SAFETY TIPS
By MIKE Phillips
THERE
What do you want to know ? are old riders , bold riders , but no old bold riders . This is something I heard when I first started riding . The term “ bold riders ” means aggressive riders .
Aggressive riding includes challenging the road by riding faster than you should , competing with other riders and cars on public roads , weaving through traffic , tailgating , and showing off . Aggressive riding leads to poor judgment , more significant risk , crashes , and road rage .
Safety requires riders to be predictable , cooperative , courteous , patient , self-disciplined , and nonaggressive . Aggressive riding is often due to a lapse in judgment . A rider ' s physical skills mean nothing if his judgment is flawed . In other words , no matter how well you can ride at 100 miles per hour on the freeway , you will be in big trouble if you ride at that speed in a school zone . You are responsible for your own safety , but you also have a responsibility to those around you to ride safely . Rider character is your choice to be a responsible rider with safety as a top priority . Aggressive riding can lead to road rage . Statistics I was surprised to learn from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was that 66 % of traffic fatalities are related to road rage . In addition , 50 % of drivers respond to aggressive driving with aggression which leads to road rage .
A six-year study of 10,000 road rage incidents showed 218 deaths occurred , and 12,610 injuries were inflicted . A motorcycle rider is almost always the loser in any road rage incident .
We can overcome aggressive riding and road rage with a few simple techniques . Ride with the right attitude . Ride for fun and enjoyment . Do not ride if you are mad or upset . We must understand that we will encounter bad drivers . Ride defensively like you are invisible because you are invisible to most car drivers . Accept that there will be bad drivers . Don ' t get mad , don ' t get even ; just forgive them , pray for them , and let it go .
Manage your spacing by increasing the following distance whenever possible . Stay out of other vehicles ' blind spots . Don ' t ride beside other vehicles very long . This looks aggressive to other drivers and makes them nervous . Instead , get around them or get behind them .
Ride with courtesy and patience . Paul says in Colossians , “ Therefore , as God ' s chosen people , holy and dearly loved , clothe yourselves with compassion , kindness , humility , gentleness and patience ” ( Colossians 3:12 , NIV ). If you are unsure who has the right of way , give it to the other driver . Don ' t tailgate or pass other vehicles on narrow roads just because you are in a hurry .
Respond to aggressive drivers with a smile and a wave . If the other driver continues to be a problem , turn off the road and stop in the parking lot of a store or business where there are many other people .
Take a simple self-assessment test to see if you are an aggressive driver .
The test is suitable for a car or a bike . 1 . Have you had many crashes ? 2 . Do you have many near-crashes ? 3 . Do you often have to brake hard or swerve while driving ? 4 . Are you easily distracted when driving ? 5 . Do you get mad or impatient with other drivers ? 6 . Have you received many traffic tickets ?
If you answer yes to any of these questions , you may need to reevaluate how you drive .
Riding safe is more about the choices you make than the skills you possess . Aggressive riding is a choice that can lead to trouble for you and other drivers . “ Blessed are the meek , for they shall inherit the earth ” ( Matthew 5:5 , NIV ). CMA
Mike Phillips is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation ( MSF ) instructor in Arkansas .
Is there a specific safety subject you would like us to address ? Email your suggestions to heartbeat @ cmausa . org .
27⎪AUGUST 2022⎪www . cmausa . org