Safety advice for motorcycle riders to avoid accidents

Motorcycles account for a worryingly high percentage of the traffic accidents that happen every year on Britain’s roads. More people own and ride motorbikes now than ever before and with so many riders on the road, safety has never been more important; not just for the riders but for other drivers encountering them on the roads.

Accident statistics where motorbikes were involved have decreased in the past few years, particularly those resulting in fatalities, but it is still vitally important to make sure you’re being as a safe and responsible on the roads as you can be.

So let’s go through some of the most important points of motorcycle safety.

Firstly, the most important thing to remember is to use common sense.

Remember the earliest lesson you learned; keep your eyes and concentration on the road. Make sure you’re always aware of the other drivers on the road, keep your eyes on where they are and how far away they are from you and just generally stay sharp when you’re in traffic. So many accidents involving motorcycles are caused by other drivers not paying attention and not noticing you and your bike. Of course it is their responsibility to keep their eyes open too but if they don’t pay attention and they miss you, then it becomes your problem.

Another big issue is increasing your visibility, especially when riding at night. Wear reflective clothing such as high visibility strips and keep your lights on at all times. Make it as easy as possible for other drivers to see and avoid you.

Keep control of your bike. Don’t drive at excessive speeds especially when taking corners and driving in the dark. Keep a stable and sturdy position on your bike to avoid slipping or being thrown off.

If you drive safely and concentrate on what you’re doing you are unlikely to have any bad experiences.

If, unfortunately, you do have an accident though, there are some things you can do to minimise the results.

Make certain you are wearing the most appropriate helmet. It must fit securely and be fastened properly. If you are injured try to avoid removing your helmet until the paramedics arrive or you receive other medical advice as sometimes you could do damage to your neck and spine.

Wear the right clothes. Motorcycle clothing is specially designed to minimise any injury if you have an accident. If you skid across a gravel road at high speed, you will want good quality clothing protecting your skin.

Call for medical attention immediately if you are able. Never just leave it to chance. Make sure you are checked over properly and given the all clear.

It might also be a good idea to invest in some extra advanced lessons specifically detailing the best ways to cope in an accident situation. You can learn skid control and how best to handle your bike if you fall.

While extra lessons are not mandatory for passing your test, they could teach you the difference between life and death, so they are worth the extra effort.

If you do experience an accident and it wasn’t your fault, don’t be afraid to get the police involved, especially if it was down to serious negligence on the part of another driver.

You could also be entitled to compensation which might be much needed in paying medical bills or keeping you going if you are unable to work.

The most basic rule in motorcycle safety though is, again, common sense. If we all just look out for ourselves and the other drivers on the road we can all help prevent accidents.

Tags: accident statistics, common sense, concentration, experiences, firstly, motorcycles, nbsp, paying attention, road safety, traffic accidents