Riding a motorcycle can feel incredibly freeing. In fact, there may be no better feeling in the world than getting on your motorcycle and going for a ride on a gorgeous Saturday afternoon. However, riding a motorcycle can be incredibly dangerous, as you might know. There are a lot of things that you need to do to stay safe on the road, more so than most. Consider the following reminders for how to avoid getting into a motorcycle accident.
Watch Your Fellow Motorists Closely
You could be the safest, most perfect driver that exists, but that does not matter in terms of accidents when it comes to other motorists. Because you are riding a motorcycle, you are more vulnerable than most other drivers, and therefore it is unfortunately mandatory for you to constantly watch your fellow motorists to make sure that they are not making any decisions or moves that will put you in danger. Most drivers are not as focused on what is going on around them as they should be, and if you are in someone’s blind spot or you are trying to pass them, you might get run off the road because the person doing so did not bother to look before they merged. It is terrible that you have to be more proactive about your driving to make up for the people who do not care, but it will give you a better chance of staying safe.
Do Not Get Distracted
Anyone has the capability of getting distracted at any time, but getting distracted while driving can be a fatal mistake. In fact, as a reminder, these New Jersey motorcycle accident attorneys tell us that many injuries caused by motorcycle accidents could be prevented if motorists were to drive carefully, follow the rules of the road, and watch out for motorcycles. If you are on a motorcycle, make sure you are following the rules of the road yourself and that you are keeping an eye on what is happening on the road instead of focusing on something that is meant to distract you.
One of the most important things is to keep your personal distractions to a minimum. If you need to use the restroom, pull over and go. If you need to leave by a specific time, try to leave with plenty of time to spare so you do not feel pressured to speed. If you are listening to music, make sure the volume is low enough to hear any sirens that might come your way, as you may get into an accident if you do not know that an emergency vehicle is approaching you. To that end, make sure that your headset is charged and your playlist is long enough to last your entire drive so you are not messing with anything while you are on the road. Make sure to check that your motorcycle is in proper working order before you even leave your driveway, as you do not want a surprise malfunction to cause an accident.
Do Not Drive Drunk or Drowsy
Driving drunk or drowsy is one of the worst things that you can do, as being drunk or drowsy severely impairs your judgment, and that is the last thing you want to happen to you while you are driving. You need to have as sharp a mind as possible when you are driving, and that will not happen if you have consumed alcohol or medicine that makes you drowsy. You also cannot get away with the statement that you only had one drink. One drink is one drink too many for anyone to be driving, and that includes you.
There are a lot of people on the road, and motorcycle drivers get the short end of the stick more often than not. Keep this article in mind the next time you go on a ride, and make sure to stay vigilant.
