Kinda gives ya a knot in the gut doesn’t it? What’s your first impression?
To some it would probably be something like, “Sportbikes are just dangerous” or “They must have been going too fast.” Although rider error does contribute to a lot of motorcycle crashes, 75% actually involve collisions with another vehicle, with the leading cause being failure on the the other motorist part to recognize the motorcycle. I won’t get into the stats too much, if ya want to find out out more you can check out the NHTSA site. It has some really good info.
What I want to do is focus on ways to avoid accidents.
There are many things we as riders can do to help keep ourselves safer on the roads. We obviously can’t control what other people do, but making sure they see (and hear) us will significantly improve our chances of avoiding an accident.
Like I’ve said before, People seem to think sportbikes are more dangerous than other bikes do to their power. However, I will stand by my statement of being able to avoid accidents and bad situations better because of their superior maneuverability and ability to stop faster.
This probably doesn’t shock you but about 50% of motorcycle-vehicle collisions occur at intersections, so your going to want to pay extra attention. The most common accident here is when the vehicle making a left turn in front of you from the opposite direction decides to go at the last second or doesn’t even bother to stop or even see you at all. Be prepared to react quickly. Be aware how long the traffic light has been green, it could change any second, and some people decide to make their turn as soon as they see yellow.
Intersections have a lot of distractions and vision blockers. When approaching an intersection I’m usually off the throttle and ready to brake. Look ahead as far as you can & keep your eyes moving, let your peripheral take care of the closer things. This will give you more time to react. Scan the intersection, keeping an eye out for cars ready to pull out, parked cars, pedestrians etc.
When riding on a multi lane road with vehicles traveling in the same direction, try to avoid being right next to the other vehicle. They could suddenly swerve for some reason and take you out. Try to ride just in front of them or behind them far enough to be out of their blind spot. This is especially important on the freeway. You have the power to put the bike where you want, don’t be afraid to use it to quickly voice your presence or get away from a bad situation.
Take the time to read through your owners manual. There are some good tips in there as well. I still recommend taking a rider safety course. If you need to get your motorcycle licence this is a great way to do it. They will show you how to ride and give you the road test for your endorsement.
Stay alert and ride like your invisible, make sure your seen and heard. Rev your engine! Make a statement! But also be respectful of other motorists.
Podcast coming soon!
I want to get more focused info out to ya so I’ve decided to start a podcast. Please sign up on my email list so I can let you know when the first episode is up. I’d love your input!
Thanks! Rod
Ride Safe.. Ride Smart.. Ride Sane..
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