You Don't Need Four Wheels To Be Safe On The Road
If you ask most drivers whether they think it is safer to be on the road in a car or on a motorbike, I’m sure that the majority will tell you that it’s safer in a car. There’s no wonder why some people believe this. After all, there is an overwhelming number of cars out there on the roads, so drivers know to watch out for other motorists. Plus, the whole structure of a car makes it safer during a crash. For example, you are a lot less likely to get thrown out of a car compared to the chance of being thrown off a motorbike.
Even though it looks like riding a motorcycle is very dangerous, it’s actually still easy enough to enjoy riding around safely on a bike. You don’t need to have four wheels to stay safe while traveling on the roads!
Sure, you need to put a bit of extra effort into your safety and security while you’re on the back of a motorcycle. But that doesn’t mean that staying safe is completely impossible. Here are some tips that will help you.
Wear The Right Safety Gear
First and foremost, you really need to make sure that you wear the correct safety clothing and gear. As a motorcyclist, you need to wear a helmet and leathers. The helmet will protect your head if you are to ever fall off the bike or be involved in an accident. If the helmet is ever impacted or dented, you will need to replace it with a new one. That’s because it will be a lot weaker once it is slightly damaged, and it won’t protect your head as well as it should. As well as your helmet, you should always wear leathers when you are out on your bike. These will protect your whole body if you ever come off your bike. They can greatly soften the impact and will prevent any cuts, grazes, and bruises. Once you have all the right clothes on, you’ll be a lot safer when out and about on your bike!
Ride Like No One Can See You
When you are riding a motorbike, you need to ride defensively. This just means that you ride as if none of the other drivers on the road have seen you. You should never just assume that the car in front of you has seen you, for example. They might not have, and they might maneuver as you try to pass them. That could end up in a nasty accident! One of the best things you can do is to drive with your headlights on. The light should catch every other road-users’ attention. It’s also necessary to signal well in advance before you ever maneuver. Don’t forget to give a vehicle that you are passing plenty of space, just in case they do react in an unexpected way.
Be Careful Passing Parked Cars
You might think that there is little risk involved when passing parked cars that are on the side of the street. But you’d be very much mistaken! That’s because there could still be a driver and passengers in the car if they have just parked up. So, make sure you are just as alert when passing parked cars as you would be passing moving vehicles. Always give yourself plenty of space just in case someone inside does open their door. If you are too close and pass just at the same moment they open the door, you could very easily end up knocked off your bike.
Don’t Drink And Ride
This might seem like a very obvious point to make, but there are still some motorcyclists out there who think that it is ok to ride their bike with a small amount of alcohol in them. It really isn't! Even though the drink-driving law states that you are allowed to have a very small amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, you should make sure that you always ride completely sober. Otherwise, you might end up in a bad accident and you could have to contact Craig Swapp & Associates or a similar law firm to come and help you out of a legal pickle! It’s also important that you never ride your bike after taking any illegal substances, such as marijuana or cocaine. These can also greatly impair your reaction time and put you at a very high risk of being involved in an accident.
Keep On Practicing
Just because you have passed your motorcycling test, there is no reason to stop trying to practice your bike skills. Even if you ride every day, you might end up getting into some bad habits that will cause you to be at more of a risk while you are out on the roads. So, it’s really worth taking some time to go through your basic motorcycling skills and practicing riding around on the roads. Also, take the time to practice riding at night. This can be particularly hazardous, and it’s always important to ensure you are at the top of your game when biking around in the dark!
Check Your Bike Before You Set Off
Are you sure that your bike is in a good condition? If it isn't, then it could increase your risk of coming off the machine or even causing an accident. You can’t always tell by simply looking at the bike, so you should take the time to carry out some important tests before you head off. Make sure you check all of your lights and your oil level. Test the brakes too, as that could be disastrous if they aren’t working! If you are ever in doubt about anything, be sure to take your bike to a mechanic for a check-up.
It’s really important to stay as safe as possible while you are riding your bike and, hopefully, these tips above can really help you. As you can see, you don’t necessarily need four wheels to be super safe out on the roads!
Be Careful Passing Parked Cars
You might think that there is little risk involved when passing parked cars that are on the side of the street. But you’d be very much mistaken! That’s because there could still be a driver and passengers in the car if they have just parked up. So, make sure you are just as alert when passing parked cars as you would be passing moving vehicles. Always give yourself plenty of space just in case someone inside does open their door. If you are too close and pass just at the same moment they open the door, you could very easily end up knocked off your bike.
Don’t Drink And Ride
This might seem like a very obvious point to make, but there are still some motorcyclists out there who think that it is ok to ride their bike with a small amount of alcohol in them. It really isn't! Even though the drink-driving law states that you are allowed to have a very small amount of alcohol in your bloodstream, you should make sure that you always ride completely sober. Otherwise, you might end up in a bad accident and you could have to contact Craig Swapp & Associates or a similar law firm to come and help you out of a legal pickle! It’s also important that you never ride your bike after taking any illegal substances, such as marijuana or cocaine. These can also greatly impair your reaction time and put you at a very high risk of being involved in an accident.
Keep On Practicing
Just because you have passed your motorcycling test, there is no reason to stop trying to practice your bike skills. Even if you ride every day, you might end up getting into some bad habits that will cause you to be at more of a risk while you are out on the roads. So, it’s really worth taking some time to go through your basic motorcycling skills and practicing riding around on the roads. Also, take the time to practice riding at night. This can be particularly hazardous, and it’s always important to ensure you are at the top of your game when biking around in the dark!
Check Your Bike Before You Set Off
Are you sure that your bike is in a good condition? If it isn't, then it could increase your risk of coming off the machine or even causing an accident. You can’t always tell by simply looking at the bike, so you should take the time to carry out some important tests before you head off. Make sure you check all of your lights and your oil level. Test the brakes too, as that could be disastrous if they aren’t working! If you are ever in doubt about anything, be sure to take your bike to a mechanic for a check-up.
It’s really important to stay as safe as possible while you are riding your bike and, hopefully, these tips above can really help you. As you can see, you don’t necessarily need four wheels to be super safe out on the roads!
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