13 Road Safety Tips for Two-wheeler Riders

13 Tips to Stay Safe While Riding a Bike

Take a look at some essential tips to stay safe while riding a bike on the road:

1. Ride What You Can Handle

   Do not buy a two-wheeler based on its appearance. Instead, prefer a vehicle you can easily drive and handle. Besides, it is essential to consider whether you require a bike or a scooter based on your needs. Today, plenty of two-wheeler options are available on the market with different features and mileage. Hence, you should buy a two-wheeler, which gives you comfort, suits your physical capacity, and is within your budget.

2. Invest in a Good Helmet

   If you have a two-wheeler, it is essential to invest in a good helmet, as it will protect your head from any injury/damage. Besides, in India, it is mandatory for the person riding the bike and the pillion rider to wear a helmet. Thus, make sure to buy a helmet with ISI certification. Also, ensure the helmet covers your face with your jaws and has a visor shield to protect your eyes against wind, dust, rain, etc. If you have a pillion rider, buy a helmet for them too.

   You May Also Read: Top 10 Helmet Brands in India & Need for a Good Helmet

3. Practice Makes Perfect

   It is best to practice riding your motorcycle on service roads or in an open area before heading to main roads with traffic. Doing so will help you find the right balance between your bike’s accelerator, brake, clutch, and gear. Besides, it is not wise to take your bike on the highways until you are 100% confident and comfortable with it.

4. Check Your Bike Before Riding

   Make it a thumb rule to check your two-wheeler before you gear the wheels. Check the condition of the brakes, air pressure, clutch, etc., on your bike before heading out. Also, adjust rear-view mirrors beforehand as they guide you while you are on the road. Moreover, get your two-wheeler serviced at regular intervals from recognized service centres. The better is the condition of your two-wheeler, the better will be the fuel efficiency, and the lower will be the risk of accidents/mishaps.

5. Obey Traffic Rules

   Follow traffic rules while riding your bike, and do not try to break them intentionally. Traffic rules are designed to facilitate the safety of the people on the road. Breaking traffic rules can be fatal. For instance, driving under the influence of alcohol is a big NO. Besides, do not over-speed or try to overtake other vehicles, thus risking your and other people’s lives.

6. Be Visible on the Road

   No matter how big your bike looks, it appears smaller on the road. Therefore, both you and your bike need to be visible to the drivers of other vehicles on the road. For instance, you can have reflective bands over the helmet, or the helmet could be of some bright colour. You can also add reflective bands on the side or back of your two-wheeler to increase the vehicle’s visibility.

   Besides, you must take extra caution while driving at night or on highways. Make sure to stay away from the blind spots of vehicles, trucks, and other heavy commercial vehicles when riding a bike at night or on highways.

   You May Also Read: Safety Tips for Third Party Bike Insurance

7. Avoid Tailgating

   Make sure to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles on the road while riding a two-wheeler. It allows you to move around and navigate your bike in case the vehicle in front of you stops suddenly or changes lanes. Thus, you will be able to avoid a potential accident.

8. Slow Down at Turns/Crossings

   You must slow down your bike while turning or navigating through a crossing to ensure safety, especially during heavy traffic. Doing so reduces the chances of an accident by colliding with another vehicle or a pedestrian. Moreover, it helps to enhance your bike’s visibility to other vehicles, thus preventing other vehicles from hitting you.

9. Avoid Riding Under Bad Weather Conditions

   It is better to avoid riding a two-wheeler under bad weather conditions, specifically while it is raining or strong winds are blowing. This is because meeting with an accident under turbulent weather conditions is highly probable due to low visibility. Besides, driving in the rainy season or foggy weather also makes it difficult for other vehicles to see you, making it even more risky. Hence, you should have anti-reflective stickers on your helmet or turn your headlights and indicators on to increase the visibility of your two-wheelers in bad weather conditions.

10. Buy Two-wheeler Insurance Online

    Buying two-wheeler insurance is one worthy investment that you should definitely make. If you meet with a bike accident causing any damage/loss to your bike, your comprehensive two wheeler insurance policy will rescue you and cover you against the incurred fiscal cost. It also helps you compensate for third party damages or losses resulting from your bike. Moreover, third party bike insurance is mandatory as per the motor laws of India.

11. Wear Comfortable Safety Gears

    It is important to wear adequate safety gear, like elbow guards, jackets, etc., before heading on road trips on your two-wheeler. It is essential to wear them even if it gets hot while riding, specifically during the summer. Having the riding gear on can save you from severe injuries resulting from an accident on the road. Besides, female riders should take care of their dupattas/stoles so that they are not stuck to the wheels of the two-wheeler, leading to severe accidents.

    You May Also Read: Winter Road Trip Safety Tips for Two-Wheelers

12. Take Breaks While Riding Long Distance

    In case you have been riding long distances or for a long time, it is advisable to take breaks to avoid fatigue and stay focussed on driving. Doing so can help you avoid major accidents while going on a road trip on your bike.

13. Do Not Perform Stunts

    To ensure safety on the road, do not perform any stunts on your bike while riding. Stunts like driving in a zigzag path and tilting the bike too close to the ground can cause accidents that can be fatal. By performing these stunts, you not only put your life at risk but also the lives of other people on the road.

Quickies for Riding Your Bike Safely

Here are some quickies to ride your bike safely on the road:

• If driving at night while on a trip, avoid eating heavy food, as you might feel sleepy.
• Check the working of your brake and taillights before heading out.
• Ride within the speed limit for two-wheelers.
• While taking a turn, look first and always use an indicator.
• Do not ride a two-wheeler with more than one pillion rider.
• Be aware of the things around your surroundings.
• Avoid weaving in and out of traffic.
• Avoid taking overtakes on junctions, pedestrian crossings, and sharp turns.
• Give way to the pedestrians.

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