How to Avoid Motorcycle Accidents
Every rider dreads the thought of a motorcycle accident. If you love to ride, knowing even a few tips on how to avoid motorcycle accidents is invaluable information. Avoiding motorcycle accidents involves having the right safety gear, employing safe driving techniques, and improving your visibility.
Safety Gear
One of the best ways to increase your odds of surviving a motorcycle accident (and decreasing the severity of your injuries) is to wear a Department of Transportation approved or SNELL tested motorcycle accident at all times. Studies show that many motorcycle accidents occur close to home or during short trips, and occasional helmet wearing is a dangerous habit to cultivate.
Harley Davidson provides riders with an online Helmet Guide to help them select the right balance of style, safety, and personal taste. Styles include half helmets, three quarter helmets, full-face helmets, and modular helmets, with each providing different levels of protection and features. Harley also offers tips for caring for your helmet and the benefits of each style.
In addition, some riders prefer to purchase a helmet that meets SNELL safety standards. These increased standards are outlined in a comparison to a DOT helmet here. You can also review the government’s complete list of safety regulations for motorcycles on their website. Getting a helmet that fits well is very important to safety. For this reason, it’s best to purchase a helmet from a vendor where you can try on several before purchasing.
Other safety gear includes armored textile jackets, leathers, gloves, and boots. These items protect the rider from injuries sustained when the rider skids along the pavement, commonly called “road rash”. A full-face helmet can also be useful in protecting a rider’s chin and cheeks from injury during a crash. In addition, goggles or sunglasses, earplugs, and hand guards for handlebars are also useful protective items for motorcycle riders.
Safe Driving Tips
Safe driving techniques can be used by all motorists to help avoid accidents. For the motorcyclist, defensive driving is essential. Motorcycle safety instructors teach drivers to avoid riding in blind spots and to be prepared for unexpected lane changes at all times.
Try to avoid speeding and practice banking, turning, and braking with a new bike in a familiar practice area before hitting the open road. Never ride if you’ve been drinking or using drugs, and keep in mind that some prescription drugs can also impair your ability to operate a motorcycle.
Improving Your Visibility
The majority of motorcycle accidents occur because another driver “didn’t see the motorcycle”. Major publicity campaigns nationwide have helped to increase the awareness of the problem, but motorcycle riders are encouraged to take actions to improve their visibility to help avoid motorcycle accidents. This can be accomplished by wearinglight colors like white and brightly colored jackets. In addition, safety experts recommend that riders use reflective tape, avoid riding black bikes, and use hand signals when riding. Additions to the bike, like running lamps and headlight modulators, can also help increase your visibility on the road.
According to research reported in Proficient Motorcycling, riding a louder motorcycle does not increase your visibility. Some motorcycle enthusiasts still prefer loud pipes, but it’s not necessary to purchase a bike with a loud exhaust purely for safety reasons.
Avoiding motorcycle accidents by having the right gear, using defensive driving techniques, and increasing your visibility is the motto of every wise motorcyclist.
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