When you ride a motorcycle, there's nothing between you and the road or the cars around you. That means if you're involved in an accident, you're going to make hard contact against something that's going to cause you some serious injuries. That's why it's critical that you practice defensive driving habits whenever you're on the road. Utilizing those tactics will help protect you, and may even prevent accidents. Here are four important safety tactics you can use to keep you safe while you're on your motorcycle.
Take a Safety Course
If you're going to be riding your motorcycle on city streets, or busy highways, you need to take a safety course. Whether you're a seasoned rider or this is your first motorcycle, the driving safety course may save your life. No matter how experienced you are at riding a motorcycle, there's always something you can learn. During your safety course, you'll learn how to safely share the road with other vehicles, but you'll also learn how to survive accidents as well.
Know What's Around You
While you're riding your motorcycle, it's important for you to remember just how close you actually are to the road. Protect yourself by knowing what's around you at all times. Conduct a visual sweep of the road ahead of you as you're driving. This will allow you to identify potential risks, such as potholes, debris, or even drivers that are swerving between the lanes. You should also keep a watchful eye on the traffic in back of you as well. You never know when a driver is going to come up from behind or move into your lane from the side. Being proactive will help you avoid collisions.
Assume Drivers Can't See You
After accidents, many vehicle drivers claim that they simply didn't see the motorcycle. When you're sharing the road with vehicles, always assume that they can't see you. When you come to a stop sign, don't move out into the intersection until the other drivers have made eye contact with you. If you're to the right of a car, don't move forward until you can tell that the driver is going straight.
Give Yourself a Buffer Zone
When you're riding a motorcycle, one of the worst places you can be is stopped at a red light. That's when cars have the opportunity to hit you from behind. To prevent accidents, try to leave yourself a good buffer zone. As you approach the red light, stop a few feet short of the limit line. That way, if you see cars coming up on your tail, you can move forward to avoid being hit. If you're in the right-hand lane, stop your bike near the outer edge of the lane. That way, you can move off the road if you see a car approaching you too quickly.
Don't take chances with your safety. Use the techniques provided here to avoid an accident while you're on your motorcycle. If you are ever involved in an accident, don't hesitate to contact an attorney like those at McNair Law Offices, PLLC.
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