Staying Safe and Protected on Your Motorcycle

With the high price of gas showing no sign of letting up soon, many people are choosing modes of transportation that are more economical, including taking their motorcycle out on the road more often. However, taking the motorcycle instead of the car carries certain risks. While there's nothing like the wind on your back as you ride carefree on your motorcycle, the chance of a injury from a motorcycle accident is far more likely than if you are traveling in a car. According to motorcycle-accidents.com , nearly 5,000 people were killed in 2006 alone, with a fatality rate of over 8%.

So what can you do stay safe and protected on your motorcycle? First of all, don't kid yourself. Motorcycle accidents do happen and they can happen to you. A University of Southern California Study analyzed 900 traffic accidents in the Los Angeles area, and also analyzed traffic reports for another 3600 motorcycle accidents. The findings reconfirm common suggestions, such as staying sober and wearing a safety helmet to avoid injury in a motorcycle accident, but other insights can be taken away from the study as well.

The media often puts a certain spin on motorcycle fatalities, leaving the impression that accidents only happen to careless "kids" who are being reckless on their motorcycles, however the study found that riders aged 16-24 are generally over-represented, and riders between 30 and 50 are under-represented. Want to blame those "women drivers?" Think again. Ninety-six percent of riders involved in accidents are male.

• Why Wearing a Helmet is So Important

Yes, motorcycle helmets are bulky and may make you feel a little like a space alien, but suck it up and put it on. It can save your life. It doesn't matter if you are just taking a quick trip to the store. That's actually where you are most at risk, as most accidents occur when the rider is running those quick errands close to home, where voluntary helmet use is lowest - especially on hot days.

You shouldn't skimp on your motorcycle helmet either. Your helmet should either have a face shield or you should have some sort of eye protection. Lack of eye protection was a factor in 73% of accidents because vision impairment delayed hazard detection, and only 40% of riders were wearing helmets at the time of an accident.

As you may suspect, the deadliest injuries involve the chest and head, but wearing a motorcycle helmet is can both prevent and protect you in the event of a motorcycle accident. Within the full scope of the study, motorcycle helmets had almost no negative impact. They did not prevent riders from hearing critical traffic sounds, nor did they limit vision, or cause fatigue or any lack of attention. There were only 4 minor injuries that were possibly caused by helmet use, and in each of those cases the helmet saved the rider from critical or fatal head injury. Incidents of head, neck and face injuries of all severities occurred far less often when motorcycle helmets were worn, and riders were even better protected when their helmet included full facial coverage.

• Training, Visibility and Motorcycle Maintenance

If you're a motorcycle rider, how did you go about learning to ride? Chances are you either figured it out on your own or were taught by family an friends. That was the case for 92% of motorcycle riders involved in motorcycle accidents. Taking a motorcycle training cost is worth the investment, even if you consider yourself an experienced rider, as the training experience is directly related to reduced accident involvement and injuries. In fact many of the riders involved in motorcycle accidents either had never had a motorcycle license, or had had their license revoked.

If nothing else, the training experience may help you refocus on the task at hand, as inattention to the driving task has been found to be a major factor in motorcycle accidents.

It's also crucial that you take responsibility for automobile drivers seeing you. Yes, of course they should be watching, but if you're seriously hurt or worse in a motorcycle accident no amount of pointing fingers is going to help you heal. Motorcycle accidents are significantly reduced when riders wear highly visible colors, such as red or yellow and even use headlights during the day. The fact of the matter is motorcycles can simply be hard to see, glare is also a factor in almost half of multiple vehicle accidents.

It's also important to keep tour motorcycle in the best shape possible. Not only can problems with your motorcycle potentially distract you from the driving task, it is possible that fuel system leaks and spills could put you at risk for being involved in a fire if you experience a motorcycle accident.

• Invest in Motorcycle Insurance

One finding from the study was the likelihood of motorcycle drivers to forgo motorcycle insurance despite the fact that it is required in almost every state. Less than 10% of riders involved in the accidents had active policies to assist with medical care costs or property damage. Not only is this a concern because it adds an undue financial burden to those affected by motorcycle accidents even when it's not the rider-- such as property owners or pedestrians, the drivers can also face stiff fines and legal consequences.

Each state has specific rules on the amount of motorcycle is required, however if California and Colorado give any indication of the severity of the consequences, carrying insurance is definitely worth the price. In

California , you may receive a ticket for as much as $1000 and your motorcycle may be impounded. You are also responsible for any medical expenses resulting from an accident. In Colorado , there's a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense, and four points are added to your driving record, with the possibility of suspension. The second offense hikes the fine up to $1000, with a four month suspension of your motorcycle license. A third offense also carries a $1000 price tag, an eight month suspension, plus community service.

Obviously, it's most important that any injuries obtained by either the motorcycle or driver, but motorcycle insurance can cover much more. Insurance can cover property damage caused by your motorcycle. You can also be insured against theft, vandalism, or damage, such as water damage while your motorcycle or is in storage.

One thing you want to look for when you are shopping for or motorcycle insurance is a fair rate. Insurance costs can vary depending on a number of factors, including your experience level, driving record, your age, the type of vehicle you own and the level of coverage you choose.

Spouses or parents that might not be particularly fond of s or motorcycles will also want to encourage and motorcycle insurance. By outlining ground rules, these policies promote safe driving practices without forcing loved ones into the role of "bad guy" or "nag."

Your safety is important, and so is the protection of others and their property. Carrying or motorcycle insurance is a small price to pay for the peace of mind that comes from being prepared.

• Drive Carefully and Follow the Rules - Even When You're Not on a Motorcycle

The flow of traffic is a delicate dance that involves communicating with other drivers, motorcycle drivers and pedestrians. Preventing motorcycle accidents is a responsibility we all share, whether we drive a motorcycle or not, and the best defense is getting everyone to practice attentive driving habits. Three quarters of motorcycle accidents involve collision with another vehicle.

Aside from paying attention and allowing motorcycles their turn in traffic, using turn signals consistently can avoid many accidents. The most frequent accidents happen when a vehicle makes a left turn in front of a motorcycle going straight. By using signals consistently, a motorcycle has a better chance of getting out of the way, even if you don't see him. Generally speaking, intersections are the most likely place for an accident to occur, and usually involve the other vehicle violating the motorcycle's right-of-way and failing to use traffic controls. In well over 90% of these cases there is some injury involved, and in 45% of the cases the injury is significant.

With our busy lives, it's easy to get distracted on the road and not see motorcycles, but with the high rate of injury it is imperative that we do everything we can to assure that we do. Motorcycle drivers also need to make sure they wear their helmets, stay as visible to drivers as they can, and carry insurance in order to keep themselves covered while on the road. More than likely, some level of motorcycle accidents will always happen, but the more people follow these steps the more likely it is that riders will stay safe and protected.

http://www.motorcycle-accidents.com/pages/stats.html

http://www.insure.com/car-insurance/state-motorcycle-requirements.html

http://www.countrystorefarms.com/business-finance/insurance/penalties-for-no-california-motorcycle-insurance

http://www.hot-plates.com/business-finance/insurance/penalties-for-no-colorado-motorcycle-insurance