Motorcycle Safety Remains a Priority for Riders Enjoying Minnesota Roads
April 2019
As the weather warms up, people in Minnesota and other parts of the country are preparing for another fun-filled motorcycle season. Although riding a motorcycle is an incredible experience, safety should remain a priority every moment on the open road. Crashing a motorcycle is up to 28 times more deadly than crashing a car or truck, and unreasonable speeds and inexperience are the top causes of motorcycle crashes. Here are a few tips and resources to help you safely enjoy motorcycle season.
Consider Your Experience
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Office of Traffic Safety cites inexperience as one of the most common causes of motorcycle crashes, and offers a series of comprehensive riding tips. Asses your current experience level, and that of others when heading out on a group ride. The capabilities of each rider can affect the destination choice, pace of the ride and following distance.
Review your knowledge, comfort and skill level with motorcycles. Basics like knowing how to use your front brake effectively and predicting how much traction various road conditions provide can save your life in certain situations. When you are honest with yourself about your skill and experience, you can choose riding conditions that keep you, and your group, out of harm’s way.
Use a Solid Riding Strategy
A solid riding strategy is key to avoiding trouble on the road:
- Assume Others Can’t See You
- Steer With Your Eyes
- Countersteer
- Use Both Brakes
- Never Lay Your Bike Down
Always assume other drivers are unable to see you, especially when passing through blind spots. Learn to steer with your eyes by looking at the road in the direction you would like to travel. When you are trying to avoid a collision, looking at the object you would like to avoid increases your odds of crashing into it.
Also, remember to countersteer at speeds above 10 or 15 MPH. To be a skilled rider, learn to use both of your brakes; the front brake generates up to 70% of the stopping power. If you want to reduce the fallout of an accident, resolve never to lay your bike down when you believe you are losing control. Using these strategies to maintain control works much better than leaving your fate to chance.
When in doubt, certified instruction is available. The Minnesota Motorcycle Safety Center has served riders for more than 35 years with affordable, high-quality professional training and education courses at 25 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities.
Accidents Happen
Even though all the right precautions are taken, collisions can still occur. Motorcycle crashes can cause severe damage and leave a lasting impact. If you or someone you know is involved in an accident, ensure you have the guidance of a personal injury attorney who has your needs in mind.
The experienced motorcycle accident attorneys at Schwebel, Goetz & Sieben are ready to protect your rights and get you the compensation that you deserve. We’ll handle your legal battle so that you can focus on your recovery. Contact us online or 612-377-7777 or toll free at 1-800-752-4265 for a free consultation.