In 2019 over 5000 people died in motorcycle accidents!
Riding a motorcycle is an exhilarating experience. However, riding a motorcycle can be risky, especially if you don’t take precautions. There are certain things that you must bear in mind in order to prevent motorcycle crashes from happening.
If you are concerned about your safety while riding a motorcycle, here is a look at what you need to do to prevent motorcycle accidents.
Pay Attention
One of the most important things you need to do when riding is to pay attention. Many cars have blind spots that make it difficult for some drivers to see smaller vehicles, such as a motorcycle on the road.
Whenever you are riding near a car, try to stay away from any blind spot by riding either in front of or behind the car. If a car is backing up, do not try to pass behind it. It is best to allow them to finish backing up before you proceed.
Keep Your Eye On the Wheels
Keeping your eyes on the wheels of every car near you on the road will ensure that you do not get into a bike accident. The angle of the wheel of a car will give you valuable information about where the motorist wants to go.
You may be able to see if a driver is about to turn on top of you when you take the time to observe the wheel of a car. You can even tell if a driver is going to change lanes. This information can help you prevent a lot of accidents.
Lookout for Obstructions and Blockages
Obstructions and blockages on the road often cause accidents. Be on the lookout for debris and even other cars parked on the road.
By keeping a keen eye on the road, you will be able to prevent an accident before it happens. Often, branches of trees may have fallen, puddles of water may be on the road, and gravel may have washed up on the road after heavy rainfall.
The best way to avoid getting into trouble is to also check your mirrors. When you check your mirrors regularly, you’ll be able to see what is happening behind you. It is not just what is in front of you that you should pay attention to.
Knowing what is happening behind you is important—for example, a speeding car can come quickly behind you and knock you off your bike.
Be Ready to Brake
You already know that you should remain alert when you are on the road. One of the things that you need to be ready to do at any given moment is to brake.
This is especially true, but you are at intersections. You may need to brake quickly when approaching a stoplight.
When your hands are already positioned over your front and back brake, you will be able to stop a lot more quickly and prevent an accident from happening.
Do Not Speed
Speeding is one of the major causes of motorcycle accidents. Speeding around tight turns is even more dangerous.
If you turn too quickly, you may end up flying off your bike and into the road. Depending on how busy the road is, you may be hurled into oncoming traffic.
Remember that the faster you are going, the harder it will be to adjust your speed should something go wrong while you are turning.
There are often visual cues in the environment that will help you to detect how severe a turn is. Look at the light post and telephone poles to see where they are located and this will help to tell you how tight a turn is.
Wear Safety Gear
Helmets can save lives. Before you even think about riding a motorcycle, you need to ensure that you have all the proper safety gear at your disposal.
All motorcycle gear is important, but the main one that you need to have is a helmet. Other important safety gear are riding boots, gloves, a protective jacket, and body armor.
When you are fitting a helmet or gears on your body, you need to ensure that they all fit correctly.
Take Care of Your Motorcycle
You need to ensure that you do proper maintenance on your motorcycle on a regular basis. When you have parts that are not functioning properly, it increases your risk of getting into an accident.
To ride your bike safely, you need to ensure it is in good shape. There are many telltale signs that a motorcycle is not functioning properly. If you hear strange sounds coming from the motorcycle or have trouble steering it, take it to the mechanic.
In addition, you need to do regular maintenance on your motorcycle by changing the tires. Changing the tires when necessary will prevent skidding and sliding, which can cause accidents.
Make sure that you change the oil whenever it is necessary. Sometimes you may need to rotate the tires on your bike to ensure that they are aligned.
Prevent Motorcycle Accidents
Riding a motorbike safely is possible all you have to do is ensure that you follow all the safety precautions that have been discussed here to prevent motorcycle accidents.
There is no need for you to be scared while riding your motorcycle, you just need to ensure that you are alert at all times. When you are alert, you reduce the risk of injury not only to yourself but to other motorists on the road.
If you have been involved in a car accident and would like my legal help, do not hesitate to contact us.