Motorcycling

Due to their lack of protection, motorcyclists need to take more care than road users in vehicles. This information will help to improve your safety when riding motorcycles or mopeds.

Tips for safe riding on the road

• Attend a riding school
• Get the right motorbike licence
• Maintain a safe motorcycle
• Ride with your light on at all times
• Always wear protective clothing
• Always wear a helmet
• Ride defensively
• Be conspicuous
• Ride to the conditions and never exceed speed limits
• Avoid alcohol and drugs
• Avoid driver fatigue

Increase your awareness
As a motorcyclist, you’re most at risk when:

• you’re riding around a curve
• another vehicle turns right across your path.

The other most common causes of crashes involving motorcycles include:

• swinging wide on bends (leading to a head-on crash)
• pulling out to pass too quickly or cutting in after passing
• loss of control – on both straight roads and bends
• collisions at intersections with turning, side-on, merging and in-front traffic
• collisions with obstructions, such as parked cars
• travelling too fast for the conditions.

Motorbikes are also far more sensitive to the camber of the road (the upwards curve from the edge to the centre) and changes in shape, texture and skid resistance. As a motorcyclist you need to be aware of the following risks:

• different roads have different skid resistance.
• loose gravel or potholes have a greater impact on two-wheeled vehicles.