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The only thing many people ever learn about motorcycles is that they’re dangerous. They call helmets “brain buckets.” And they don’t want anything to do with them. While they have never driven a motorcycle, they have seen them driven in an unsafe manner. They have perhaps seen what happens when a ride on a crotch rocket goes horribly wrong.
Against that backdrop of fear and ignorance are your kids who very much want to upgrade from their bicycle to something with a motor attached. From go carts, to dirt bikes, to ATVs, there is a rich tradition of child cyclists in the U.S. In other countries, motorcycles and mopeds are the mainstream form of transportation. Running away from motorcycles as if they were a taboo subject is likely a mistake, especially with teens. Instead, here are some things you could teach them about motorcycle safety:
Visibility Is More Than Half the Battle
Being visible is one of the most important things you can do when driving a motorcycle. To drivers of four-wheeled vehicles, motorcycles are practically invisible. Compared to cars, there are just not that many motorcycles on the road. Because people don’t expect to see them, they don’t.
There is also a bit of psychology going on with the motorcyclist. Their visibility is better than ever. They have no blind spots. They can see everything from every angle. With their increased visibility, they assume that everyone can see everything in an equally unobstructed manner. As it happens, this is a fatally flawed illusion.
A motorcycle accident attorney like Michael Pines knows the importance of making one’s self visible. From his site:
Unfortunately, car accidents involving motorcycles occur almost every day in San Diego County. Nationally, there are over 4,000 fatal motorcycle accidents that occur annually according to reports at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Of these accidents, nearly 75 percent involve another automobile.
One of the most common causes of motorcycle accidents in San Diego is the other driver’s failure to see the motorcycle.
It is a given that you can see the other cars. Your safety on a motorcycle is largely based on how well the drivers of the other cars can see you.
Treat It Like a Car
You do not ride a motorcycle as if it were a horse or a carnival ride. You drive it as if it were a car. A motorcycle is every bit a motor vehicle that belongs on the open road as much as any other vehicle. In most states, you have to have a driver’s license for a car before you can even apply for a motorcycle license.
Besides the expectations of other drivers, one of the reasons motorcyclists are invisible to other drivers until the last moment is that they are able to dart in and out of traffic in ways that larger vehicles can’t. A motorcycle can hide in the blindspot and more easily become invisible to drivers who are not taking the utmost care. By driving a motorcycle in the same way as you drive a car, you can avoid the outcomes of those who drive it like a stunt vehicle.
The Key to Safety Is Good Judgement
The same accident report above mentioned that less than half of motorcyclists who suffered serious injury were wearing a helmet. Of the possible serious injuries, concussion is the least of them. It is clearly poor judgement to get on a motorcycle as driver or passenger without a suitable helmet.
Good judgement will also inform you that black leather jacket is not nearly as important as being highly visible in that bright, neon orange. When it comes to vehicle color, you might want to take lime green for a spin.
Drive in the left edge of the lane for maximum visibility. Don’t sneak up on cars by weaving in and out of traffic just because you can. Don’t drive faster than traffic. Don’t drive in the rain. Pull over some place safe and wait it out. These are not laws, but good judgements. At the end of the day, what you have to teach your kids is good judgement. Whether it is motorcycles or choosing their friends, good judgement is what will keep them alive and well.
I do have some family members that use motorcycles. You can’t get enough safety info on this topic. I know I am always cautious when I am near one on the road.