4 common mistakes by motorcyclists in Singapore and how to stop making them

From dangerous assumptions to riding without the proper gears, here are 4 of the most common mistakes that every motorcyclist should avoid for a safe ride.

If you’re a motorcyclist or know someone who is, this one’s for you.

1. You don’t wear the right helmet

It’s common knowledge that wearing a helmet is mandatory for all motorcyclists and their pillion riders in Singapore. But did you know that wearing the wrong helmet can not only get you in trouble with the law but also put you in danger during an accident?

According to the Road Traffic Act, your helmet will have to conform to the Singapore Standard Specification S.S. 9:1992 and bear the PSB Certification Mark or the PSB Batch Inspected label.

More importantly, you should ensure that your helmet is the right fit for your head so that it provides you with optimal protection and doesn’t come off in an accident. Finding the right fit often depends on your head size (and shape), which can be measured around your head just above your ears.

Some important tips when choosing a helmet would be to:

• Try out the actual helmet before purchasing, rather than relying on the size chart alone
• Take note of your helmet’s brand as different brands may follow different size charts
• Avoid purchasing a second-hand helmet, as you’ll never know what impact it’s already been through

Apart from having the right fit, you may also wish to get a full-face helmet to give yourself greater protection in the event of a collision or against inclement weather that could impair your vision.

2. You’re not dressed for the road

Helmet aside, having the proper gear for a safe ride can come down to the way you dress too. This means re-thinking the clothes and footwear you decide to wear before hitting the road.

While a t-shirt and shorts ensemble may be the perfect go-to outfit for Singapore’s hot and humid weather, such an outfit gives almost no protection between your skin and the road in the event of an accident – even if it’s just a minor one. The same applies for slippers, which provide little protection for your feet and could even slip off while riding.

Furthermore, you’d want to protect your legs and feet from the hot exhaust pipes and engine of your own motorcycle, so shorts and slippers simply won’t do the trick.

Instead, consider wearing motorcycle over-pants and layering up with a protective jacket if you prefer to keep your original outfit underneath.

However, an important tip would be to avoid dark clothing as it can make it difficult for drivers to see you on the road at night or in rainy weather. Try going for bright colours to increase your visibility or adding reflectors to your clothing or helmet.

3. You assume that your bike ‘seems fine’

Are you guilty of holding off your bike’s maintenance until absolutely necessary? If so, it’s time to think again.

Having a regular maintenance schedule is important in protecting you and your bike against avoidable accidents caused by issues that could have easily been fixed in a routine check. The ideal maintenance schedule depends on your motorcycle and can be determined by referring to your motorcycle owner’s manual.

Besides sending your bike for servicing, you should also do your part in keeping your motorcycle in a good road-worthy condition. This includes checking for rust and dirt on your bike’s chains which could build up over time, especially in Singapore’s weather, and impair your bike’s function.

In addition, make it a habit to perform a simple manual inspection of your motorcycle before each ride by ensuring that your tires and wheels, head lights and signals, as well as brakes are in working order. Pay careful attention to any unusual noises or vibrations too, which could signal a need for immediate servicing.

4. You scrimp on your coverage

While opting for a bare-bones motorcycle coverage in exchange for lower premiums can help you save on your expenses in the short run, doing so can potentially leave you in the lurch should your motorcycle break down, get damaged, or accidentally hurt someone else.

With motorcycles being easily susceptible to theft and fire, you’d want to ensure that your motorcycle, it’s spare parts and any accessories are covered in the event of them too. And the same applies for damages or loss during an accident.

In such cases, having an insurance which covers your motorcycle’s repairs would come in handy in minimising any unnecessary out-of-pocket expenses incurred during or after the repair.

To this end, you may wish to invest in a comprehensive plan which offers a myriad of benefits that span across the scenarios above so that you’re sufficiently covered for towing services, damage protection beyond fire and theft, and roadside assistance too.

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly yet comprehensive option, FWD Motorcycle insurance could be a good choice.

Not only are we the only insurer in Singapore to let you keep your 20% NCD for life, we allow you to lock in your premium for 2 years with an additional 5% discount if your current NCD is 20%. You’ll also have the added option to cover any authorised rider you trust to ride your motorcycle so that they can enjoy the same benefits as you.

And with 100%* of approved ‘own damage’ motorcycle insurance claims, you can rest assured that we’ll have your back in the event that you have to make a claim. Find out more and buy online here.