Cruising on your motorcycle is exhilarating. It can be very dangerous too. It is because the stability, visibility, and less protection are questionable, enclosed with the vehicle. If you are riding a two-wheeler then the safety measures must be a serious concern for you. It isn’t about the fact that riding motorcycles is deadly. Not at all, you need to figure out proper ways and be confident at your speed.
Myths develop in society. It isn’t true at all. Often we are so tangled by these myths that we start believing in those illogical concepts that pull in greater risk in life. Due to the myths being heavy on our minds, we start becoming conscious of unrealistic things and live by them.
On this note, CredR thought of bringing a breakthrough to your age-old thought process. We are not against it, but we would like to throw light on the Motorcycle safety myths that time and time remained heavy on our minds.
Crash facts of a Motorcycle
It is a sensitive issue. It is important to understand the severity of motorcycle crashes. As per the Motorcycle crash data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, it is recorded that motorcyclists death is more fatal as compared to other riders. The injuries and crashes are more for a rider on a two-wheeler. This equates to the fact that 80% of the reports stating that motorcyclists are witnessing deaths.
Well, this is a fact, but there are safety measures that need to be followed. In the majority of the cases, the biker either has not followed the traffic rules or is not wearing safety jackets, hand gloves, and ISI-marked helmets. Taking care of our lives solely in our hands. Unless we are following the safety rules and confidence in the way of riding a bike, it is better not to explore it on highways.
Debunking the Myths of Motorcycle
# Myth 1
Skilled drivers can handle anything
What is a skilled driver? It must be clear at the beginning. A fresher rider who is riding for a lifetime is equally involved in crashes. No matter how many years of experience you have or how better you tackle riding in any situation it is ugly to believe that you cannot go wrong. Overconfidence kills the majority of the people. This myth has also blindfolded many commoners expert drivers and that has eventually increased the number of crashes.
# Myth 2
If you have 0.08 below alcohol consumption level then you can ride a motorcycle
This one of the most disgusting myths! Controlling a motorcycle while riding it is even more challenging than driving an automobile. It requires balancing, good judgment on the road, and coordination as well. Any sort of mild percent of Alcohol creates an impact on your abilities. This is fatal and creates a lot of life loss. Do not believe in it. Do not drink and drive.
# Myth 3
Helmets are useless. It hinders sight-seeing and hearing.
A good motorcyclist helmet sits firmly on the head. There is a common problem of unable to hear, or unable to see properly. This happens because you are not buying the right helmet. You should check all these while buying a genuine protective helmet. The use of the helmet is to reduce the excess wind, stop the engine noise to discard your hearing in traffic. It is required to allow you at least 105 degrees of your peripheral vision on either side of it. Your eyes and ears are protected wearing a helmet.
# Myth4
Every driver is very clear about their vision
Each biker will hop on the motorcycle and assume that they are safe. Unlike a car, in motorcycles, you need to maintain visibility and balance as well. To blindly believe the fact that a motorcyclist or a driver can see everything does not permit you to be careless on your own. Be active and sound while crossing the road and even while riding. This means that having defensive driving skills are very crucial if you are a rider.
# Myth 5
Slow streets are safer
There is a common misconception that silent streets are safer than highways. Just imagine everyone thinks this and increases the speed and suddenly if anything happens you won’t be able to tackle the situation and balance of your bike. On the normal streets, the riders must contend with the traffic lights, cross-traffics, and pedestrians as well. The speed does matter if you crash. At the higher speed, the crashing possibility is slightly less.
# Myth 6
Helmets can break my neck and leave me brain-damaged!
Motorcycle riders need to wear appropriate helmets that protect the ear and eyes. Any sort of myth involving helmets is not true. It helps in saving your life in an instant. As per the research facts, helmet riders are 73% less likely to die in a motorcycle accident, whereas, 85% of the severe injuries are faced by the riders using a poor quality helmet or no helmet at all.
# Myth 7
Wearing leather will make you only look cool
Biker culture is often associated with leather. It is extremely resistant to abrasions. It is made to prevent road crashes and affect your body. It acts as an insulation against the chilling wind. This will keep you comfortable and you’ll feel much better while riding for long distances.
#Myth 8
BIGGEST MYTH: Nothing will happen to me
No matter how many years of riding experience you have, that doesn’t give you the privilege to be unsafe on the road. There isn’t any guarantee that you won’t face any trouble or major cause accidents on the road. Be prepared, be safe! Try to be as careful and protected as you can on the road. It is important to have coordination and sound on the road to avoid any mishaps.
To conclude, our intention is not to scare you with your riding experience but it does make you aware of what is out there! Be wise and patient with your decisions. Invest in a used two-wheeler of your choice and enjoy riding safely.
