By Basem Wasef,
About.com Guide
If you're looking to stay riding (and alive) for a long time, here are five tips to help you cheat death on a motorcycle.
Using information gleaned from a study which reported that motorcycle fatalities were essentially unchanged between 2010 and 2011, the Governors Highway Safety Association found that when these five specific issues are addressed, your survival odds can be increased dramatically.
Tip #1: Wear a Helmet
The GHSA study has found that helmets are 37 percent effective at preventing fatal injuries to motorcycle operators, and 41 percent effective for passengers. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, lids were responsible for saving the lives of 1,829 riders in 2008. NHTSA has also found that 822 of unhelmeted riders who died that year would have survived if they had been wearing helmets.2. Lay Off the Booze
If you get a thrill from riding buzzed, or even worse, think you're a better rider after a few drinks, think again. Alcohol has an immediate and detrimental effect on your reflexes, which can make the crucial difference between taking a nasty spill and keeping the shiny side up.
According to the GHSA, a whopping 29 percent of fatally injured motorcycle riders in 2010 had a blood alcohol level at or above the legal limit of .08. Armed with that information, it's worth considering whether the enjoyment of a drink or two is worth the potentially deadly downside.
3. Slow Down, Speedy!
If you enjoy the tingly sensation of speed, it's easy to fall in love with motorcycles; that rush is a big part of why so many are drawn to riding, and the thrill of going fast on an affordable bike is hard to beat on any machine, even high-priced exotic sports cars.
The bad news, according to the GHSA, is that 35 percent of riders involved in fatal accidents were speeding. Even worse? More than half of those wrecks didn't even involve another vehicle. Exercise a bit of moderation when you're on two wheels, and you'll stand a far better chance of living long enough to enjoy many more miles.
4. Get (Re-)Trained
If you think you know everything there is to know about riding, think again. Never mind the obvious beginner mistakes;
here's no shortage of blind spots when it comes to motorcycling
techniques no matter how advanced your skill level, and the best way to
advance your abilities is to learn from a pro.
The Motorcycle Safety Foundation
offers a wide variety of courses aimed at everyone from total newbies
to re-entry riders looking to get back in the saddle. From urban
settings to offroad surroundings and track situations, there's probably a
course out there that will make you a better, not to mention safer,
rider.
5. Share The Road
NHTSA says that when many motorcycles collide with other vehicles, the rider's right of way is usually being violated. Considering that trend, it pays to be hyper aware of your surroundings when you're on a motorcycle, and follow these 10 tips to maximize your visibility when you're in traffic. It goes without saying, but people in cars have far less to lose than motorcyclists. Imagine you're invisible and assume they're out to get you, and you'll boost your survival odds exponentially-- and it doesn't hurt when states participate in "share the road" campaigns, as seen in the photo above.
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