Motorcycle Safety #101

by Editor ZX14.Net
01/06/2006

After 21 years of motorcycling and 16 years of policing, I have had the opportunity to see some great twisty roads and some serious rider error incidents on our roadways. I have responded to, too many fatal crashes to talk about, bits and pieces everywhere. The result of a motorcycle crash often leaves many clues as to the cause. Most motorcycle crashes reveal there was something the motorcycle rider could have done to prevent the inevitable. Most untrained riders panic under stress and without skill, one will resort to what they do best under stress, all too often it is nothing, the ole brake and pray with no action plan.

It is true; what you do in practice, you are going to do in the game. Every ride should be a training session. Frequently practice your visual clues and read the road ahead of you. There are signs of things to come; missing them is like turning off your headlights at night. Riding blind is nobodies fault but your own, take responsibility by being prepared.

The stress induced, rider failure, while negotiating a motorcycle incident is one of the leading causes of a crash. It is not an accident, it is a crash. If the incident was preventable, it is a crash. This is certainly a motorcycling training issue. Increase your chances of success by attending motorcycle-training programs that push you to make high-speed decisions. This training will help you, the rider; cope with the stressful encounters out on our roadways.

One of the major things we fail to do is to leave ourselves an out.  View the road as a 180-degree screen versus having tunnel vision.  A closed scope of what lies ahead. Having a great field of vision reduces the surprise you could have seen.

Assume everyone is going to pull out in front of you when riding. Have fun but certainly drive defensively. Do not follow too closely. Make a serious mental note of vehicles that are standing at or approaching your intersecting path. Make sure they see or hear you before passing. Either modify the intensity of your motorcycle’s lights or run with your high beams on to increase visibility. I have never stopped a motorcyclist for running with high beams.

As you are approaching a vehicle standing at the tip of a driveway or at an intersection take a second to sound your horn to be sure they hear you approaching. Upgrade your horn so it can be heard at speed as well as at greater distances.

Always wear your protective gear, ALL OF IT. Road rash and broken bones hurt and there are numerous riders who have crashed unscathed because they were wearing protective gear. Your gear should also be flashy, bright colors so you can be seen at intersections and certainly at night. Adjust your gear for warmer temperatures by switching to nylon mesh and other lightweight materials when hot or by wearing vented leather. Do not be fooled by the great weather jinks. Keep that gear on. Better to sweat in your gear than to sweat in your coffin.

Be very selective about the people you choose to ride with and stay away from trouble. If you are learning to ride you want to find someone that is, a few steps above your skill set so you can learn. Not too far above your riding skills that you are forced not to “ride your ride” in order to keep up. Ride with people who are not the type that prompt every motorist to call the authorities about your driving habits. Most of the stories I have heard involve one fool mixed in with a normally great group of riders and the fool ends up getting everyone in trouble.

In closing listen to your heart and wear your protective gear. Ride with mature experienced riders but most of all enjoy the ride and make it home safely to do it all again.

By Editor ZX14.Net