Preventing Motorcycle Crashes
Every motorcyclist has imagined themselves involved in a terrible crash. That’s because there’s still a risk of a collision or slide-out even if you take precautions and remain vigilant. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ride at all, nor does it mean there’s nothing you can do to reduce that risk as much as possible.
Here at Interstate Cycles in Lake City, Florida, we want to make sure that our customers are staying safe out there on the highway. So we’ve created this guide to preventing motorcycle crashes. Read on to learn what you can do to lower your risk of getting into an accident.
Keep Yourself Visible
A key component of keeping yourself safe on your bike is ensuring that you remain visible to other motorists. Car and truck drivers may become complacent or simply not see you if you’re dressed all in black. Invest in brightly colored reflective gear to ensure that you’re seen by others.
A blaze-orange vest or some reflective tape applied to your helmet and bike and even a white or light-colored jacket can help immensely. Use your lights when it gets dark or if it’s cloudy and signal well in advance of any maneuvers you wish to make, like lane changes. You could even add more lighting to your bike, like strips of colorful LEDs to make sure no one misses you!
Another strategy for ensuring that you’re seen is to ride with a group. Riding by yourself means you won’t stand out much, but several bikers at once will certainly catch drivers’ eyes!
Make Sure You Can See
By the same turn, you’ll want to make it as easy as possible for you to see the road ahead as well as what’s going on around you. The standard halogen lights on your bike might not be sufficient for visibility. You can replace them easily with strong, brilliant LED lights that will last longer and be more efficient overall.
Another factor when it comes to your own visibility is your motorcycle’s windshield, which needs to be installed at the correct height so as not to interfere with your line of vision. Keep it clean and free of bug splatter and water spots, too.
Your helmet, and more specifically your goggles or face mask, is just as important to keep clear. You may want to invest in a style that has an anti-fog coating to reduce condensation when it’s rainy or humid outside. Clean your goggles or shield on a regular basis, too.
Stay Sharp
It’s also important that you pay as much attention as you can to your surroundings. This means riding while you’re alert, focused and sober. Riding while tired or sickly means that you won’t have your full attention and you could get into an accident more easily. You also don’t want to try riding while upset or angry. And you should, of course, avoid riding when inebriated or under the influence of drugs. Even some prescription medications can hamper your ability to operate heavy machinery (like a motorcycle!), so talk to your doctor if you’re concerned.
Maintain Your Bike
Finally, it’s important that your bike stays in good repair because a malfunctioning motorcycle can spell disaster. You don’t want a loose lug nut, a worn tire or sludgy oil to cause issues on the road. Make sure that you’re keeping up with regular maintenance issues. Remember that you can always contact the service department here at Interstate Cycles if you need assistance.
If you’re in Jacksonville or Gainesville, make sure to visit us at our Lake City, FL, location to check out our full selection of new and used motorcycles for sale. We provide financing options so you’ll be able to find the perfect ride with us!