Motorcycle Safety: The Basics
If you own a motorcycle or plan to, you must take the necessary precautions to guarantee your and others’ safety. Below you will find those precautions.
1. Know What To Do First
There are two things all new motorcyclists should before they begin riding: Get training and get a license. When you learned to drive a car, you took classes and underwent a test to prove you understood the rules of the road. Motorcycles require the same, if not more intensive training. They involve more skill and risk, thus riders need to be fully trained before riding. Take a motorcycle safety course and practice before you begin riding on busy highways and the like.
2. Know Your Gear
Protective gear is key to your safety. It protects you from weather and in the occurrence of an accident. You should wear all of your protective gear, and you should wear it EVERY SINGLE TIME you ride. And all of your gear should be highly visible to other drivers because many accidents are caused by other motorists not seeing motorcyclists. Here is the gear you need to remain safe:
· A Department of Transportation (DOT) approved helmet.
· Boots that cover your feet and ankles.
· Eye protection; wind shields do not protect your eyes.
· Gloves that have gripping mechanisms.
· Hearing protection; long term exposure to the noises associated motorcycle riding can cause irreversible ear damage.
· Jacket & pants, or a full riding suit.
· Raingear when appropriate.
3. Know Your Ethical Responsibilities
Not driving under the influence isn’t just a legal responsibility, it’s an ethical one. Impairment, whether slight or severe, puts not only you, but others at risk. According to the Insurance Institute of Highways Safety in 2009, drivers in 42 percent of motorcycle accidents that involve no other vehicle were found to have alcohol in their systems.
4. Know Your Limits
All riders should ride within their skill set. You don’t become a skilled rider over night; it takes time and experience. Always ride within your limits.
5. Know That You Don’t Know Everything
Whether you’ve been riding for 2 years or 20, never assume that you know everything. Technologies change and new safety techniques come to light over time. You should take a safety refresher course periodically to refresh the things you do know and learn the things that you don’t.
6. Know Your Legal Responsibilities
Before ever turning your bike on, you should know what legal responsibilities you have as a rider. Know your state’s laws, now the rules of the road, know what to do in the event of an accident, and make sure your actions meet your responsibilities as a rider.
Gina Williams is a guest post and article writer bringing to us basic motorcycle safety tips. Gina also writes articles that feature <a href="http://www.motorcycleaccident.org">motorcycle accident pictures</a>.