An Incomplete Motorcycle Safety Checklist
(Sept. 4, 2008) Riders should be constantly scanning the road ahead for hazards and potential hazards. Debris in the road, like loose gravel or bark from a logging truck, is no problem for a car, but can be disaster for a motorcycle. Pedestrians and other drivers pose their own set of potential problems.
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Unlike the driver of automobiles, the operator of a motorcycle must balance. Illegal drugs and some legal drugs like antihistamines and sedatives can affect the mental and motor processes needed to ride safely. A rider could be under the legal limit for alcohol and still not be able to safely ride a motorcycle. That is because vision and judgment are two of the first things impaired by alcohol. Both are critical for safe riding.
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Bright colors and reflective strips on riding gear make it easier for a motorist to spot riders. Williams says one of the biggest mistakes new riders make is their choice of gear. “I see a lot of new riders who choose fashion over visibility,” she says.
A rider’s gear serves another critical function. Unlike cars and trucks that protect the driver and passengers from injury with seatbelts, air bags and safety cages, a motorcyclist’s only protection in a wreck is her riding gear. It might seem like a no-brainer, but the most important piece of safety equipment for riders is their helmet. Most motorcycle fatalities are the result of brain injuries. Students learn about the importance of good riding gear.
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One way to be more visible on the road is for riders to get modulating head and taillights. These lights flicker while on, and are easier for motorists to see. “Instead of chrome and carbon fiber upgrades, you should be getting modulating head and tail lights,” says Jennifer Joell, owner of Redwood Region Motorcycle Training. “You should invest in your safety.”
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