Safety in Riding Motorcycle

Posted by Ainsley Aiken on July 5th, 2019

Riding motorcycles is a passion for some, they love enjoying nature and riding in the sun, especially during the springtime. People long for the freedom that comes with riding on an open road, if they want it then they have to respect their machines and improve skills through their lifetime. Motorists not only should they keep themselves safe they should also have a major responsibility to keep four-wheeled vehicles safe.

Safety is more important than anything, as a result, National motorcycle safety awareness month is in May and this day reminds motorcyclists and drivers to remain safe and to do their part.

In 2017, 5,172 motorcycle riders and passengers died in accidents. Fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers have more than doubled in number since 1997 due to lack of safety.

According to the recent survey:

• Motorcycles make up 3% of all registered vehicles and only .6% of all vehicle miles travelled in the U.S.
• In 2017, 14% of all traffic fatalities are of Motorcyclists
• 28% riders died in a motorcycle crash in the year 2017 were alcohol-impaired and 91% of those riders were male.

The vast majority on the roads are four-wheeled vehicles and it’s important for the drivers to be aware of the minority vehicles such as two-wheeled motorcyclist. Motorcycles are seen very rarely and drivers ignore the motorcyclists and they do not anticipate their movements. Hence drivers’ education programme in regards to the motorcycle education course should emphasise the safety of the motorcyclists.

Coming to Motorcyclists Safety, A helmet is a must for all motorcyclists irrespective of age and gender. Helmets prove to be 37% effective while preventing fatal injuries. A full coverage helmet offers the most protection and the DOT symbol on the helmet shows that the helmet guarantees helmets safety standards requirement by the law. You need to make sure you never buy a used helmet or use helmets that have been worn out by a crash.

In addition to wearing a helmet:

• Choose a bike that fits you; "superbikes” have high death rates about four times that of standard bikes, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
• Invest in a nice brake system
• New riders should take a motorcycle safety course, and experienced riders should ride carefully following the rules.
• Have a good knowledge about the rules of the road.
• Watch out for potholes, manhole covers, oil slicks, puddles, debris, railroad tracks and gravel
• Use headlights day and night
• Don't speed up.

Please note in the end “it’s better to be safe than sorry.”