Motorcycles are not the safest mode of transportation on the road. In fact, you are 27 times more likely to die as a result of riding a motorcycle than in other vehicles. Motorcyclists are also six times more likely to be injured. This is why it is important not to drink and ride, and to wear helmets that are Department of Transportation compliant. Drinking and riding accounts for 43 percent of motorcyclists who died in 2014.
It is required that you have more than just a driver's license in order to operate a motorcycle legally. A driver's license must have a special supplemental endorsement to ride a motorcycle. To get this endorsement, you must pass a written test about motorcycles, and demonstrate a certain level of skills specifically unique to motorcyclists during on bike performance examination.
Each motorcycle is different. They all handle and drive differently. This is why it is important to familiarize yourself with a new motorcycle in a controlled environment. Passengers should only mount the motorcycle once the engine has been engaged, and they should also wear a helmet as well.
In order to be as safe as possible on a motorcycle, you should always wear helmets meeting FMVSS 218 standards as outlined by the DOT. Your arms and legs should be completely covered by leather or denim. You should also wear boots that are high enough to cover your ankles.
Clothes should be brightly colored and be made of a reflective material that is visible to other drivers. Proper clothes help to aid in preventing dehydration. Gloves are recommended as well, to allow for a better grip, and protect your hands in the event of an accident.
Unlike drivers of cars, motorcyclists lack the protection of an outer shell that can greatly reduce injuries resulting from accidents. Numbers of motorcycle accidents resulting in serious injuries or deaths each year could be greatly reduced if only the individual would have taken time to learn some defensive driving techniques and to practice preventative safety measures in the event the inevitable happened.
If you or someone you know has been injured in motorcycle accidents resulting from the negligence of another, a Kentucky personal injury attorney. can help. He or she will explain to you the potential options for recovering medical expenses as well as compensation for your pain and suffering.