May is motorcycle awareness month across the U.S., and everyone from your local biker club to the U.S. Marine Corps is doing its part to promote safety. With Memorial Day the unofficial start of summer, May is the month that many seasonal bikers start preparing to hit the open road. However, even bikers in warm weather states take to the road more often between May and October. This makes motorcycle awareness month a great opportunity to remind bikers of some basic safety tips that could save a life.
Whether you are a brand-new biker or a seasoned veteran, whether you are heading to Sturgis later this year or just biking around town, we urge you to adopt a safety mindset. Here are a few reminders:
Wear a Helmet
Helmet laws across the U.S. vary from one state to another. For example, helmet use is mandatory in New York while it is voluntary in Florida. A safety mindset dictates you wear a helmet at all times. We understand that helmets can be uncomfortable and unattractive, but they can mean the difference between life and death in a serious crash.
When looking for a helmet, be sure to purchase one that is DOT approved. An approved helmet offers you maximum protection in any accident. You might also consider other safety gear, including gloves, leather chaps, and boots. You should always avoid riding in shorts and sandals; they offer absolutely no protection.
Reflective Clothing Night
Studies have consistently shown that the vast majority of motorcycle/car accidents occur because car drivers fail to see motorcycles. There's not much you can do about it except making yourself as visible as possible. To that end, make sure your headlights, taillights, and turn signals are always functioning properly and at night wear light-colored and reflective clothing.
Some bikers wear a brightly colored safety vests with reflective tape when riding at night. Others buy biker patches with a reflective surface that can be attached to a vest, jacket, or helmet. The point is to find ways to make sure you are easily seen by other drivers.
Keep Your Distance
When riding in the midst of heavy traffic, it is a good idea to keep your distance from other vehicles. Evasive maneuvers on a motorcycle are much more difficult than in a car. If you are traveling too fast and too close, it only takes a second for you to wind up colliding with another vehicle.
Proper spacing also makes it easier for you to be seen by oncoming traffic that might otherwise turn in front of you. If you are traveling too close behind another vehicle, an oncoming driver may not see you because the car in front of you acts as an obstruction. More than one biker has been killed by oncoming vehicles turning into their paths.
Be Mindful of Conditions
Lastly, two of the biker's biggest enemies are varying weather and road conditions. During wet weather, it's advisable to use extra caution and lower speeds. Remember, it is extremely easy to lose control of your bike on wet roads. You can also have difficulty seeing when rainwater collects on the front of your visor or glasses.
As for road conditions, be very cautious in construction zones and on roads in rural areas. It only takes one small piece of debris to send you tumbling head over heels. If you plan to ride a street bike off-road during one of this year's rallies, just take it slow and easy.
Seasoned veterans hear these tips every year at the start of riding season. However, that's a good thing. Sometimes we need to be reminded of the basics in order to stay safe. We hope you'll take these reminders to heart as you embark on another great summer of riding.
Add to your riding safety be attaching one of these Reflective Safety patches to your biker jacket or vest.
