Riding a motorcycle is one of the most exciting and fun ways to travel and commute. However, their very nature is fraught with all manner of inherent danger and risk, some of which can be compensated for if smart riders take the right precautions and keep their heads about themselves while on the road.
Safety equipment. Although different municipalities and states and cities have different laws about what gear riders must use when on their bikes, wearing the appropriate safety equipment can make a life and death difference. Bodysuits, crash pads, and of course helmets may seem cumbersome and less than fun, but they are critically important to any motorcycle rider that wants to stay out of the hospital or worse.
Colors colors colors. The number one piece of safety equipment that a biker can use is a white helmet. Although you have many choices in picking what your gear looks like, virtually every study of motorcycle safety indicates that drivers can most easily pick out a white helmet at ranges and distances far enough supply chain management assignment away to allow them to accommodate riders and prevent accidents. White helmets may not be cool, but what is really cool is staying alive. Also, wearing bright orange safety vests with reflective tape can help keep you safe at night, and give other drivers on the road a chance to help you help yourself.
Be aware of your surroundings. Though you may think that every driver on the road can see you or hear you, that is not always the case. Furthermore, even if they do see you or hear you, they might not pay attention to you or consider that your vehicle doesn’t perform or handle like theirs and cannot maneuver like yours. Doing everything you can, whether it is yielding right of way even when you can take it or being extra courteous to other vehicle operators, do what it takes to be safe.
Lane splitting. A controversial practice is lane splitting. Some studies indicate that cutting between cars is actually safer than maintaining a single place in a traffic line, while other studies seem to conclude that the added risks of moving between two vehicles traveling at highway speeds or even standing still present an unacceptable danger. In California lane splitting is legal, but not encouraged. Clearly the strategy you take needs to reflect the conditions of the road, your confidence as a rider, and whether or not you want to take the risk.
Keep your bike maintained. While a breakdown on the road is dangerous for any vehicle, it is particularly so for motorcycles. A single mechanical failure can result in industrial equipment examples a crash or accident, so make sure before you hit the road that your chains are tight, your tires are in good condition, and that your lights work and are visible.
Even taking each one of these steps does not guarantee that no driver on the road will see you and not cause an accident. If you do happen to be involved with a car in a crash, you need to know that you have rights and can take action against someone if you are made to suffer pain and injury while driving your motorcycle.
