It goes without saying that driving a car and operating a motorcycle are two completely different things.
Motorcycles are fun, quick, and convenient, but they come with considerable risks.
Motorcycles have less impact protection than cars, and because of that may more motorcycle accidents end up resulting in fatalities.
If you get in a wreck on a motorcycle, you are 27 times more likely to die than if you were driving a car.
And if you do survive, you are much more likely to end up with life-altering injuries and disabilities.
So when you are riding your motorcycle, it is important to be mindful of these facts and do all you can to avoid an accident.
Motorcycle accidents are dangerous, often fatal, and usually difficult to avoid.
Even though they are difficult to avoid, you still need to know ways to reduce your risk of being involved in a wreck.
In the article below, we will discuss six ways to avoid a motorcycle accident and make it home safe.
- Stay Focused And Be Aware
- Always Wear A Helmet
- Assume You're Invisible
- Avoid Common Mistakes
- Keep Your Distance
- Wear The Appropriate Gear
- Take Responsibility For Your Safety
1. Stay Focused and Be Aware
It's important to eliminate as many distractions as possible when you're riding your motorcycle.
Always be mindful of your surroundings and where the other cars are around you.
A sudden stop, change in the flow of traffic, or countless other obstacles could spring up at any moment, and if you aren't paying attention, the results could be fatal.
Avoid listening to music or daydreaming while you're riding.
Don't ride your bike if you feel sleepy or sluggish, and it goes without saying that you shouldn't even consider getting on your bike if you're drunk.
Even the tiniest distractions can lead to serious and life-threatening injuries.
2. Always Wear a Helmet
You should always wear a helmet no matter what the circumstances.
Whether you're going for a quick ride down the street or a long haul across the country, your helmet should always be on.
Your helmet is often the only thing keeping you from becoming another motorcycle death statistic.
You should also try to keep an extra helmet with you for passengers.
And make sure you always buy your helmet new, never used.
Used helmets could be damaged and may not meet the latest safety standards.
3. Assume You're Invisible
Riding a motorcycle makes you harder to spot while you're on the road.
Other drivers sometimes fail to notice large pickup trucks, so you know they're extremely likely to miss you on your bike.
Also, studies have found that people in cars subconsciously pay more attention to other cars on the road than they do motorcycles.
Numerous motorcycle accidents are caused because a car driver didn't notice the motorcycle and it appeared to "come out of nowhere," even though the motorcycle had been trailing them for miles.
It's best to pretend that you're invisible so there aren't any poor decisions made based on assumptions.
4. Avoid Common Mistakes
Being aware of and avoiding common mistakes made by other motorcycle riders is a great way to remain safe on the road.
One of the most common mistakes involving motorcycles occur when a car turns left in front of a motorcycle rider.
Other common mistakes are:
- Hitting gravel around a corner
- Entering a turn too fast
- Another vehicle cuts you off
- You get rear-ended by another vehicle
- Getting hit by an opening car door
The best way to avoid these mistakes is to be aware of them.
As a motorcycle rider, it's up to you to develop a sort of sixth sense to other motor vehicle operators.
You'll need to use your sixth sense to remain aware of situations that could negatively affect you and that other drivers may not even be aware of.
5. Keep Your Distance
If you notice a car backing up into your path, let them finish.
If a car merges into your lane, make sure you give them plenty of room to maneuver.
When you stop at a red light, try to stop to the side of the lane to avoid getting rear-ended.
Don't drive between cars on a multi-lane road.
There's a high risk of an accident if a driver decides to merge or open the car door while you're traveling between the lanes.
Car drivers are driving in a protective metal shell that you don't have on your motorcycle.
Motorcycle accidents involving a car and motorcycle colliding are almost always more physically costly to the motorcycle rider no matter who is at fault.
It's best to keep as much distance as possible between you and the next car.
6. Wear The Appropriate Gear
Besides a helmet, it's important to wear the right riding gear when you're riding your motorcycle.
You don't want to get on your bike wearing baggy jeans, sandals, and a loose t-shirt because you're more likely to get in an accident than if you were wearing proper gear.
There are plenty of factors you should consider that you'll need protection from while you're on your bike, including:
- Bugs and road debris
- The wind and weather
- Road rash if you do get in an accident
There is gear specifically designed, such as shirts, pants, eye-wear, and shoes, with motorcycle riders in mind.
You can find it at various retail stores or online.
Take Responsibility For Your Safety
While there is no way you can keep yourself safe 100% of the time, you can still take an active role in increasing your safety.
To some extent, you will always be at the mercy of other drivers while you're on your bike, but you can do things to keep yourself as safe as possible out there.
There are a multitude of factors to keep in mind while you're on your motorcycle, and though it can seem overwhelming, any one of those factors could save your life at some point down the road.
Regardless of your experience on a motorcycle, always be as safe and as responsible as you can possibly be.
If you enjoyed this article, you should give these a read: