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Motorcycle Safety Tips: How NOT to become a statistic

Posted August 24th, 2009
by MotorcycleInsurance.org Staff (no comments)

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There’s a reason that doctors call them “donorcycles.” Sadly, the statistics speak for themselves: according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2006 data) motorcyclists are 37 times more likely to die in a crash than car passengers and 8 times more likely to be injured.

Many of the same factors that cause automobile accidents also play a role in motorcycle accidents—traveling at unsafe speeds, driver distraction, or road hazards, to name a few. The difference is that with a motorcycle, you don’t have airbags between you and the pavement.

So how can you still enjoy the freedom of zooming down the highway on your bike without turning into an organ donor?

Be a Driver

Think about how we talk about cars compared to how we talk about motorcycles. You drive your car, but you ride your motorcycle. This makes motorcycles sound like racehorses or bulls–something that’s just a little bit beyond our control with a will of its own. There’s no denying the thrill that comes from being so close to so much raw power. However, taking control of your bike also means taking responsibility for how you ride it.

Wear A Helmet

"Luke, I am your father... and seriously, put this on."

Some people reason that if they get into a motorcycle accident, a helmet won’t do them much good. However, the NHTSA estimates (based on accident data for helmet-wearing vs. non-helmet wearing motorcyclists) that helmets are 37% effective in preventing fatalities. In other words, over a third of motorcyclists who died in crashes where they were not wearing helmets could have been saved if they had worn helmets. Without at helmet, chances of fatal injury in an accident are much greater. And no matter how good your motorcycle insurance is, it can’t help you if you’re dead.

Get Protective Gear

Ok, this might be overkill.

In addition to a helmet, eye protection (required in many states) and some good leather can help you avoid injury. Gear that will keep you comfortable in adverse conditions will help you stay safe on your bike.

Know Yourself

Brain science reveals that those under 25 are more likely to make impulsive decisions, so it’s not surprising that motorcycle fatality statistics reveal that younger cyclists have high accident rates (although there has also been an increase in accidents among the over-40 set.) If you understand the way you react to situations, you’re more likely to be able to manage your own behavior.

Know Your Bike

No standard 600cc, successful piloting of this bike takes years of experience at the Starfleet Academy.

Riders who are familiar with their bikes are less likely to be involved in accidents. If you get a new bike or you’re new to motorcycling, log as many hours as you can at lower speeds before taking it out on the highway, since speed compresses the time you have to make decisions. In addition, be sure to maintain your bike carefully and get it inspected yearly even if your state doesn’t require it. Don’t take it out if your lights or signals aren’t working.

Know the Road

Always pay attention to road conditions. Even if you know the road like the back of your hand, you never know what could come up—a gravel spill, a new pothole, a chunk of blown tire from a semi truck, or a zombie attack. (Just checking to make sure you’re still paying attention.) Expect the unexpected, even if it’s a route you travel every day.

Take a Class

Defensive Driving Class, good for insurance, bad for a Saturday morning!

Take a motorcycle safety class through your state or through the Motorcycle Safety Foundation. If you have already taken one when you got your motorcycle license, a refresher doesn’t hurt.

Obey Traffic Laws

"I ALWAYS catch the Red Light at this intersection..."

This one’s obvious. Obeying traffic laws is important not just to avoid fines or be a good citizen, but also because disobeying them makes your actions less predictable to other drivers, and makes an accident more likely. Different states have different laws regarding motorcycle safety, so make sure you’re familiar with the rules in your state.

Play Mind Games

I said PLAY Mindgames, not the BAND "Mindgames"?!?!?

Take a few minutes to imagine the worst: death, paralysis, or causing serious injury or death to another person. Read a little bit about some bad motorcycle accidents in your area. Imagine trying to explain to the family of someone that you injured or killed why it happened. This is a depressing but useful mental exercise, and a reality check that all drivers—not just motorcyclists—could benefit from.

Educate Your Friends

Educate YOUR Friends, not THESE Friends.

Not all drivers know how to share the road safely with motorcyclists. Make sure that your non-motorcycling friends and family understand that they should allow additional following distance and carefully check their blind spots for cyclists.

Here’s hoping you’ll become part of a statistic that nobody measures: the number of motorcyclists who have a blast on their bikes every day without ending up in the E.R. or the morgue. And with luck (and funding), scientists can begin to grow transplant organs in the lab instead of relying on donorcycles.