad weather in the area you will be traveling through, wait a day or two until the weather clears up.

Check Your Motorcycle

It’s non-negotiable that your motorcycle should be in good working order before you depart on your journey. A motorcycle that has not been maintained properly may cause problems during the trip. The most important thing to check is to ensure your brake pads are for wear and make sure you have enough brake fluid in your reservoir to avoid running out of it while driving. If there isn’t enough brake fluid, your brakes won’t work properly, which is unsafe and illegal.

Also, check all exterior lights to ensure they work — headlights, taillights, and turn signals. Lastly, inspect the tires regularly and inflate them properly before starting on any trip. It is not worth taking a chance on a tire blowout or even losing control due to improperly inflated tires.

Drive Defensively

Motorcycle accident statistics show that most accidents are caused by the rider, not the other vehicle. In fact, in almost half of all motorcycle accidents, the motorcycle driver is deemed by police to be totally or even partially at fault.

A driver’s actions can increase a cyclist’s risk of getting into an accident if they aren’t careful.

Here are some tips on how to drive defensively around motorcycles.

Be alert. 

Motorcycles can be harder to see than cars because they’re smaller. They also have many blind spots, so you may not know when one is approaching. Be aware of your surroundings and watch carefully for motorcycles when making a turn or changing lanes.

Obey traffic laws.

It may seem obvious, but drivers aren’t always compliant with basic traffic laws. For example, hitting a motorcycle with your car when you fail to yield is one of the most common ways motorcyclists get into accidents. Also, don’t tailgate – it’s dangerous for everyone on the road, and it can cause you to lose control if the driver ahead slams on his brakes.

Keep your distance from other motorcycles while driving. 

Traffic experts recommend that drivers keep a minimum distance of three meters between their vehicle and any motorcycle they’re following.

You must make yourself aware of your surroundings, and you must be prepared to react to the actions of others. If you do this, your chances of being involved in a motorcycle accident are almost nil.

Avoid Overspeeding

Riding a motorcycle over the speed limit is a major cause of accidents. It also causes unnecessary loss of life and injuries. Over speeding contributes to 1/3rd of all motorcycle accidents. Remember that motorcycles are very vulnerable to overturning. Even at low speeds, the risk of overturning is very high. It is because motorcycles have only two wheels and do not have four wheels that provide stability on the move. Additionally, they do not have shock absorbers to absorb the impact of bumps on the road.

Overspeeding can cause a motorcycle to tip over for many reasons. It may be caused by hitting a bump on the road or a sudden turn that causes you to lose control of your bike. Since many motorcyclists do not like wearing helmets, they tend to ride recklessly without regard for their safety and speed limits.

Takeaway

A motorcycle ride is itself a beautiful adventure. But before starting your adventure, you have to observe some rules while riding a motorcycle. Like, before starting the journey, it’s important to check whether the air pressure in all tires is the same or not. Also, you have to be very vigilant and keep an eye on the road conditions and if there are any potholes on the road then take action to avoid them because potholes can damage your bike and in some cases, it can also lead to danger like accidents.

About the Author Atty. Jason M. Ferguson

Jason M. Ferguson, the founder of Ferguson Law Group, started his career working for an automobile insurance company as a trial attorney before owning his injury law firm for over 20 years. Attorney Ferguson has a unique experience, having tried cases on both sides of the court system in personal injury trials, unlike many other lawyers. Mr. Ferguson also served over 14 years as an Army Reserve officer and the Georgia Air National Guard. The Albany Herald recognized him as one of southwest Georgia’s “40 under 40” in 2010.