Today, I have a steel bar in my femur from a motorcycle accident, and I am reminded of the famous saying that motorcyclists often quote “there are those who have been down and those who will be”. And what that means is that there are those who have been in motorcycle accidents, and those who will be in the future, and those are the only two types of motorcyclists, and there is no third type.
When you are young and restless, you think that it can’t happen to you, and those who are very careful with motorcycles also sometimes feel that they are safe, or immune to accidents. Do not fool yourself. However, if you want to survive an accident or avoid most accidents, then you need to be 100% safe when riding a motorcycle, and you should probably read up on this topic as well as practice the safety skills you learn.
In fact, to help you with this, there’s a very good booklet I’d like to recommend, and it’s one that’s on my shelf at home, even though I don’t currently own a motorcycle. The name of the brochure is;
“Motorcyclists Course – Reading and Street Skills” (student workbook), by MSF Motorcycle Safety Foundation, (2000) Eighteenth printing.
As you can see, given that this booklet has been in print for 18 years straight, it is obviously a much-needed book. Fortunately, it is very easy to read and is divided into chapters that deal with the pleasure of riding a motorcycle, preventive maintenance and the control of a motorcycle. There are also chapters on the proper mindset and attitude, along with the reasoning behind wearing helmets, leather jackets, and other safety gear.
There is also information on inspecting your motorcycle and I think this is just as important as being on a plane preflight. Many injuries occur when a motorcycle is barely moving or stationary. There is a right way and a wrong way to get on and off a motorcycle. It is even more critical when carrying passengers. In this booklet, you’ll learn about turning, stopping, shifting, visibility, street strategies, and more advanced maneuvers.
There are also warnings about alcohol and drug use and proper etiquette with other motorcyclists. This section that I think everyone should read is the one that deals with special writing situations, such as carrying cargo, passengers, traveling on black ice, or in windy or rainy conditions. Trust me, if you ride a motorcycle, you have to pay attention to stay alive. Please consider all of this.