Safety Tips For Motorcycle Riders

April showers have given way to May flowers and with them, the beginning of seemingly endless summer Florida sunshine that motorcyclists love to take advantage of this time of year. However, all the beautiful sunshine doesn’t mean that this popular recreational activity comes without risk. May is National Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month and there is a good reason why there is an entire month dedicated to addressing safety concerns in regard to motorcycles. According to the National Safety Council, fatalities among motorcycle riders and passengers have more than doubled in number since 1997. While motorcycles make up just three percent of all registered vehicles, accidents involving them accounted for approximately 14 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2017.

Take Your Safety into Your Own Hands

The decisions you make while operating a motorcycle could literally save your life. Fortunately, implementing a few safety tips can help you reduce your risk of finding yourself involved in a serious motorcycle accident.

Wear Appropriate Gear

Any time you are heading out on your bike, you should ensure that you are wearing the proper gear. Above all else, that means wearing a properly fitting helmet no matter how short of a drive you are going on and how experienced of a rider you may be. In addition to wearing a helmet, you should also consider wear a riding jacket and pants that are specific to motorcycles (preferably made from impact-resistant material such as leather). In addition to choosing clothing that covers as much of your body as possible, you should select appropriate boots, gloves, and eye protection.

Never Drink and Drive

Drinking and driving is never a good idea but it should never be done in the context of riding a motorcycle. Driving while impaired, even if you don’t seem intoxicated, can unfortunately impact your ability to adapt to road conditions as they change which we all know they frequently do. Simply put – driving after drinking has no potential positives and unfortunately only makes you a danger to yourself and everyone else unlucky enough to end up near you on the road – so avoid it.

Follow Road Rules

Remember that you are subject to the same traffic laws and rules of the road as other drivers. Therefore, you should ensure that you have your motorcycle serviced regularly to keep it in good working condition for the road. In addition, you should adhere to road rules while you are driving and that generally means staying in your lane, obey speed limits and other road signs, and utilizing turn signals whenever possible.

Are You Suffering After a Motorcycle Accident?

As the Jacksonville car accident attorneys at Douglas & Douglas, we advocate for riding safely and taking efforts to do whatever you can to minimize your chance of getting in an accident. However, we also understand that a collision can occur despite your best efforts to avoid one. If you have been injured while riding, we may be able to use our detailed knowledge of personal injury law to help. As experienced attorneys who support our clients as they journey through the aftermath of accidents of all kinds, we always work tirelessly to ensure that they receive the compensation that is due. Contact us today for a free consultation so that we can begin discussing how to pursue the best possible outcome for your case.

Resource:

trafficsafetymarketing.gov/get-materials/motorcycle-safety