5 Tips For Riding A Motorcycle
Michael Babboni
Motorcycle Accidents
We’re very fortunate in Florida to have the kind of sun and warm, year-round temperatures that make it possible to ride a motorcycle, whether it’s the fourth of July or New Year’s Day. Florida has some of the most scenic roads and most forgiving weather in the country to make that kind “all motorcycle, all the time” riding possible.However, that also means that motorcycle accidents can happen throughout the year as well. If you want to reduce your chances of getting injured in a motorcycle accident and contemplating a lawsuit, follow these five tips for a safer experience.
Wear Gloves
While it’s not required for riding a motorcycle, professionals will tell you this is the best way to do it for two key reasons; better grip and fighting numbness. Motorcycle gloves help to maintain a tight grip on the throttle, something that can be compromised if your palms become sweaty, making your grip slippery and less certain.
Perhaps more importantly, gloves also absorb the vibrations that can come from the handlebars. Over longer rides, these vibrations can eventually lead to tingling in the fingers and even numbness. Anything that compromises your grip or your reflexes compromises your safety.
Be Visible
One of the chief reasons motorcycle accidents occur is that drivers in other vehicles claim they didn’t see the motorcyclist. This is why visibility is one of the most critical tools in the arsenal of motorcyclists.
If it’s night, for example, it’s not a good idea to dress up in black clothing, with a black helmet, especially if you’ll be traveling down roads with poor or no street lighting, to begin with. Wear bright, reflective, visible clothing to ensure that other people on the road see you quickly and can mark your position.
Don’t Get Between A Vehicle And An Off-Ramp
This is a frequent cause of motorcycle accidents, even though the motorcyclist is rarely in the wrong. Off ramps can be dangerous places for motorcyclists as drivers suddenly realize they need to use this off-ramp and make sudden moves to get there without checking the space around them properly. Exercise extra caution when approaching off-ramps.
Watch Out For Trucks
When it comes to ruling the road, the 18 wheel freight-hauling truck is the king. It’s got the size; it’s got the mass, and, unfortunately, once it moves in a certain direction, it’s very hard for anything else to be a credible obstacle, including a motorcyclist. Because of the comparative high and low positions of truck drivers and motorcyclists, a motorcycle encounter with a truck will always end badly for the motorcyclist. Never spend too much time on the road close to these vehicles.
Watch Driver Heads
Even when a driver doesn’t check a mirror before changing lanes or turning, they will always turn their heads to indicate which direction they are thinking of going. While you can’t always rely on turn signals or other indicators to tell you of driver intentions, where a driver is looking is always where they are thinking of going. Being alert for this can help mitigate sudden turns and lane changes.