Traveling is the spice of life, and if you want to see the best a city has to offer, a motorcycle is a must-have. Affordable and perfect for a getaway, motorcycles also pose serious safety issues to the rider. If you fall off of your motorcycle, you can suffer from serious injuries or death.Four of the most important things to keep in mind when you go on a motorcycle tour and stay safe.Learn about motorcycle safety tips.
Approximately 5.5% of motorcycle accidents result in death, but these statistics are dependent on a variety of factors: speed, accident cause and protective gear, to name a few.
If you don’t want to become another statistic and ruin your vacation, these safety tips can help:
1. Follow the Proper Traffic Rules
If you’re traveling in the same country that you live in, you’ll have a general idea of the local traffic rules. But when you’re traveling to a new country, they may:
• Travel on the opposite side of the road
• Follow different safety rules
Always check local motorcycle rules to know how you should be riding. Europe has different standards than Russia, United States and other regions. Before getting on a motorcycle, do a little research on local laws.
2. Gear Up – Seriously
Local laws may require you to wear a motorcycle helmet or other safety gear. If you fail to gear up properly, you’re at risk of serious injury. At the very minimum, you need a motorcycle helmet to protect your head from serious injuries.
Studies find that helmets are 37% effective at preventing death and 67% effective at protecting against brain injuries.
Here’s the best place to buy motorcycle helmets
Other gear that you might want to consider includes:
• Boots
• Gloves
• Reflective clothing
• Leather clothing
• Vests
Of course, no one likes to think too much about the possibility of getting into an accident when riding a motorcycle. Be that as it may, motorcycle accidents can happen to anyone, and therefore it is important to know about the steps that you should take if you are ever injured in a motorcycle accident.
Furthermore, navigating the intricacies of personal injury law can be tricky, which is why it is often in your best interest to reach out to a local personal injury law expert like a Seattle motorcycle accident lawyer in the aftermath of a motorcycle accident. Working with a locally based lawyer is strongly recommended as a legal professional who understands your local courts and your local area is typically experienced in working on cases similar to your own.
Accordingly, if you are based in Denver in Colorado, doing some research online can help you to locate a reputable motorcycle accident lawyer in Denver. Above all, hiring a local personal injury lawyer to work on your motorcycle accident case could be just what you need to plan your next steps.
3. Remain a Cautious Rider
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of going to Italy, you’ll notice residents zipping between traffic in scooters. Opening your car door or inching to the left or right is all that’s needed to hit one of these brave riders.
Don’t take risks when you’re on a motorcycle or scooter.
You want to get back home in one piece. Defensive driving is the best option, and this means:
• Riding the speed limit
• Avoiding blind spots
• Signaling for turns early
• Keeping headlights on during a ride
• Remaining cautious of turning vehicles
If you don’t know the terrain and roads, you need to be the cautious rider that does their best to avoid being in a risky motorcycle accident. A little diligence allows you to avoid accidents.
4. Pay Close Attention to the Weather
If you have experience on motorcycles, you may know how to ride properly in heavy rain storms or snow. But if you’re a person that has only been on a motorcycle once or twice in their lives, it may be worthwhile to watch the weather routinely.
A simple change in weather patterns can increase your risk of an accident greatly.
This means:
• Watching for rain
• Watching for snow
You might even want to avoid riding at night when it’s harder to see a motorcycle on the road. If you can avoid potential risky weather conditions, you’ll be much safer on the road.