Whether you have years of experience riding a motorcycle or whether you recently purchased your first motorcycle, ensuring that you are riding as safely as possible is imperative to your safety. Even the most experienced riders can use a refresher in riding skills, as confidence alone can never be a substitute for skilled and safe riding. The following are ways that all motorcyclists can make sure they are as skilled as possible in riding.
Training courses
Training courses are perhaps the most effective way to improve or maintain your skills riding a motorcycle. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation has specifically developed training courses for both new and veteran motorcyclists. These courses are called the “ Basic RiderCourse” and the “Experienced RiderCourse” and both cover numerous topics of interest, including braking, turning, and evasive maneuvers.
Increased visibility
Motorcycles are inherently less visible than larger motor vehicles, thus riders should do everything in their power to make themselves as visible as possible on the roads. As a rider, you should always wear reflective and bright clothing that can be easily noticed in day or night. You should always use the appropriate working lights for the nighttime, but also use daytime running lights. Make sure that your horn is properly working so that you may use it to alert drivers of your presence.
Know how to react in less than perfect circumstances
Almost every motorcyclist will encounter less than desirable situations while riding at one point or another. Such situations may include poor road conditions, adverse weather, dangerous intersections, or circumstances that may require emergency braking. Knowing how to react, stay calm, and conduct oneself in an appropriate manner in these potentially dangerous situations can help you avoid serious collisions and injuries.
Skidding skills
When you start skidding while you are riding a motorcycle, it is completely understandable that you may be frightened. However, it is important to learn how to skid properly in order to reduce the risk of injury and collision with other vehicles, objects, or the even the ground. The rules for braking and steering vary during a skid depending on whether one or both tires have locked up or whether you have lost traction with the road for another reason. It is highly important to understand how to react during different types of skids so that you come out of the skid safely and unharmed.
These are of course, only some examples of the motorcycle riding skills that can help reduce injury and even save lives.
An experienced Atlanta personal injury lawyer can help with your motorcycle accident case
No matter how skilled a motorcycle rider you may be, you cannot control the actions of the other drivers on the roads. Therefore, the chance of accidents and serious injuries still exists for any individual riding a motorcycle.
If you are injured by a negligent driver or other party, you deserve to fully and fairly recover for all of your injuries and related losses and should always consult with a Georgia personal injury lawyer who understands motorcycle accident claims. At the Atlanta law firm of Goldstein Hayes & Lina, we are committed to helping injured accident victims, so please call us today for a free consultation.