SAFETY TIPS
SAFETY TIPS
By MIKE Phillips STRATEGY setup , and
SEARCH , smooth are good overall safety strategies to use when riding . This strategy helps keep the rider alert and in the proper position on the road , as well as helps keep the bike stable . The four pillars of safe riding are mental , which means we perceive well ; physical , we are able to balance and operate the controls well ; social , be courteous and cooperative ; and emotional , we are committed to safe riding . All four of these pillars of safe riding are needed to execute a strategy of search , set up , and smooth .
Search means to scan near , far , and side to side . Riders should search in four areas : traffic controls and roadway design , including signs , lights , medians , curves , uneven roads , and the shoulders . Roadway users include other vehicles , animals , and other road objects . Road surface conditions include holes , wet or icy spots , and anything on the road like sand , gravel , grass , and debris . Escape paths can be in front , on either side , or directly behind .
Setup may be the most important part of this strategy . Setup includes several things . First is your speed . Speed is the most abused factor in motorcycle crashes . This does not mean running fast on the freeway but going faster than your skill or riding conditions deem safe . I tell my students to check their egos at the curb and ride within their limits . Ride at the speed limit ; it β s the law and the safe thing to do . Search for speed limit signs and warning signs for curves . We must go slower when riding slippery roads or with bald tires and worn brakes . Ride at a speed that matches your skills . If that is slower than the speed limit , that β s okay if you do not impede traffic . Do not ride 70 on the freeway if you are not ready . Do not let anyone push you into riding faster than you think is safe .
The setup also covers lane position . A motorcyclist can divide a lane into three parts : left , middle , and right β your safest position in a lane changes with conditions . Think about what is going on around you . Leaving room ahead gives you more space for yourself . Change lane position to avoid hazards and to see and be seen . Present your bike in a lane position where you have a clear field of vision and so others can see you .
Smooth means being smooth and easy on any control inputs you give the bike . During everyday riding , it is easy to use the gas and brakes . Jack rabbit starts and stops are usually not needed , and they are not the safest . Sometimes , you need to romp on the gas or make an emergency stop , but these should be limited to special occasions when conditions require it . If your bike is wobbling or bucking from front to back , the rider usually causes that . The bike only does what the rider tells it to do . There are no jerky bikes , only jerky riders .
Search , setup , and smooth is an excellent strategy to use at any time to ride safely . Riding safely means riding longer and having more fun . CMA
Mike Phillips is a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation ( MSF ) instructor in Arkansas .
27βͺAUGUST 2024βͺwww . cmausa . org