Motorcycles are probably one of the most fun transportation methods out there, but it\u2019s important to ride with safety (and legality) in mind. If you\u2019re an experienced rider, you can think of this as a refresher. But, if you\u2019ve caught a more recent case of motorcycle madness, give this post a thorough read before you head out on the road.<\/p>\n
No matter how eager you are to start riding, you need to make sure you\u2019re road ready first. You may not have heard the biker term \u201csquid,\u201d but you definitely don\u2019t want to be one. A squid is someone who rides without any thought for the safety of others (or their own, for that matter.) They ride in shorts and t-shirts, neglect proper safety gear, and tend to view the yellow center line as more of a suggestion than a hard and fast rule. Drivers don\u2019t like them, and other bikers don\u2019t either.<\/p>\n
That said, here are some gear and safety tips to get you started as a responsible rider.<\/p>\n
Even a cursory online search will find you plenty of horror stories of riders who owe their lives to their gear. At a minimum, you should wear the following every time you ride:<\/p>\n
Vehicle maintenance is just as, if not more important for your motorcycle as it is for your car. Giving your bike a basic check-up can go a long way towards keeping you safe. Before you ride, be sure to check the following:<\/p>\n
The freedom of riding a motorcycle does come with its fair share of risk. Even if you\u2019ve followed the advice above regarding gear and maintenance, there\u2019s plenty more you can and should do to keep yourself safe. Below, we\u2019ll go over general safety tips for motorcyclists<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a perfect world, distracted driving would be a non-issue. Unfortunately, whether it\u2019s due to impaired driving or more run-of-the-mill carelessness, other drivers often end up putting motorcyclists at risk. Increase your visibility and your safety by:<\/p>\n It\u2019s common knowledge that tailgating is unsafe, but that doesn\u2019t mean most people, whether on a bike or in a car, haven\u2019t been guilty of it from time to time. Just because a motorcycle can brake and swerve faster than other vehicles doesn\u2019t mean you should disregard proper following distance while riding. Recommendations vary slightly, but most sources agree<\/a> that you should leave at least two seconds<\/a> worth of space between your motorcycle and the car ahead of you. To apply the two second rule, choose a stationary landmark and begin counting when the vehicle ahead of you passes it. If you pass your chosen landmark before you\u2019ve finished counting, you are following too closely. Keep in mind, two seconds is considered a minimum. Feel free to raise the number, especially when roads are wet.<\/p>\n It\u2019s much easier to control a motorcycle on surfaces with good traction. Mud, icy roads, gravel, railroad tracks, and manhole covers can all pose a danger even to experienced riders. When riding in the rain, it\u2019s best to slow down, avoid abrupt changes in direction, and apply gradual pressure to both brakes when needed. Squeezing the front brake too quickly can cause your front wheel to lock up and swerving can increase your risk for an accident.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re planning to ride with a passenger, go over a few basic safety rules with them first. Emphasize that they should brace themselves for braking and acceleration, not put their feet down when you stop, and not make any abrupt movements that could distract you or unbalance your bike. It\u2019s also worthwhile to come up with simple hand signals for them to tell you to slow down or pull over.<\/p>\n Safety while riding at night largely comes down to visibility. Nighttime riding is when your glow-in-the-dark gear and reflective tape will most come in handy. You could also consider a photochromic visor, which adjusts to light levels throughout the day, or a headlight modulating kit, which allows your headlights to pulse to alert other drivers.<\/p>\n Practicing collision avoidance maneuvers can help keep you safer in the event of an incident. Invest in a motorcycle safety course to familiarize yourself with emergency braking and swerving strategies. When you\u2019ve completed the course, practice these maneuvers in a safe environment to build your muscle memory so you\u2019ll know what to do to avoid a crash.<\/p>\n Legality, along with safety, should be at the top of your priority list when choosing to ride a motorcycle. Below are the \u00a0licensing requirements<\/a> \u00a0for the states where Elephant can offer you coverage:<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Along with licensing, each state has its own rules regarding motorcycle insurance as well. Insurance regulations might seem complex, but Elephant and Dairyland Insurance<\/a> can help. Elephant offers motorcycle insurance<\/a> through our partnership with Dairyland Insurance. Each policy is customized to give you everything you need and nothing that you don\u2019t.<\/p>\n We offer multiple discounts for rider groups, H.O.G. members, and others. What\u2019s more, even though your motorcycle insurance policy is written by Dairyland Insurance, it\u2019s still housed under Elephant. This means that you can still qualify for our Multi-Policy discount if you have other vehicles registered with us.<\/p>\n Use the advice in this post to keep your riding safe, and work with Elephant to keep it legal. Contact us today to get a quote<\/a> for motorcycle insurance.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The post Motorcycle safety and road rules<\/a> appeared first on Elephant Insurance<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Motorcycles are probably one of the most fun transportation methods out there, but it\u2019s important to ride with safety (and legality) in mind. If you\u2019re an experienced rider, you can think of this as a refresher. 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Wearing bright clothing<\/h4>\n
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Wearing glow-in-the-dark gear at night<\/h4>\n
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Using reflective tape<\/h4>\n
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Steering clear of blind spots<\/h4>\n
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Using strategic lane positioning<\/h4>\n
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Distancing<\/h3>\n
Handling dangerous surfaces<\/h3>\n
Riding with passengers<\/h3>\n
Driving at night<\/h3>\n
Planning for emergencies<\/h3>\n
Rules of the road<\/h2>\n
Georgia<\/h3>\n
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Indiana<\/h3>\n
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Maryland<\/h3>\n
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Ohio<\/h3>\n
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Tennessee<\/h3>\n
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Texas<\/h3>\n
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Virginia<\/h3>\n
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