Unfortunately, motorcycle accidents are a constant occurrence in our daily lives. Furthermore, their drivers, along with pedestrians and cyclists, are vulnerable road users . It is therefore essential to take extreme precautions and follow these driving recommendations. The risk of a motorcyclist being involved in an accident stems primarily from three factors :
1. Lack of protection : a moped or motorcycle has few passive safety elements that minimize damage in the event of an accident.
2. Reduced vehicle stability : when responding to an unforeseen event, control is lost more easily.
3. Difficulty seeing other road users. For this reason, we'll focus our advice on helping you improve your personal protection and also help you avoid risky situations that could lead to accidents.
Increase your protection
Always wear an approved helmet All drivers and passengers of motorcycles and mopeds must wear a helmet approved according to the European standard ECE 22 on all types of roads.
The only exception: when the motorcycle has a roll-up frame and seat belts, as stated on its MOT certificate.
Keep in mind that each person must wear a helmet appropriate for their size and that it must be properly fastened, since many head injuries occur because the helmet is thrown off upon impact .
Don't forget, too, that helmets have a useful lifespan , which guarantees the suitability of their safety and protection qualities. According to the manufacturer, this lifespan ranges from three to eight years of use. Furthermore, if the helmet has suffered a severe impact or a fall from a height greater than 1.5 meters, it should still be replaced.
Appropriate Clothing Although the only mandatory option in Spain is a helmet, we strongly recommend wearing motorcycle-specific clothing . This clothing, along with the aforementioned helmet, is the only passive safety system for the rider, creating a protective shield against the road surface that minimizes the risk of an accident.
It's important to wear a jacket that not only suits your tastes, but is also made of a durable material and includes the necessary back protection to cushion your body in the event of a fall. Forget about shorts , too. Your legs, along with your arms, are the parts of your body that suffer the most in a fall, so they should also be protected with appropriate pants or motorcycle suits.
Gloves, not just for winter. Gloves are another important piece of gear for a motorcyclist , as the hands are the first to be touched in the event of a fall. It's advisable to always wear them, even in summer.
Make sure you are visible to other drivers Wear brightly colored clothing and reflective devices, especially at night or in low visibility conditions, so that other drivers can detect your presence at a distance of at least 150 meters .
In cities where you share the road with pedestrians and other road users, you must take extreme precautions and ensure that other drivers see you at all times. To do this , maximize your concentration and drive defensively . Ride around other vehicles' blind spots and avoid sudden or unexpected maneuvers. Don't take advantage of your motorcycle's agility to weave between vehicles, as you run the risk of being missed.
Avoid risky situations
Among the various risk situations that motorcyclists face, the following stand out:
Scope
Here we're talking about both those that occur when one of the vehicles is stopped and situations in which everyone involved is moving. To avoid these types of accidents, you must follow a series of recommendations while driving, and also when stopping.
When driving between moving cars , maintain a sufficient lateral safety distance and, whenever possible, drive in the center of the lane.
To avoid colliding with the vehicle in front in the event of an unexpected stop, in addition to maintaining a safe distance, drive to one side instead of the center, so you can react.
If you're driving between stopped cars , do so at a slow speed, no more than 20 km/h. Also take preventive measures , such as monitoring traffic with your rearview mirrors and keeping your fingers on the brake lever, to reduce your reaction time.
When stopping , signal your stop clearly and in advance by tapping the brakes several times. At traffic lights or pedestrian crossings, approach at a speed that allows you to brake gradually without crossing the intersection or crossing, and stop to the side of the lane, not in the middle.
Landslides
As we noted at the beginning of this post, motorcycles have poor stability, making skidding one of the most common causes of accidents. Here are some steps to maximize your chances of avoiding them:
- When refueling, pay attention to any fuel stains on the ground and avoid stepping on them with your wheels or standing on them.
- At pedestrian crossings , do not step on the white lines either ; the paint applied makes them slippery, especially in the rain.
- To brake, use both brakes at the same time , since the front brake brakes more than the rear, which will compensate; and never tap the front brake abruptly while cornering.
- Also remember that adverse weather conditions affect grip, braking, and visibility, so you should reduce your speed, increase your safety distance, and rest more frequently to respond as quickly as possible to any adverse circumstances on the road.
However, if you notice a possible slide, keep the steering firm, do not use the brakes and above all, never use the front brakes alone .
Crossings and changes of direction
Motorcycles are most vulnerable at intersections and changes in direction. When approaching intersections, take the following precautions:
- Approach at a moderate speed and watch for vehicles or pedestrians that may pose a hazard so you can anticipate them. Also signal your direction changes in advance.
- When approaching an intersection where you have priority, be wary of other vehicles; they may not see you . And check that no one is still crossing, especially when you're in the front row. Defensive driving, remember?
In case of a fall…
If, despite all of the above, you lose control of your motorcycle, let go immediately to avoid being dragged by it . Once on the ground, relax and glide to a complete stop . Avoid rolling and don't try to get up until you've actually stopped, as this could cause you to fall again.
Finally, after an accident, even a minor one, you should check the condition of the handlebars, wheels, lights, and brake, cooling, battery, and oil fluid levels; and carefully inspect the brakes and/or tires for traces of oil .
