According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, thousands of motorcyclists are killed and many more are injured each year. It goes without saying that you can never be too safe while riding a motorcycle. Let’s look at a few thing you can do to minimize your risk while on the road.
Alcohol
Avoid drinking alcohol before riding. Drinking and driving is a bad combination and the outcome can be extremely dangerous, even fatal. In fact, 27 percent of motorcycle riders that were in a fatal accident in 2012 had a blood alcohol content above 0.08. This is the legal limit for drunk driving. Forty-five percent of night-time crashes that resulted in a fatality involved a rider above the legal limit. The safest way to ride a motorcycle (or operate any motor vehicle) is when you’re sober.
Helmet Use
Not all states require motorcycle riders to wear helmets, yet they are proven to save lives. If you live in a state in which helmet use is optional, you are strongly advised to wear a helmet. A safety-rated motorcycle helmet not only protects your head and face during a fall (which is reason enough), but it also shields your eyes from flying debris and protects your skin from the elements.
Speed
The chance for a crash fatalities increases with speed. Those who ride sports motorcycles, which can reach speeds of 190 mph, are most at risk. Speed and driver error are often cited causes of accidents. Bikes that are built for racing may be driven at excessive speeds on residential roads, resulting in the potential for driver death. Those who ride standard and cruiser motorcycles are less likely to be in an accident, although when an accident does occur, speed is often a factor. Therefore, regardless of which type of motorcycle you ride, it is best to keep speeds modest for safety.
Keeping the above tips in mind will help ensure safer motorcycle rides. Another form of protection that should not be ignored is motorcycle insurance. This coverage protects your bike, your finances and others who share the road.
Stay safe on the road. Call Tabitha E. Walker Insurance Agency at (540) 657-5633 for more information on Fredericksburg motorcycle insurance.