Accident prevention checklist for motorcyclists

Motorcycles are for the adventurous. Speed. Adventure. Freedom. Romance. What’s not to be excited about a wind-in-my-hair motorcycle ride? It’s a more affordable form of transport for those who require your own vehicle but find the costs associated with car ownership too costly.

Nevertheless, riding a motorbike can be dangerous too. Motorcyclists understand the risks they face and sometimes a simple checklist goes a long way towards ensuring the rider’s safety, so please, read along.

1. Gear up

No matter how tempting it sounds to hop on your bike and hit the road like in the movies, don’t do that. Pause and suit up. Put on all the protective gear – Jacket, Gloves, Helmet, Shoes – the full ensemble.

If the heat in Singapore bothers you, you can opt for gear that lets your skin breathe freely while protecting you from the scorching sun. Covering most parts of your body with protective gear helps minimise injuries in case of an accident.

1. Don’t go all black

Riding down the road with a black leather jacket on makes one look so cool. However, wearing all black reduces other drivers and riders ability to see you on the road.

Perhaps it’s useful to add some designs to your helmet, jacket and other accessories to make yourself more visible at night. Having bright colours make you easily visible on the road, which is kind of important for other motorists too, blending in with the darkness makes it very dangerous to be on the road.

1. Steer clear of blind spots

Driving a two-wheeler on a road littered with four-wheelers places you in a compromising position. A bike, being out-numbered and out-sized tends to fall into the blind spots of bigger vehicles.

Maintain a good distance from other vehicles and don’t try to sneak or speed past them especially in a jam, always be cautious.

1. Right footwear

It may sound funny and irrelevant, but when riding a bike, unlike a car, your footwear is of the utmost importance. Never trust flip-flops on the road, because they are not made for riding.

Shoes give you a better grip to balance your bike. Boots keep your feet and legs safe from exhaust pipe burns and toe strikes. So why not take this opportunity to go cowboy (or cowgirl).

1. Recharge before you charge

Make sure you are well rested before you take control of those handlebars. If you are sleep deprived, tired, sick, emotionally in a bad place – it’s best to avoid riding. One wink is all it takes to lose control of the bike, and freedom on the road always comes with great responsibility too.

1. The T-CLOCS

Familiarise yourself with this simple inspection routine before riding your bike, run checks on the T-CLOCS – Tires and Wheels, Controls, Lights and Electricals, Oil and Fluids, Chassis, Stands.

Running this checklist will make sure that there is nothing technically wrong with your bike that can potentially lead to an accident. Because it’s not just you, it’s also your bike that needs to be all set to hit the road.

We hope this checklist helps you stay safe on the road. Oh and be sure to protect yourself and your motorcycle with the right motorcycle insurance. Happy riding!