_Motorcycle Lessons: The Safety Factor
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Any course on motorcycle lessons will probably have three sections on safety…the first lesson, the last lesson, and a middle lesson so that the student never lo0ses sight of how important safety is. There are many safety issues to consider for the newbie rider. Your motorcycle lessons should include safety with regard to your equipment and clothing, safety with regard to the rules of the road, and general safety concerns that are very specific to motorcycle operators. O.K. with that being said, let’s talk safety.
Motorcycle lessons on safety usually start with equipment and clothing. Equipment wise, make sure you know all about your bike, about the different controls and switches and how they all operate. Know all about the fluid requirements as in gas, oil, water, antifreeze if applicable, etc. Be sure to wear an approved helmet and goggles. Clothing wise, be certain to wear long pants and shirts, sturdy shoes… preferably boots. A leather jacket and gloves are optional in warmer weather although you will wish you had them on if you are ever involved in any mishap as they afford great protection.
Motorcycle lessons regarding “rules of the road” are very straightforward with one little exception which we will touch upon. The basic rules of the road for any automobile are also applicable for any motorcycle so that part should be no surprise. The part that warrants extra attention is the part on defensive driving. Everyone (cars & bikes) should always have defensive driving on their mind. However, if you are on a motorcycle, this takes on greater importance due to the fact that you have less protection in the event of a collision with something…be it a car or a structure.
Motorcycle lessons that are very specific to operators of bikes include the obvious such as increasing your following distance when on the road and slowing down when driving on wet surfaces or uneven terrain that might include sand or debris . But they also include the not so obvious which we will touch upon. If you are not already aware, you should not operate a motorcycle in the center of the driving lane. This is due to the fact that oils and greases accumulate here from passing cars. This section of the road is especially slippery and should be avoided. The center of the road becomes even more dangerous during or following any precipitation as the water tends to bring the oils back to the surface which will wreak havoc with your driving.
Motorcycle lessons that combine rules of the road and safety specific to bike operators include the most important of all defensive driving skills. It is a known fact that automobile operators have a greater than average collision rate with motorcycles when the car is making a left turn across a traffic lane. The car operator does not see the motorcycle operator bearing down on them mainly because of the narrow profile of a motorcyclist who then collides or “t-bones” into the car. So it would behoove you to pay extra close attention to the road up ahead with regard to the side streets on your right. This is the area that might discharge an unsuspecting motorist across your traffic lane.
Any course on motorcycle lessons will probably have three sections on safety…the first lesson, the last lesson, and a middle lesson so that the student never lo0ses sight of how important safety is. There are many safety issues to consider for the newbie rider. Your motorcycle lessons should include safety with regard to your equipment and clothing, safety with regard to the rules of the road, and general safety concerns that are very specific to motorcycle operators. O.K. with that being said, let’s talk safety.
Motorcycle lessons on safety usually start with equipment and clothing. Equipment wise, make sure you know all about your bike, about the different controls and switches and how they all operate. Know all about the fluid requirements as in gas, oil, water, antifreeze if applicable, etc. Be sure to wear an approved helmet and goggles. Clothing wise, be certain to wear long pants and shirts, sturdy shoes… preferably boots. A leather jacket and gloves are optional in warmer weather although you will wish you had them on if you are ever involved in any mishap as they afford great protection.
Motorcycle lessons regarding “rules of the road” are very straightforward with one little exception which we will touch upon. The basic rules of the road for any automobile are also applicable for any motorcycle so that part should be no surprise. The part that warrants extra attention is the part on defensive driving. Everyone (cars & bikes) should always have defensive driving on their mind. However, if you are on a motorcycle, this takes on greater importance due to the fact that you have less protection in the event of a collision with something…be it a car or a structure.
Motorcycle lessons that are very specific to operators of bikes include the obvious such as increasing your following distance when on the road and slowing down when driving on wet surfaces or uneven terrain that might include sand or debris . But they also include the not so obvious which we will touch upon. If you are not already aware, you should not operate a motorcycle in the center of the driving lane. This is due to the fact that oils and greases accumulate here from passing cars. This section of the road is especially slippery and should be avoided. The center of the road becomes even more dangerous during or following any precipitation as the water tends to bring the oils back to the surface which will wreak havoc with your driving.
Motorcycle lessons that combine rules of the road and safety specific to bike operators include the most important of all defensive driving skills. It is a known fact that automobile operators have a greater than average collision rate with motorcycles when the car is making a left turn across a traffic lane. The car operator does not see the motorcycle operator bearing down on them mainly because of the narrow profile of a motorcyclist who then collides or “t-bones” into the car. So it would behoove you to pay extra close attention to the road up ahead with regard to the side streets on your right. This is the area that might discharge an unsuspecting motorist across your traffic lane.