No preaching but... I've got to preach on these issues!
I've said it before & I will say it again... Almost everyone with a motorcycle understands that riding can be a dangerous experience. The human body simply isn’t built for the heavy impacts we risk when we head out on the open road. However, experienced riders know that a few safety precautions can offer significant boosts to our wellbeing.
1. Lane splitting is a commonly used technique to weave through heavy traffic. This is typically done by riding the painted lines which separate two lanes. Sometimes riders will lane split when traffic is at a standstill in order to get through a jam.
Do not listen to those that encourage this practice!
During heavy traffic, drivers may well stop looking at anything other than the lane ahead of them. This creates a new blind spot that riders might inadvertently enter into... The Dead Zone!
2. Many people believe that helmets make them less safe by decreasing awareness of their environment. But in reality, helmets have very little impact on either peripheral vision or hearing.
Wear a helmet!
Helmets, typically save close to 2,000 lives per year.
3. People often assume that residential streets are fundamentally safer than busy highways. In reality, the increased number of variables on residential streets makes them more dangerous than highways. For example, you have to contend with traffic lights, people running into the street, multiple lanes in different directions, pets, and many more issues. If you ride residential streets, watch out & keep your speed in check.
4. People often assume that laying a bike down before a crash will decrease the vehicle’s speed and therefore increase a rider’s safety. In reality, this simply increases the distance a rider will end up dragged over the ground. Being dragged along concrete with hundreds of pounds of metal on top of you is a greater danger than the crash people are trying to avoid. Keep The Shining Side Up At All Cost!
5. People take a lot of pride in their skills. And experienced riders often assume that if they can handle one bike then they can handle all bikes. But there’s a huge amount of variety in all of the options out there. We absolutely do need to spend some time getting used to a new bike before our skills can transfer over. Much of the riding experience comes down to instinct. And that’s not something we can retrain simply by thinking about it. We need to let our subconscious really get in tune with the quirks found in every bike. No Bike Is The Same... No Ride Is The Same!
We should always ride vigilant. When we think we know it all and let our guard down. We should hang it up & stop riding.
One last thing... Speeding Is Not Cool...
It Kills!
Keep your speed in check. The needed seconds to react are stolen with speeding... Slow Your Azz Down!
Be Safe!
Nana
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