This is going to be part one of a three part post:
- Today–Crashing: Ways to avoid it
- Tomorrow–How to Crash
- Day After–How not to Crash
I believe that everyone will take some information from all of these posts with irreverent fun, but serious overtones.
How many times have we all heard: it’s not if, but when?? I have met riders as I travel that have been on the road for years, crash free. How do they do it?
I read an article a few months back in Motorcycle Consumer News written by Ken Condon. The article highlighted the the use of the word “crash”. He stated that safety experts prefer to use the term “crash” when describing motorcycle incidents, since “accident” suggests that it was unavoidable. A crash on the other hand, can often be foreseen and prevented.
While I don’t believe all crashes can be avoided, I do believe that many could be prevented, whether by looking for certain conditions on the roadway, carefully watching other drivers and riders or by observing and improving our own skills as riders. By looking within ourselves we can identify some of the factors that may contribute to our risk of crashing. Below I’ve listed some of the more obvious contributors to risk, and I am sure all of you can add to this list.
Lack of concentration
It takes only a moment to place ourselves in jeopardy. The half a second of inattention might be the briefest interval in which to sense the decreasing radius turn up ahead or spot the diesel spill in the roadway. You need to remain in the present when astride your motorbike always scanning the roadway for possible hazards and escape routes. A good test is to see if you can remember the last few moments that you were just riding. If you can’t then your mind is not 100% focused on the ride, which is where it needs to be.
Booze
A smart rider separates drinking and riding. Nuf said.
Distractions
How many times has a sexy human caused you to do the double-take. You then barely miss that SUV that was backing out of a parking space. How about that wave at other motorcyclists while navigating the twisties, or fiddling with your iPod or GPS?
If you are easily distracted try to avoid that which may distract you. This is sometimes easier said than done! 20mph in a 15mph school zone, I had better slow… but wait is that BRAD PITT over there? Whoops! If you are prone to attention deficit, you may want to consider another sport! But if you ride a motorbike, then do it and put your mind into your ride.
Fatigue
If you are tired get off the bike! Dehydration can cause fatigue, as can riding when you are cold or hot. Take a break off the bike, walk around, hydrate and stretch before continuing. Short breaks can make a world of difference. A high-caffeine drink carried on the bike can also help if the yawns come on while out in the hinterlands.
Rushing
Accept it… if you are late, you are late. Those risky maneuvers triggered by impatience are often the ones that will bite you. Relax… make a phone call and let work (or whatever) know you are running late. You can’t change late, but you can definitely control how you respond.
Overconfidence
I believe this is more prevalent in males than females, but can be deadly for either. Measure your risk and what you are willing to accept and then ride within your abilities. Period!
Night Riding
Limited visibility felt in both the rider and others being able to see the rider are hampered with the setting sun. If you are finding yourself out after dark, invest in some aftermarket headlights with better range and take a slower pace so you are more ready to react when that deer shoots across the road. Also wear hi-visibility gear for night riding, lowering the risk of another not being able to see you. Let that deer KNOW you are there! ; ) Gee, I suppose the whole loud pipes thing could come into play here!
Group Riding
Know your pace and ride it!! Don’t fall into the trap of thinking you are holding up others or feel the need to match another rider’s skill set. Ride within your own physical and mental abilities. New riders should avoid group riding until they can confidently access their abilities without feeling pressured.
These thoughts are by no means a final list of contributions to crash scenarios, but they are a good place to start realizing how to be a safe and crash-free rider. Every day we measure risk and make instant decisions while on our motorbikes. Let’s see if by being proactive with some choices can help us to be better and safer crash-free riders.