It’s a scene that many motorcyclists are very familiar with… A motorcyclist approaches an intersection, a driver doesn’t see the motorcyclist, the driver turns in front of the motorcyclist. The resulting crash kills many riders, and a woman from Green Mountain Falls fell victim to a crash like this on June 25th. So is there any way to avoid crashes like this?
How To Avoid A Motorcycle Crash In 7 Easy Steps!
- Maintain Your Bike—Are your tires bald? Is your chain lubed? Do your brakes actually work properly? Knowing the answers to these questions means you know that your bike is maintained. Keep it that way, because you need your bike to function if you get into a dire situation.
- Wear Safety Gear—Your safety gear does more than protect you in the event of a crash, it also helps other people see you. Brightly colored gear with reflective strips on it get you noticed, which can keep you alive out on the open road.
- The Extra Warning—Pumping your brakes can make your brake light flash, and it can make you more noticeable to the drivers behind you. Pump your brakes before a sudden stop, it’ll help keep the vehicle behind you from rear-ending your bike.
- Look Out For Blind Spots—If a driver can’t see you, they can’t avoid you. So avoid getting stuck in vehicle blind spots, and make sure drivers can see you in their rear view mirrors.
- See It Coming—Sometimes you need to be psychic while riding a motorcycle, but that’s not possible so we need to be prepared instead. Intersections are the most dangerous places on the road for a motorcyclist. Always approach them as if another vehicle is about to pop out in front of you. See it coming before it happens.
- Choose Your Path Wisely—Where does most road debris gather? The side of the road. When do people open their car doors? When they are parked. So it makes since not to get too close to the side of the road when you turn, and you should never ride too close to a parked car.
- Mind Your Speed—The faster you are going, the less time you have to react to a dangerous situation. So mind your speed in areas where crashes are more likely. Remember, you can always go slower than the speed limit if you think it’ll make you safer.
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