Rider Safety Tips
Stay Safe Riding Your Motorcycle!
Proper Gear
Speed
Other Motor Vehicles
Terrain
Motorcycle Passengers
Motorcycle crashes have the potential to inflict serious injury or death riders and their passengers. That is why it’s important that you take every precaution to make sure that you and your passenger are safe as you travel on the nation’s roadways.
One of the most important things you can do is plan ahead. Do a pre-ride bike inspection. Are there any minor maintenance issues? What is the weather going to be like? You should always inspect your bike before making long trips. Read your owner’s manual for the best instructions for your particular motorcycle.
As with the operation of any vehicle, never ride your motorcycle if you have consumed any type of drugs or alcohol. When riding a motorcycle, your judgment is your best tool. When your judgment is impaired, your decision-making ability and reaction time may be negatively affected.
If you have to carry a load, make sure to fasten it securely to the motorcycle and keep heavier objects low, toward the center of gravity. Be careful of loads that can affect your steering, handling or line of sight.
Proper Gear
Any time you ride your motorcycle you should wear the proper protective motorcycle gear. This includes a DOT approved helmet, eye protection, long-sleeved shirt or jacket, full-fingered gloves, long pants, and over-the-ankle boots or sturdy shoes with non-skid soles.
- Helmet. A helmet is the most important piece of safety equipment you can have while riding a motorcycle. Helmets save lives by reducing the extent of head injuries (including TBI and other brain injuries) in the event of a crash. There are many good motorcycle helmets available that are comfortable, fashionable and meet Department of Transportation standards. Many states have laws requiring helmet use. Passengers must also wear helmets in those states. A consumer information brochure on how to choose and care for a motorcycle helmet is available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, NTS-22, Washington, DC 20590.
- Eye Protection. Good vision is imperative when riding, but insects, dirt, rocks and even wind can cause damage to your eyes. That makes eye protection a vital piece of safety equipment. Choose good quality goggles, glasses with plastic or safety lenses, or a helmet equipped with a face shield. Goggles, glasses and face shields should be scratch-free, shatterproof, and well ventilated to prevent fog buildup. Only clear shields should be used at night since tinted ones reduce contrast and make it more difficult to see. Even if your motorcycle has a windshield, eye protection is recommended.
- Jackets and Pants. Clothing worn when riding a motorcycle should provide some measure of protection from abrasion in the event of a spill or crash. These should be of durable material such as special synthetics or leather. Jackets should have long sleeves and trousers should not be baggy or flared at the bottom to prevent entanglement with kick starter, foot pegs or other protrusions on the sides of a motorcycle.
- Gloves. Durable gloves are recommended. They should be of the non-slip type to permit a firm grip on the controls. Leather gloves are excellent, as are special fabric gloves with leather palms and grip strips on the fingers. Gauntlet-type gloves keep air out of the rider's sleeves. Appropriate gloves are available for all types of weather.
- Footwear. Proper footwear affords protection for the feet, ankles, and lower parts of the legs. Leather boots are best, followed by durable athletic shoes that cover the ankles. Sandals, sneakers, and similar footwear should not be used since they provide little protection from abrasion or a crushing impact. Avoid dangling shoelaces.
- Bright colored clothing. For visibility, some riders wear lightweight reflective orange or yellow vests over their jackets. Others may use reflective material on their clothing, helmet or the motorcycle to make the rider visible to other motorists, especially at night. A high percentage of car-motorcycle crashes occur because the driver of the other vehicle failed to see the rider in time to avoid the crash.
Speed
A motorcycle driver should exercise caution when it comes to speed. Motorcycles can be an incredible rush traveling at high speeds, but the ease in which they can slip or crash and the scant protection they offer the rider make high speed traveling potentially deadly.
When you brake, use both brakes together. When conditions are good, the front brake accounts for as much as 2/3 of the bike's stopping power.
At night, be careful not to override your motorcycle's headlight.
Other Vehicles
Many times when a wreck involves a motorcycle, it’s the fault of the other driver. It’s commonly stated among drivers of other vehicles that they did not see the motorcycle or that motorcycle “came out of nowhere.” To avoid this hazard, a motorcycle driver should make sure not to drive for an extended period of time in the blind spot of other vehicles. They should also drive close to the center so that they are fully visible. Headlights, even in daylight, and reflective material on the bike or clothing also help to alert other drivers.
Terrain
Besides other vehicles, terrain is one the biggest dangers facing a biker. Mud, sand, water, leaves, and other foreign debris on the road take special handling. Before reaching a slippery surface, slow down and avoid directional or speed changes as you ride through the hazard.
Remember that the first few minutes of a rain storm are the most dangerous as the water mixes with the oil and fluids on the roadway. Avoid riding your bike during this time, if possible. If you must ride your motorcycle, try to ride in the tracks of the other vehicles in front of you as they force away the water and oils.
Putting your weight on the pegs can help you keep control of your cycle when riding over obstacles or rough surfaces. Keep your knees and elbows bent, look past the hazard in the direction you want to go and maintain a steady speed.
Passengers
Riding with a passenger requires even more skill than riding a motorcycle alone. Taking someone for a ride should be delayed until you have considerable solo riding time and are ready to take on the responsibility of someone else’s safety.
Riding with a passenger makes balance and control of your bike a great challenge. Make sure your passenger is wearing all of the proper protective riding gear, knows where and how to sit, where to put their feet and hands and how to lean through turns. Tell them to look over your shoulder in the direction of the turn. Remember that the passenger is your responsibility and should be properly educated.
For new motorcycle riders, there are plenty of resources available to learn how to ride and how to ride safely. Your state Department of Transportation may have information about classes from instructors and rider coaches, as well as literature to make you a better, safer rider.
