Motorcycle Safety

If you are going to ride a motorcycle, do so responsibly. Mind the speed limit, and always wear your helmet.

According to The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, those who ride high performance motorcycles, or super-sport motorcycles, are four times more likely to die in a motorcycle accident. With speeds as high as 190 miles per hour, super-sports are very dangerous for the non-professional rider. To put speed into perspective, 190 miles per hour is also the take-off speed for a 747 airplane.

As much as the double pleasure and fun that you get from riding motorcycles instead of a car, injuries and damages tend to be doubly worse if you encounter an accident involving such.

According to statistics of last year, in the United States alone, there had been more than 3,000 fatal and catastrophic motorcycle accidents. In the United Kingdom, the statistics are as terrifying.

It is understandable why every single motorcycle accident is catastrophic, especially if it is a vehicle versus motorcycle crash accident. With nothing else to absorb the force of impact, motorcycle riders are usually the ones who suffer most.

Now, if you are a motorcycle rider, you not only need to wear and use protective garments and gadgets on yourself and your motorbike. You also need to know the predictable causes of motorcycle accidents. By being aware of the usual incidences, you will be able to prevent an accident from happening, or at least be alert enough to know what to do when you become involved in one.

Usual causes of motorbike crashes and accidents:

1. Poor maintenance – the most distinctive feature of the motorcycle is its two wheels. It is also the main reason why it is essentially more if compared to cars and trucks. For this reason, the motorcycle needs constant and careful maintenance to ensure that it will be safe when ridden out on the open road.

Even a somewhat misaligned tire can potentially cause a catastrophic motorcycle crash. Engine and brake failure is also a potential cause.

As such, constant checking to see if the motorcycle is at its top shape is needed. Replace worn out tires and keep tire air pressures at their recommended levels. Always check the engine, brakes and other vital parts of the motorcycle.

If you cannot do the maintenance on your own, make sure to have someone with knowledge about motorcycles, a mechanic even to conduct a regular maintenance check.

2. Bad roads - treacherous roads that are already dangerous enough for cars and trucks, can become fatal for motorcycles. Beware of roads with potholes, loose gravel and sand.

Motorcycle riders that have no other choice than ride through bad roads must slow down and be alert to avoid accidents.

3. Road debris – blowouts due to pointed objects littered on the road must be prevented by keeping alert while driving through debris-filled roads.

4. Weather – passing through ice or rain is very dangerous for motorcycle riders. Always check the weather conditions before going out for a ride. It is wise judgment to avoid riding when the fog and snow is too thick or when there are torrential rains or a heavy downpour.

5. Under influence of drugs or alcohol – if it is dangerous to be out driving in a car when drunk or loaded with drugs, it is doubly treacherous to ride on a motorcycle.

Beware of other drivers, they are not looking for a motorcycle.

Neither are the deer and bears. (enough said)

6.  One of the main causes of motorcycle accidents is the other driver not being aware of a motorcycle on the road. Pay particular attention when entering intersections, because this is one of the number one causes of motorcycle accidents.

Look for cars entering the highway from sideroads and driveways. My first cousin was killed on a motorcycle when a man drove down his driveway to get his mail, he stopped short of the main highway, got his mail, started to back back up his driveway not knowing that he still had his car in drive. He shot out in the road and my cousin and his friend hit him in the side of his car, killing my cousin. 

Also be aware of drivers coming toward you in the opposite direction and making a turn across in front of you. My uncle had a terrible accident when this happened to him. He lived, but had broken bones throughout his body. People driving automobiles are not looking for a motorcycle. This is another number one cause of motorcycle accidents. Always burn your headlights and wear bright clothing to attract the other drivers attention. At night, it helps to wear a coat or garmet with reflective markings so the other drivers can see you.

I know that your leathers are cool and fashionable, but you just can't be seen when you wear black leather. This is twofold when your bike is black too, even in the daylight. You do need to wear abrasive resistant material, and leather is probably the best. My wife and I have black kevlar armored jackets with reflective white stripes. We also have black leather jackets, but we usually wear a bright orange Scorpion Vest with reflective stripes overtop the leather jacket. We also wear kevlar jeans with body armor in them and leather motorcycle boots. Don't forget the gloves and full face helmet either.

My wife went down in some loose gravel that was scattered overtop pavement with all her armor on and never got a scratch on her skin. She slammed the pavement so hard that it bruised her elbow and shoulder both, right through her armored kevlar jacket. Thank God that she had all that on. My brother-in-law wasn't so lucky. He had thin clothes on when he went down on the pavement. It broke his half-helmet off his head, skinned every part of his body up, including hands, elbows, arms, shoulders, back, legs, knees and his ass. He got infection in all those abraisions and almost kicked the bucket. Whewww. So you can see how important it is to wear armor. It completely totaled his motorcycle.

White is the best color on a motorcycle to grab the other driver's attention. White helmets and white clothing are the safest gear for you to be seen by other drivers, day or night. A good idea is to slip something bright over your leathers so you can be seen while riding and pull it off when you get to your destination. Motorcycle garmet dealers sell leather jackets in all colors and you can buy them with the reflective strips on them too. I saw some orange construction vests with reflective white stripes in the store the other day for about 6 bucks.

Drive your bike as though you were invisable.