13 Tips to Driving Safely: Motorcyclist Edition
When riding a motorcycle, it is always crucial to proceed with caution. While the high speed and the cool breeze make motorcycle riding fun and exciting, they are, nonetheless, a dangerous activity. According to iii (Insurance Information Institute), motorcycle crashes have resulted in over 5,000 deaths in 2019 and the numbers may be rising. For the many reasons why accidents happen, we want to offer you some tips to help you avoid future accidents. Motorcycles are fun to ride, but you must do it right to make sure that you can enjoy the fun and excitement. So, we are here to help! Follow our tips to get in the habit of driving safely. We want you to have fun, but we really want you to have fun safely. Read on and start practicing these tips as you continue your motorcycle journeys.
#1 Always Wear Protective Gear
Motorcycle riding is unlike driving a bicycle, car, or truck. You are required to wear protective gear to protect yourself from potential accidents, especially for beginners. To be fully protected, wear a full-face helmet, jacket, pants, gloves, boots, and optional accessories for eye and ear protection. They are essential to protect you against collisions.
And yes, the same is true even on a hot summer day or you only plan for a quick ride. Anything can happen and the best way to protect against it is to wear your protective gear. You should never forget them when you are taking a motorcycle ride.
#2 Ride a Comfortable Motorcycle
Motorcycles come in many sizes, weights, and engine powers. Nonetheless, you should make sure that your motorcycle is the best fit for you. The right one is the one where you are comfortable in your seating position with your feet well rested on the ground. You should be able to easily get on and off and monitor different controls and handlebars. Choosing the right motorcycle for you is essential to help you have a fun and safe riding journey. (Check out our types of motorcycle blog to help you find the right one if you have not already).
#3 Pre-Ride Check on Your Motorcycle
It is a general rule that you should check your vehicle before you drive it. With a precheck, you are on the lookout for potential malfunctions that may cause a future accident. Check your headlights, turn signals, brakes, fuel oil, taillights, oil pressure, mirrors, horns, tire pressure, and handlebars. Make sure they are in the right condition for you to drive safely. Never go driving without a pre-check to confirm that your motorcycle is in a healthy condition to carry you.
#4 Prepare a Tool & Aid Kits
Even though storage is limited on motorcycles, there is likely some space for a first aid kit. You can get one at your nearest pharmacy or create your own aid kit. The items you should include are not limited to bandages, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, adhesive take, band-aids, and gauze. In addition, you can prepare yourself in case your motorcycle has minor issues and needs a quick fix like a loosening screw or bolt. Create a small tool pouch with small wrenches and screwdrivers that fits your motorcycle. You never know when it will come in handy.
#5 Practice Leaning
Leaning is a potential move you will be performing when you are riding the motorcycle, especially when you are trying to read the road as you make your turns. You are required to be seated in the right position and perform a counter-steer to start your initial lean. This challenges you to find the right balance between the speed you are using and the pressure you are leaning at. Too much or too little of one or the other can easily get you off the wrong track. Make sure you have enough practice on your leaning skills before you head out on the road.
#6 Brake Before a Turn
For beginners, it is highly recommended to practice your braking skills and know when to do so. For instance, if you are making any turns at an intersection or a U-turn, you need to make sure that you are braking before your turns. By braking, you are giving yourself the time to settle your position and slow down as you signal other drivers of your intention to make a turn.
When you are making a turn, you can use both front and rear brakes to give you extra time to stop faster. This avoids sudden brakes that can lead to accidents when you fail to stop at the right place at the right time. Today, many motorcycles are designed to have anti-lock brakes. You can also upgrade your brakes to ensure that you can brake safely.
#7 Maintain a Safe Speed
Motorcycles are fast. Their engines are designed and powered to travel great distances. Therefore, if you are riding your motorcycle on the street, in the presence of other vehicles and traffic signals, it is important that you are riding at or below the speed limit.
While riding at a high speed is fun as you can enjoy the wind, it is extremely dangerous to ride at a high speed on the streets. You have so much to look around you and you are unable to do so at high speed. When riding on the streets, you should be mindful of slippery roads and possible unstable road conditions. At a high speed, you are unlikely to brake in time to watch out for these potential issues on the road. Always slow down and be on the watch out for other vehicles as you drive.
#8 Keep a Distance Between Other Vehicles
Do not get too close behind or near cars and large trucks. You will be in another driver’s blind spots making yourself hard to spot and more likely of getting into accidents. Instead, try to stay to the rear or to the front of them so either you or the other driver can be informed to avoid accidents.
A rule of thumb is to maintain a two-second following distance behind the vehicle. This gives you the opportunity to respond and act accordingly if the driver in the front makes a sudden stop or move. Keep in mind that it takes a longer time for larger vehicles to stop and turn. Always be on the lookout for other drivers and keep a safe distance between them so you have time to react in case of an emergency.
#9 Plan for Escape Paths
As you share lanes with other vehicles from cars to large trucks to bicycles, sometimes other vehicles might come in your way, and you are required to move. Quickly scan the surroundings and plan for several escape paths to help you prepare for shifts or sudden changes in lanes when you need to make way for other vehicles. Constantly look around and plan your escape paths even if you may not need to use them. Consider that if something comes in your path, how will you make way? By moving left? Or the right? As you make necessary moves, do it quickly and safely.
#10 Avoid Blind Spots
There will be many other vehicles riding on the same lane as you. As one of the smallest vehicles compared to a truck and a car, it is important that you watch where you are going. You need to keep in mind potential blind spots you may be in as you make your way across different lanes and make turns.
A good habit to maintain is to always check and keep in mind your blind spots as you stay out of the other driver’s blind spots. Sometimes you may end up in another’s blind spot to pass them or by accident. Make sure to quickly pass the blind spot area to make your presence aware to other drivers.
#11 Be Visible
Making your presence visible to other drivers on the road is important. Motorists often fail to spot motorcycles because they are likely in their blind spot. If you do not move out of their blind spot areas quickly, you are putting yourself at risk of collision or crash.
To signal your presence, always use your headlights. Before any trip, make sure that they are clear and functioning. Using your turn signals is another way to show your presence at intersections. This informs other drivers that you are planning to slow down or stop. In addition, you can also wear bright colored protective wear to help other drivers to spot you at a distance.
#12 Scan Your Surrounding
While mirrors are a great way to help you check your surroundings, do not simply rely on them. Instead, look around to see where you are going. If necessary, turn your head to look behind you and observe the traffic. It is not recommended for you to stare at an object as you proceed forward, but rather keep your head and eyes looking out at the horizon. You want to have a clear view of the traffic at your sides and in front of you.
That said, when you are making a turn, remember to look through the turn and scan the surroundings for the next exit or straightway and make sure you are riding where you want to go. Like driving any other vehicle, you need to scan your surroundings from all sides to help you drive safely.
#13 No Impaired Riding
Whether it is after the consumption of alcohol or any type of drug, you should never ride your motorcycle. Driving a motorcycle under normal conditions is hard, not to say that you are under the condition of a tired brain with slow reaction judgments. It can cause you great trouble as you struggle to read the road, make your moves, and keep yourself conscious at the same time. Do not ride when you are impaired or not feeling well. Find alternative transportation instead and save the ride on the motorcycle next time.
Practicing safe driving can save you from troubles and costly consequences. Follow our tips and make sure you are prepared and equipped to drive safely on your motorcycle journeys.
For more information about driving tips, visit our website at https://www.ferraridrivingschool.com/.