Useful Tips For Riding A Moped Safely In Traffic
Riding a moped in traffic can be very dangerous, especially since it’s not uncommon for car drivers to not pay attention and look for moped riders when they are pulling out or turning.
If you are hit while riding your moped, then the accident could very easily end up being fatal. Approximately 80% of all motorcycle accidents result in death or serious injury. Because of this, you need to exert extreme caution, ride defensively, and regularly maintain your moped.
Here are some useful tips for riding your moped safely in traffic:
Training Programme
If you are new to riding mopeds, then it’s worth taking a training course. These training programs are designed to provide learner drivers with as much information as possible. Your driving license course will provide you with basic information, but a specialized training program will make you an expert.
Training programs don’t cost much money and they are very useful. In addition to teaching you how to ride a moped, they will tell you what to do if you are ever involved in an accident and how to protect yourself. You can learn a lot of valuable information from moped training programs so give them some consideration.
Safety Features
Not all moped manufacturers take safety into consideration. According to one specialist moped accident attorney in Waipahu, mopeds are small vehicles and offer less protection to their riders. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can’t buy a moped that has safety features. You need to find one that does.
Some of the features that you should look for are reverse warning sirens, high visibility reflectors, puncture-proof tires, and improved suspension. Make sure to carefully research mopeds, in order to find the one that’s safest.
Going back to attorneys for a moment, it’s important to remember that if you are ever involved in an accident that wasn’t your fault, you should contact one and make a compensation claim.
Protective Equipment
In addition to buying a moped with built-in safety features, you also need to wear protective equipment. Protective equipment may not prevent accidents from happening, but it will protect you and your vital organs if one does happen. You should wear a protective bodysuit, a helmet, and a high-visibility jacket, so that you can be seen in the dark. You should also wear riding boots and gloves. This equipment should minimize your injuries if you are involved in an accident.
Uneven Surfaces
When you are riding your moped, you need to avoid uneven surfaces, especially if you are riding in traffic. If you ride into a hole in the road and fall off of your bike while cars are whizzing around you, you could be hit. For this reason, you should always pay attention to the road around you when you are riding your moped. This also means that you need to be vigilant and look out for anything that could get in your way, like bottles or large objects.
Defensive Riding
One of the first things that you will learn in a moped riding course is defensive riding. To ride defensively is to ride as if everybody is out to hit you. When you ride defensively, you are several steps ahead of everybody else on the road. Defensive riding is a very effective way of avoiding accidents.
Make sure to pay attention to everybody on the road, especially cars that are driving unpredictably. When you are approaching turning or junctions, slow down and look around for cars that are turning but aren’t indicating. This is a common cause of moped accidents.
Riding At Night
Most experts recommend riding only during the daytime. When you ride your moped at night, your chances of an accident increase exponentially. This is because cars may not be able to see you, or may not be looking for you.
When you ride at night make sure you follow our previous advice and wear high-visibility clothing. In addition, attach high-visibility strips to your moped, and make sure you have high-visibility reflectors screwed onto your moped.
Ride Slowly
Never exceed the speed limit on a moped. When you do, you increase your chances of having a fatal accident. Even if a car is moving slowly and hits you when you are speeding, you can be thrown from your bike and seriously injured. Riding slowly protects you and everybody else on the road. It is also illegal to exceed the speed limit. If you are caught speeding, you could be fined or arrested.
Riding a moped can be very fun, but if you aren’t careful, it can also be very dangerous. You need to be very cautious when you are on your moped so that you don’t injure yourself. Make sure to take each suggestion in this article into consideration, in order to avoid accidents.
