A motorcycle ordinarily requires as much stopping

Your motorcycle has two brakes, and you must learn to use them both and in coordination with each other. Unless you are following immediately behind another vehicle or another vehicle is approaching you from the opposite direction, use your high beams. Do what it takes to ensure the other driver knows you are in his path if he decides to turn left in front of you. 218- compliant helmet every time you ride your bike.In addition to helmet laws, there may be requirements in your state regarding face shields and safety glasses or goggles. It's simple. Consequently, responsible motorcyclists always stay alert to nearby vehicles and their surroundings. After all, motorcycles are not equipped with the same physical protections and restraints found in autos and trucks.• Beware of road surface and other hazards. They will help you see unexpected obstacles or animals in the road in front of you.. Nearby motor vehicle operators are more likely to notice your bike's flashing turn signal than its activated taillight.• Wear a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No.Think you don't have to maintain the same distance behind an auto or truck that an auto or truck must keep as it travels behind other vehicles? Wrong! 

A motorcycle ordinarily requires as much stopping distance as an automobile. Familiarize yourself with the general motor vehicle laws of your state. These laws may be even more important to the safety of the motorcycle operator than to drivers of other motor vehicles. If your turn signal remains activated after you have made a turn, the driver behind you may assume you will turn again, and he may pull directly into your path. Do headlights and taillights work in both high and low beam? Are your brake lights and turn signals operational? Do you need to refill your coolant reservoir? Clutch and throttle should work smoothly.Stay out of blind spots. Never say to yourself, "Well, I'm just going a mile or two to the store or to a friend's house, why should I bother with a helmet?" Helmets save lives. This usually depends on whether your motorcycle is equipped with a permanent seat specially designed to carry a second person. Gravel roads, wet pavement, wet pavement with oil slicks, and paved roads with loose sand and gravel are especially treacherous. Motorcyclists should think twice about taking their bikes out at all in mud, snow, or icy conditions. Goggles protect your eyes.• Give your bike a "pre-trip" inspection.Make it a habit to use your turn signals - always. Never ride while intoxicated. And remember, there are skills training courses not just for the novice but for the more experienced rider as well. Speed kills.• Keep your headlights on night and day.• Follow state and local traffic laws. Watch out for helmets with false certifications or counterfeit stickers imprinted with a DOT symbol.You can't take action to avoid a potential accident if you are not aware of the danger. During Autumn, wet leaves can cause problematic conditions as well.In 2004, 36% of all fatal motorcycle accidents were the result of speeding at the time of the accident. And these are just a few of the differences you need to learn.It is no surprise that alcohol and other drugs play a substantial role in too many motorcycle accidents. 

The stakes are high. Check tire air pressure and the hydraulic fluid level. It's where most motorcycle crashes happen because auto or truck drivers who approach an intersection sometimes fail to see the motorcyclist who has the right of way as he travels down the main thoroughfare.Wear bright colored clothing. A passenger who is not properly seated on a motorcycle is at increased risk of falling off a bike and accidental injury. Look for signs of an oil or gas leak. Over the last decade, there has been an increase in serious and sometimes fatal accidental injuries to motorcyclists. Statistics show helmets are 37% effective in preventing fatal injuries.Following the suggestions outlined above will make for safer motorcycle operation. Unlike most automobiles which are equipped with automatic transmission, you will need to shift gears on a motorcycle. If not, drop back, well out of the blind spot. Keep a greater distance between you and the vehicle directly ahead of you. In 2004, 39% of fatal motorcycle accidents occurred under one of the foregoing fact patterns. They're easy for autos and trucks to miss or disregard. They were enacted to help ensure your safety.On the highway, motorcycles are "small fry". Whenever you approach a vehicle you may want to pass, you must make a choice, and quickly too. Practice working the throttle, clutch and brakes a few times before you take a borrowed bike for a spin. Darkness reduces visibility. For this reason, going up or downhill can be particularly tricky.• Take a motorcycle rider skills training course. In fact, many states mandate such instruction because well trained automobile operators make for safer roads and highways.If a motorcycle can sometimes travel unnoticed by traffic nearby in broad daylight, the situation at night is even more hazardous. It makes just as much sense for motorcycle operators to take a skills training course given by a professional instructor and designed specifically for motorcycle operation.Statistics kept by The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tell us that 25% of the motorcyclists who died as a result of traffic accidents in 2004 were either not licensed at all or were not properly licensed to operate a motorcycle.• Don't speed.• Keep a safe distance behind other vehicles.In many important ways, operating a motorcycle is not like driving an automobile. What is one of the most deadly maneuvers a motorcyclist is likely to confront everyday on the road? It is the other driver who turns left in front of him while the cyclist is doing one of three things: (1) traveling straight, (2) passing the other vehicle, or (3) overtaking the other vehicle. At night, wear reflective material on helmets, vests/jackets, and even shoes. You must lean left or right depending on which way you want to go. Engage your front and rear brake levers, one brake at a time, to ensure they are in working order. Studies have shown that following too closely is a major cause of accidents on the part of the motorcyclist.08 g/dL. Accidents happen close to home, not just far away. Face shields protect your face from rain, dust, insects and flying debris. Familiarize yourself with the controls and the bike's gear pattern.You can pay with your life if you don't learn the essential skills necessary to operate a motorcycle properly and safely. Equally important, however, is the need to deactivate your turn signal as soon as you complete your turn or as soon as you decide not to turn after all. Make sure you know the location of the turn signals, the horn, the headlight switch, and the engine cut-off switch. Regardless, it is always safer to ride wearing a helmet that meets recognized Snell, ANSI, and/or Federal DOT standards.What are some of the basics in motorcycle safety?• Make it easy for automobile and truck drivers to see you.Motorcyclists must follow the same "rules of the road" and traffic regulations as automobiles and trucks. Put reflective material on the sides of your helmet, clothing and shoes, not just on the Motorcycle Accessories Molding Factory front and back. These surfaces provide poor traction for motorcycles traveling along them. Take the time to refresh and refine your rider techniques by taking an advanced skills course every few years. Drive slower at night. What does this mean? For every 100 motorcyclists who die in motorcycle crashes, 37 of them would have been saved had they been wearing a helmet when the accident happened.It's up to you to keep the odds on your side.• Always remain alert to your surroundings and nearby vehicles.• Remember that darkness reduces visibility on the road.It's the law in many states so you may have no choice in the matter. If a motorist can't see you or your bike, he won't take action to avoid you. The flashing brake light will alert the driver behind you to your sudden change in speed. Remember, you must be seen from the side, not just the back and front. So you have to change your way of thinking and your way of driving when you ride your motorcycle. As you travel along the roads and highways behind another vehicle, take care to position your bike where the other driver will be able to see you in his rear view mirror. And worse, according to NHSTA, 41 percent of the 1672 motorcyclists who died in single vehicle crashes in 2004 had blood alcohol levels above the legal minimum of .Enhance your visibility by tapping your foot brake lightly before you slow down, especially when you anticipate a quick stop. Most everyone takes a driver training course to obtain an automobile driver's license when they are teenagers.• Obtain the driver's license endorsement you need to legally operate a motorcycle in your state. And make certain your helmet is, in fact, a certified/compliant helmet.Long distance truckers give their tractor trailers daily pre-trip inspections and so should motorcycle operators. They may drive recklessly so defensive driving is essential. There are negligent motorists on the roads. And who has a greater interest in motorcycle safety than the motorcyclist himself? The cyclist who takes responsibility for ensuring he has taken every precaution to make his ride a safe one is less likely to find himself injured in a serious accident. For example, to turn a motorcycle left or right, it's not just a matter of turning a steering wheel. 

Do you really want to pass? If so, pass as fast as you reasonably can.Don't assume that someone else's bike is just like yours. In 2004, for example, alcohol was involved in a much higher percentage of motorcycle accidents (31% higher) than auto accidents. At night, it is more difficult for other drivers to see your relatively small motorcycle or to pick up its headlights and taillights from among the myriad of other vehicle lights surrounding you. Turn signals tell other drivers what you plan to do. But that's not enough if you want to take a safe ride.There are motorcycle rider skills training courses in most states. The motorcyclist should drive especially carefully when passing over bumps, broken pavement, potholes, railroad tracks, steel plates, grates, manhole covers or raised lane and highway marker to name just a few. Your state department of motor vehicles, for one, should have information on such programs.Sound strange? Yes, but studies show that keeping your headlights on high beam during daylight hours increases your visibility to oncoming traffic and prevents accidents. Special regulations may control whether or not a motorcycle may carry a second passenger. Keep in mind that intersections are always dangerous.• Don't ride in an impaired condition. They give you some measure of protection against serious brain injuries in the event of an accident. Just as important, study carefully the statutes directed specifically at the operation of motorcycles.• Never ride someone else's bike without first familiarizing yourself with its particular features and/or without giving it a pre-trip inspection.Uneven surfaces can be dangerous.