Safety Tips for Motorcyclists to Prevent Accidents
Riding a motorcycle is one of the most freeing feelings, but it can also be very dangerous. As the entire body is exposed, accidents can cause immense damage and even be fatal to the driver. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ride a motorcycle at all; it’s all about doing it as safely as possible. Here are some useful tips to help you prevent an accident.
1. Wear Your Helmet
It has been reported that riders who refuse to wear a helmet are five times more likely to suffer a severe head injury. This could all be prevented by simply wearing a helmet!
This item will protect one of the most important parts of your body, your brain! In case of an accident, wearing a helmet or not can be the difference between life and death. Furthermore, riders should also have a second helmet for when they have someone tagging along. That way, everyone will be protected.
On another note, helmets can have very cool designs, and they can even be customized, so you can make them part of your entire look instead of just a cumbersome protection device.
2. Avoid Road Hazards
Motorcycle riders should always check the weather forecast and be on the lookout for any construction notices that refer to the road they will be driving on.
This is because cold and snowy weather can make the road very slick and dangerous and increase the likelihood of an accident. Rain can also be a problem, as visibility is reduced and the road is less safe.
Similarly, debris can be a huge issue for a motorcycle rider. Sometimes, the city is liable if there have been no warnings and debris from construction causes an accident.
However, if the right notifications about construction have been made, not even the best motorcycle accident attorney will be able to help you if you decide to start litigation against the city. Warnings are usually issued to prevent these accidents from happening.
3. Be Visible Always
There are different ways in which you can make sure you are always visible, be it day, night, rainy, or foggy. These can go from wearing colorful or reflecting jackets to customizing your motorcycle to make it as visible as possible.
One of the ways in which you can customize your ride in a reversible way is by using reflecting tape. You can even create a neat design with this.
Another way is simply choosing a bright-colored motorcycle. Also, you can add auxiliary lights to make sure you are seen at night. If you don’t want to touch your motorcycle with this purpose, then you can get a reflecting helmet. 
As for driving, make sure you stay out of the blind spot of other vehicles to avoid an accident.
The tips listed above can help drivers who may be distracted spot you before something happens. Distracted driving is the cause of far too many accidents that happen each day.
4. Don’t Drink and Ride
Just like people shouldn’t drink and drive you should never drink and ride. This is incredibly dangerous for obvious reasons. For starters, your reflexes are not the same as when you are sober. This means you will not be able to maneuver to avoid an obstacle or another vehicle.
Furthermore, you are more likely to make bad decisions, such as riding through a stop sign or ignoring a traffic light. In addition, your stability will not be the same, making you more prone to having an accident even if there are no other vehicles around.
5. Never Share a Lane
Most people do not know this but it is illegal for a car to share a lane with a motorcycle. This is because motorcycles are considered a vehicle as well and safety regulations indicate that they should have the same space a car has while on the road.
Despite this, many people do not follow this important rule, which is one of the main reasons why accidents take place. You can protect yourself and others by never sharing a lane.
6. Get Professional Training
Riding a motorcycle might feel intuitive for some people, but this does not mean that you should skip your training. Formal education will allow you to properly learn how to handle your ride and what things to avoid when driving.
Refresher courses are always recommended as well as they will allow you to keep your skills honed and your senses alert. The ultimate goal is getting to your destination in a safe way.
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