If you are one of the many who enjoy the summer roads on a motorcycle, it’s important to remind yourself of some of the dangers that could spoil your enjoyment. As a motorcyclist, you are much more vulnerable than most other road users and cannot rely on others to look out for your safety, even though they should.
1. Check the weather
A summer thunderstorm can quickly make the roads more dangerous. Yet the weather service does a decent job of predicting these. A quick check of the forecast can reduce the chance you get caught out far from home in adverse conditions.
2. Dress for the occasion
When the weather is hot, it is tempting to ride wearing whatever you have on. Yet shorts and sandals won’t protect you if you come off your motorcycle. Whatever the weather, full protective gear is advisable, including gloves and the mandatory helmet.
3. Assume others haven’t seen you
You cannot afford to assume that a driver will see you. Even if you ride dressed in a dayglo yellow suit many of them will stare straight past you. There are several reasons for this. One is the fact that many drivers are distracted. Another is known as inattentional blindness – a psychological phenomenon that causes people to overlook something in front of them because they are not expecting to see it – and most drivers are not expecting to see a motorcyclist.
You can only do so much. At the end of the day, your life on a motorcycle is very much at the mercy of other road users, particularly drivers. If one of them jeopardizes it and you suffer injury you should learn how to hold them responsible for compensation.
