Riding a motorcycle is dangerous. In fact, riding a motorcycle can be deadly. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, those who drive motorcycles are more than 35 times more likely to die in a crash than someone who is riding in a passenger car. Even if you’ve been riding for many years, there is a considerable amount of risk and responsibility involved in riding a motorcycle. If you’re new to motorcycle riding, it’s even more so.

For a new motorcycle rider, evne the smallest of mistakes can cause a horrible accident. Motorcycles have less in the way of protective structure and padding to help softent the blow when a crash does occur. That’s the reason that motorcycle insurance can be, in some cases, just as expensive if not more expensive than car insurance in some places. It isn’t the replacement value of the vehicle that’s the issue: it’s the medicla liabilities involved.

The NHTSA has identified a number of common motorcycle rider mistakes that should be avoided if you’re going to ride safely:

• Not driving defensively. If driving defensively is good for drivers of passenger vehicles, it’s imperative for motorcycles. You need to be constantly aware of your surroundings, and assume the worst. Never assume that other drivers will yield the right of way. Keep constant tabs on the traffic patterns around you. Learn to anticipate problems, traffic and road hazards, so that you can avoid them.
• Poor braking and cornering skills. A motorcycle is much lighter and much more agile than a passenger car. This also means it takes extra time and care to master motorcycle driving. More than two thirds of all motorcycle collisions with another vehicle occur at an intersection, which is where you’ll use those braking and cornering skills the most.
• Not choosing the right bike. A big motorcycle with a powerful motor may be tempting, but when you’re first starting off you are much safer on a less powerful bike that you can handle more safely. Large bikes are also heavy, so you need to be sure you can push it up off the ground if you fall over.
• Not recognizing the limitations of the bike. You need to become intimatately familiar with your motorcycle. You should carefully read the manual, and you should take a motorcycle safety course. A safety class, taught by a professional will give you the skiills and knowledge you need.
• Impatient or inconsiderate driving. If you weave in and out of slow traffic or ride on the shoulders, you’re likely to aggrivate other drivers and cause potential problems with traffic.

Photo via The U.S. Army