Three Deadly Motorcycle Errors and How to Avoid Them

One of the greatest joys in life is riding a motorcycle, but there are serious risks involved. A lot of bikers make blunders that can put them in danger, or worse. To guarantee a safer journey, we’ll go over three common mistakes made by bikers and how to avoid them to lower risk and always return home to ensure a safer ride.

Inability to Understand How Traffic Works

Problem:

Motorcycles are smaller, more agile and move differently, compared to cars. Many riders don’t anticipate the behavior of other road users. They simply concentrate on their own actions. This lack of understanding can lead to dangerous situations. These circumstances include abrupt lane changes, poorly interpreted crossroads, or being in a car’s blind spots.

Solution:

Learn Dangerous Traffic Patterns: Study how cars, trucks and buses behave on the road. Watch for common driving habits, such as how vehicles merge onto highways or approach intersections. I, myself, watch videos of motorcycle crashes on YouTube. This helped me to see some patterns of crashes on the road.

Practice Defensive Riding: Always assume that other drivers do not see you. Maintain a safe following distance, avoid lingering in blind spots and be prepared for unexpected movements from others.

Anticipate Problems: Instead of reacting at the last moment, anticipate what might happen. Cover your brakes in a dangerous intersections or places on the road. This will reduce your reaction time.

Lack of Skills

Problem:

Many motorcycle riders have little to no training or experience before they hit the road. Driving school is the only motorbike riding experience they have. Having a license does not imply that you are a highly skilled individual. They might find it difficult to handle tight turns, swerve, or brake in an emergency. In critical circumstances, a lack of ability causes panic, which raises the risk of an accident.

Solution:

Enroll in a Motorcycle Safety Course: Expert instruction helps riders in mastering critical abilities such as handling risks, effective braking and countersteering.

Practice Often: Make time to practice emergency stops, slow-speed maneuvers, and evasive maneuvers in a secure place. You never know when will you need that skill to use in an emergency.

Increase Slowly Riding Difficulty: Before attempting freeways and tricky city locations, start with less crowded roads. Get experience at your own speed. There is no need to rush it. Ride your own ride.

Thinking That You Are Always Seen

Problem:

Due to their small size, motorcycles can readily blend into a car’s blind area. Although most drivers are more concerned with other vehicles, many cyclists believe that drivers are actively searching for them. This results in risky circumstances including getting side swiped, struck at junctions, or cut off.

Solution:

Maintain Visibility: Position on the road in a visible position, or put on reflective, bright clothing. Some use headlight even during the day. Personally I don’t use headlights, because I focus on my lane positioning.

Make Your Intentions Known: Give advance notice, make hand signals when needed and refrain from making abrupt movements that can startle other drivers. Sometimes change lanes slovely, to let others prepare.

Ride Defensively: Always assume that drivers don’t see you. If a car is about to merge, be prepared to adjust your speed or move away to avoid potential collisions. You are not gonna win against them. It is like trying to kill a whale with a stick. Let them in.

Finishing Words

Motorcycling requires a mix of awareness, skill and defensive riding. By understanding how traffic flows, improving your riding ability and never assuming that drivers see you. You can significantly reduce your chances of an accident. There are more deadly mistakes, but in my opinion others, like speed, lack of protective gear and arrogance are personal things. That is why I chose these three mistakes, because I think that riders don’t pay enough attention in to them. Stay sharp, keep learning and ride safely!