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When receiving your motorcycle or new motorcycle license for the first time, it can be an exhilarating experience. In some cases, it may be too exhilarating. Why might this be the case, you ask? Often, newcomers to motorcycle riding get so enthralled with the experience that they often overlook specific safety guidelines. While it may be common to make mistakes in the beginning stages of motorcycle riding, it is crucial to rectify those issues as soon as possible to prevent those mistakes from becoming the norm.
Below are common mistakes that are prevalent among newcomers to motorcycle riding.
- Riding in blind spots: Riders often forget that a motorcycle is the smallest vehicle on the road. Therefore, when riding in a blind spot of another vehicle, it's much more difficult to notice the rider. Staying vigilant and making sure that other cars can see you at all times is the most effective way to avoid potential accidents.
- Wearing improper gear: More often than not, riders will forgo not wearing the appropriate equipment, such as a helmet. Doing this could result in a far worse accident if the rider were to go down while riding. Riders will often use excuses revolving around equipment being too expensive. If a rider can't afford full gear, they will most certainly have a hard time dealing with potential hospital bills.
- Using turn signals incorrectly: Misusing turn signals is all too common among individuals who drive cars and motorcycles. Not using your turn signal makes you unpredictable and dangerous to others on the road. In turn, others will have to try to anticipate your next moves, which will cause more stress for everyone. Riders should always use their turn signals when switching lanes and turning to notify others safely.
- Riding at wrong skill level: As stated earlier, newcomers in the motorcycle community often let their excitement take over and ride above their skill level. This can cause a myriad of problems and potential accidents. It is perfectly fine to be excited about motorcycle riding, but ensuring you are correctly developing your skill level through practicing before increasing your speed level is just as important.
- Ignoring cross traffic: It's easy to focus ahead when you have green lights ahead of you. However, it is still essential to check left and right before you cross the intersection to make sure it is clear. Even when a rider has the right of way, another car rider may not be paying attention and cross an intersection when a red light is present. Staying vigilant when crossing intersections will help ensure avoiding accidents.
- Practicing: Most riders will say that merely putting in hours on your bike is practice enough when that couldn't be further from the truth. While riding is practicing, it is only one aspect of it. Having focused attention to a specific function to fully understand it is practicing. Examples of practicing are learning how to countersteer, emergency braking, cornering, throttle control, body positioning and so much more. Taking the time to understand every function of your bike will make you a better and safer rider in the long run.
Motorcycle riding will always be a unique experience, unlike any other. Riders can make it an even more enjoyable experience by improving their knowledge and rectifying common mistakes. We hope that you will find this article beneficial.
In the event that you or a loved one has been hurt in a motorcycle crash, the experienced attorneys of Hupy and Abraham may be able to help you. We will go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that you are treated fairly, provide you with the personal attention that you deserve and use our experience of helping more than 5,000 injured riders make successful recoveries. Our personal injury law firm is the largest in the Midwest, with offices located in Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Our motorcycle attorneys have secured a number of motorcycle settlements in excess of a million dollars.
Contact us anytime -- 24/7/365 -- by phone or online chat to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today.
