Written by Keith V. Trantolo
Riders often believe that safety starts once you get on the road. Yet, the vulnerability surrounding a motorcycle – a two-wheeled design with no enclosure – makes an ordinary accident far worse.
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) study, motorcyclists are about 35 times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash per mile traveled and 8 times more likely to be injured in an accident.
Because of these risks, safe driving habits begin in your garage and extend to every time you travel.
This guide covers everything from motorcycle teen riders and spring hazards to long-distance trip planning and everyday practices. Whether you’re a seasoned biker or just getting started, these tips will help you reduce risk, stay visible, and enjoy the ride safely.
How to Prepare Your Motorcycle for the Road
Knowledge and awareness are the first steps to staying safe:
1. Take a Motorcycle Training Course or Brush up on Your Skills
Inexperienced drivers benefit from these classes geared toward motorcycle riding. Yet, even those who haven’t stepped on a bike in a while could use a refresher.
Before going for a ride, always confirm two aspects:
- Your bike is tuned up, cleaned and running properly
- Your own riding skills are still up to par
2. Always Inspect Your Bike
Never take a motorcycle on the road if it’s less than its best. For maintenance, if you can’t do the work yourself, have a professional assess your motorcycle before you take it out for a ride. As such, make sure its tire pressure and its parts for leaks, broken wires, cracks, damage, and loose chains or belts.
3. Wear a Helmet
While helmets are optional for adults above the age of 17 in Connecticut, it’s recommended that the driver and any passengers wear a DOT-compliant helmet that fits and fastens correctly.
4. Have Protective Gear
Not covering all of your skin exposes you to road rash if you crash and hit the pavement. To prepare, drivers should be ready with long pants, a vest, chaps, a riding jacket, boots, gloves, face protection, and eye protection, such as safety glasses.
5. Be Visible at All Times
Many motorists have not seen a motorcycle in months, so your presence on the road could be a surprise. Make sure others can see you day or night, in whichever conditions you travel. Keep your headlights on at night and in dark conditions, wear light-colored or reflective clothing and use your turn signals.
As you ride, always leave enough distance between yourself and the cars in front. Do not position your bike in another motorist’s blind spot and ride with your head on a swivel to prevent a possible collision.
You want to remain visible to other motorists, so, regardless of the time of day you head out, make sure your clothing and vehicle have reflective materials added.
6. Evenly Load Your Saddlebags
Always make sure to evenly distribute your supplies between sides and place your heavier items on the right.
7. Always Be Sober
Never consume an alcoholic beverage before getting on your bike.
8. Be Prepared with Rain Gear
Whether you have a separate jacket or even a plastic bag, have a backup plan for whenever cold and wet weather hits.
9. Have Proper Motorcycle Insurance
Never go out onto the road uninsured. Along this line, if you have insurance on a custom bike, make sure you have its value established, just in case anything happens. To do so, get an appraisal, take pictures of the bike, and hold onto all documents.
While having proper motorcycle insurance is a critical safety net in case things go wrong, the best protection always starts with proactive habits on the road. As you gear up for warmer days and longer rides, here are 10 essential motorcycle safety tips to help you stay prepared, alert, and out of harm’s way.
10 Motorcycle Safety Tips When You’re on the Road
Riding a motorcycle is much like taking any other vehicle on the road: Always obey all traffic laws.
As the warm weather intrigues most motorcyclists, the idea of a road trip crosses your mind. While now is the ideal time to take one, you never want to be unprepared when far from home.
Instead of hopping on your bike spur of the moment, put together a plan, including the proper gear and best route, before you rev up your engine. Consider these 10 tips:
1. Pace Yourself
Don’t push yourself too hard, but at the same time, be ready to ride for at least six to seven hours in a day. If you aren’t used to riding more than a few hours at a time, go on a several longer journeys that are still close to home.
2. Make Sure Your Bike Has a Windshield
While you should make sure your bike is in peak shape, a windshield is one feature your bike should have for longer trips. A windshield would be an asset, but if your bike is not equipped with one, be prepared to ride for a shorter amount of time because of the fatigue you will encounter from riding through the wind.
3. Prepare for the Weather
On longer rides, you could encounter winds, rain, heat and cold – possibly all within the same day! It’s recommended that your attire reflect the conditions ahead, so consider packing ventilated, waterproof clothing for day wear, a few extra layers and a rain jacket.
4. Schedule Your Breaks
While scheduling your fuel breaks, remember to allow yourself time to stretch and hydrate. Always plan out your stops ahead of time so that rest and fuel do not become issues.
5. Give Family and Friends an Itinerary
You never know when an emergency will occur, so it’s best to check in with friends and family through each leg of your journey. Let them know where you’ll be, should they not hear from you as expected.
6. Schedule Most of Your Driving During the Day
For one, you’ll have far better visibility when it’s light out and two, you’re more likely to encounter animals in the road once the sun goes down. In both cases, daytime driving usually presents safer conditions.
7. Wear Earplugs
You’ll soon find that both the bike and roadway generate a significant amount of noise. To protect your hearing and partially block out the constant sounds, be ready with a set of earplugs.
8. Check Your Bike
Before getting back on the road after each rest, check your bike for leaks, tire punctures and other common maintenance issues.
9. Pack Light
Only bring the essentials, so you won’t be weighed down by a heavy load that decreases your gas mileage and causes you to work harder.
10. Keep Hydrated and Fed
Always make sure you’re properly fed and have water readily available. Schedule lighter meals earlier in the day, so you won’t be driving when you feel sluggish. Also have a source of water on hand, should you start to feel dehydrated between rest stops.
These motorcycle safety tips are meant to keep you alert and focused behind the handlebars. Yet even the most prepared and cautious riders can’t control every variable on the road — and when accidents happen, the consequences can go far beyond a scraped fender.
Even drivers who stay safe may end up in an accident, which, beyond the initial collision, could lead to high medical bills, time off from work, and dealing with a difficult insurance company.
At that point, it becomes essential to pursue a claim, and for understanding the intricacies involving motorcycles, Trantolo & Trantolo is here to help. Not only have we represented many motorcyclists over the years, but several members of our staff ride. Should you find yourself in this situation, give any of our Connecticut locations a call today.
Teens and Motorcycles: Major Safety Concerns and Tips
If you are a biker, there is a chance your child will want to pick up motorcycle riding as a teen. Or, more often than not, characters from movies and TV or motocross athletes wield more influence. As a result, your child requests a license to drive a motor bike – and won’t let up.
Even if you’ve started teaching your child how to ride, should they have their own bike or be out on the road alone? Although teens can test for and receive a motorcycle license at 16, that doesn’t mean your child is ready to face the safety issues or responsibilities. A motorcycle safety course can help in many regards but, as a parent, you should factor the following points into your decision.
Beware Injuries & Accidents
Regardless of whether the rider has a license, unsafe speeding is the primary culprit behind crashes involving 16- to 19-year-olds. Unlike adults, teen riders are responsible for about two-thirds of these collisions.
According to a Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI) study looking at insurance claim frequency for teens, supersport motorcycles – bikes designed specifically for speed – had the highest rate at 27.4 per 100 insured vehicles. Compared to other demographics owning this vehicle, teen claims quadrupled those for 36- to 60-year-old riders.
Teen riders account for about three percent of all motorcycle-related collision claims. Yet, among all licensed and insured riders, teens make up just one percent. Additionally, a teen is more likely to ride a supersport motorcycle and, as a result, has a crash rate 18-times higher than someone in a standard car.
Further exacerbating these risks, more than 90 percent of all riders involved in crashes had no formal training. As one step to reduce your child’s chances of a collision, get a list from the DMV of all approved riding safety courses and have your teen attend all hours before taking his or her license test.
Always Adopt Good Riding Habits
Along with helping your child successfully learn how to ride a motorcycle, make sure he or she uses good judgment out on the road. This includes:
- Avoiding passengers. Initially, teens should ride their motorbikes alone, without anyone on the back. One or more passengers tend to make the bike harder to maneuver.
- Wearing appropriate safety gear. Before the first ride, your child needs a DOT-approved helmet and appropriate eye protection. Even if the motorcycle has a windshield, your child should also have goggles or a helmet with a face shield.
- Insisting on appropriate riding clothing. Items like T-shirts, tank tops and flip flops offer little protection. In case of an accident, make sure your teen is wearing over-the-ankle boots, gloves and an abrasion-resistant jacket and pants, preferably designed with padding. Also, especially if your teen might be riding through dusk, make sure he or she wears bright-colored or reflective clothing, so other motorists can spot them.
Assume Responsibility
Similar to driving a car, your teen needs to be aware of other vehicles, the rules of the road, particular risks and the challenges involved in operating a vehicle. Yet, certain ones are more specific to this ride:
- It takes more agility and coordination to ride a motorcycle. Even after your teen gets a license, he or she likely needs more practice before going out alone.
- Your teen needs to be alert. This means that if your child takes a painkiller with drowsiness as a side effect or he or she seems tired for any reason, riding around should be out of the question.
- Riding a motorcycle is far more dangerous than driving a car. This includes the rider’s lack of protection and injuries that could potentially result from a collision.
As one strategy, make sure your child gets their driver’s license first and spends time driving a car. During practice, notice how your teen handles the vehicle and obeys traffic rules. If your child speeds, swerves through traffic or drives through stop signs, this behavior shows that more time is needed before getting a motorcycle license.
How to Practice Defensive Motorcycle Riding
Defensive riding habits help you maintain control and get to your destination safely. If you’re a motorist on two wheels, keep these tips in mind at all times, no matter if you’re a beginner or a veteran of the roads.
1. Maintain Your Bike No Matter the Season or How Often You Use It
Overlooking motorcycle maintenance can put riders at greater risk of an accident. Regularly check the fuel and fluid levels, brakes, tire pressure, headlights and taillights. If you notice any warning signs of significant wear and tear, have your bike professionally inspected.
2. Practice Caution Even If You Take a Short Ride
According to the NHTSA, approximately 42 percent of motorcycle accidents are caused by drivers making left-hand turns without seeing the bike approach. Before you proceed at an intersection, make eye contact with other motorists to ensure they’ve seen your bike.
As you ride alongside other cars and trucks, watch for the head movements of other motorists. A glance over the shoulder could mean a driver is about to move in front of your motorcycle.
3. Keep Your Eyes Peeled Even If the Road Looks Clear
While riding, keep your head on a swivel at all times. Pay attention to all traffic signs and signals, as well as the actions of other drivers. Look both ways before entering traffic and drive with caution. If you’re entering a multi-lane road, be mindful of drivers who may be changing lanes. Also take care passing other vehicles and maintain a safe following distance.
Final Thoughts on Motorcycle Safety
Whether you’re commuting to work, planning a scenic road trip, or just taking your bike out on a sunny afternoon, motorcycle safety is never a one-time checklist — it’s an ongoing mindset. From wearing the right gear and staying visible to maintaining your bike and riding defensively, every choice you make contributes to your safety and the safety of others.
Even the most experienced riders can encounter unpredictable situations, so preparation, awareness, and caution are your best allies. Stay sharp, ride smart, and remember: the more intentional you are about your safety, the more freedom you’ll have to enjoy the ride.
If you ever find yourself in an accident or dealing with complex insurance claims, don’t go through it alone — having a legal team that understands motorcycles can make all the difference.
