No matter where you live in the country, having a vehicle to travel with is really important. Public transport can’t take us everywhere and the distances we can travel in quick time periods really are marvelous. American roads are always packed to the brim with traffic and while this can bring problems, it does show the reliance we place on it. There are a number of different ways to travel and obviously, cars are among the most popular. However, motorcycles have also really grown in popularity in recent times. They are really quick, they are fun to ride and you can even skip by traffic in a lot of cases. They offer a lot of possibilities.
There are, however, a number of dangers that come when you ride a motorcycle. There have been a number of accidents over the years and you need to do everything you can to make sure that you aren’t the next victim of a crash- or worse, that you cause harm to another person because of reckless driving. Now, there are a number of ways to make sure you’re safe on the roads in general and a lot of these translate across into motorcycle laws. There are, however, some more specific tips and laws regarding motorcycle riding, so sit back and relax while I take you through some of them today.
The first thing you need to know about motorcycle riding should be pretty obvious and you’re taught it from a really early age- you need to wear a motorcycle helmet! The number of fatal cases I’ve read about that have come about as a result of no helmet being present is incredible- no one cares how you look, it’s all about putting your safety first! Helmets are your first line of protection whenever you take a ride on your cycle- if you’re wearing one during a crash, you’ll be much more likely to survive and prevent any serious brain damage. I know it might seem cool to drive without one or you may think that nothing bad will ever happen to you, but the simple fact is that it could. You need to take every precaution available and that starts with wearing a helmet.
There are laws regarding motorcycle helmets, as well. While people of most ages get to have a choice over the matter, if you are under the age of 20 then you are legally required to wear a helmet at all times while you ride. This means that if you’re caught riding without none, you may end up in court and could even have your license stripped. This is not what you want at such a young age and could tarnish your reputation, so make sure you always wear a helmet! This will ensure you are protected both legally and physically. If you ever take someone for a ride, make sure they wear one as well- they’d be just as likely to be injured during a crash as the driver!
The next thing you need to think about is actually driving safely. Again, I reckon this should come pretty naturally to you but a lot of people still drive like lunatics out there. For lots of people, owning and driving a motorcycle seems to make them think they’ve transformed into a professional stunt driver but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Motorcycles can be very dangerous if you aren’t careful- at least when someone crashes a car, they are protected by the interior of their vehicle. Motorcycle drivers have no such luck so you need to be careful at all times. It’s pretty easy to do this- do simple things like sticking to the speed limit. These are in place for a reason and if you go above them you’re only risking the health of both yourself and other drivers out there on the roads. You need to make sure that you’re careful when you are overtaking, as well. Motorcycles are much smaller than other vehicles on the road and it may be difficult for other drivers to see you- especially if you’re in their blind spot. Whenever you’re overtaking, whether it be in general or in standstill traffic when you can weave in and out of cars, always drive carefully and make sure you’re checking ahead for any potential dangers. This is really important for road safety. You can ensure you’re in compliance with road safety rules by taking a free motorcycle test.
You should also make sure that you have any necessary insurance policies set up. Insurance is normally legally required when you drive a motorcycle and that’s why you need to ensure you have a good policy in place. This will allow you to drive on the roads and go anywhere you want without the worry of being persecuted for it. If you’re caught driving without insurance, you could be in a lot of trouble. However, insurance does more than that. You’re essentially putting money aside for if you ever crash, and even if this is your fault or not it might be required. It’ll help to pay for any damage done to your motorcycle or another person’s vehicle in a crash and this is really helpful- you don’t want to have to suddenly come up with a large sum of money and get into financial trouble. Make sure you have a good insurance policy in place!
My last tip is less important than the safety regulations I’ve discussed so far but it’s still a fun way to finish- you need to make sure you look stylish when you’re riding your motorcycle. Part of driving a motorcycle in the first place is for the physical appeal and you need to live up to that. There are a lot of different designs out there and it’s all about finding a bike that acts as an expansion of your personality. You could even add different stickers and other sorts of designs. The gear you suit up in is important, too; it needs to look good when paired with your bike but needs to look good on its own as well. This is easier said than done so make sure you’re doing some research to find the right bike and gear for you.
