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Following safety guidelines and your state laws can help prevent an accident

While a lot of Iowans love riding motorcycles, the reality is that riding a motorcycle is probably the most dangerous thing that people can do. How can you avoid an accident or at least reduce the possibility of an injury?

Training- The number one way to avoid a motorcycle accident is training. 92% of motorcycle riders involved in accidents have little or no formal training. Maybe you have been riding for many years and know how to ride, but taking a course at the local community college to brush-up on your skills may make the difference in avoiding an accident. Training is the number one thing that you can do to reduce your chances of both being in an accident and the severity of your injuries if you are in one.

Helmet- Wearing a helmet is a personal choice that you and/or your rider will make, but you should realize that not wearing a helmet can result in a brain injury in some crashes. Iowa is one of only a handful of states that does not require riders to wear helmets. While there is evidence that helmets can help reduce brain injuries, there are also other studies that have found that wearing a helmet increases your chances of sustaining a serious neck injury.

Headlight- Another way to help prevent an accident is to make sure you have a headlight that works while your motorcycle is running. While the headlight on newer motorcycles automatically turns on with the bike, many older models and custom bikes do not. Research shows that having a headlight on while your bike is on, can more than double the chance that other drivers on the road will see you.

Drinking Alcohol- We all know that it is a bad idea to drink and then ride a motorcycle, yet it still happens all the time so it is worth repeating. Almost one-half of all fatal motorcycle crashes involve alcohol use by the motorcycle rider. Alcohol is a depressant and reduces your reaction time. While this affects you if you are driving a car, the balance and other physical requirements of riding a motorcycle are affected even more by alcohol when you are on your bike. If someone pulls-out in front of you and you have been drinking, your reaction time may be reduced enough that you are not able to avoid causing an accident. Even having a couple of beers with lunch can increase your chances of being injured while out riding.
Vehicle Failure- Statistically, only 3% of motorcycle accidents are caused by vehicle failures with most of them being single vehicle accidents where the rider loses control because of a flat tire. As we know, losing control at high speed is dangerous and often results in injuries to the rider. The lesson to be learned is to make sure that you perform the proper maintenance on your bike and that your tires are in good shape before you ride. A 30 second inspection of your tires and wheels before hitting the road can save your life.

For more information from Walker, Billingsley & Bair about motorcycle safety and a copy of our No Cost book about how to prevent an accident and what to do if you are in an accident go to www.MotorcycleAccidentBook.com or Call Now (800)-707-2552, ext. 815 (24 Hour Recorded Message).

Notice: This article contains general statements, is not intended as legal advice or legal opinions and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Do not act or rely upon this information without seeking the advice of an attorney. The magazine is not responsible for the information in this article.