WE LIKE RIDING SAFELY...

RIDING SAFETY TIPS FOR SCOOTERISTS!

These tips are for consideration only and are not part of THE HIGHWAY CODE

Here are some safety tips which you might find useful to remember when riding your scooter. We know it sounds boring but the truth is that speed really does kill especially when overtaking queuing traffic. The slower you overtake the more chance you’ve got of surviving if a vehicle pulls out in front of you

REMEMBER: Going slower means that at least you can stop in time! Many of these tips below mention incidents that have happened causing injury or even fatality! so read the tips below and think safety at all times.

1)      1) Look out for the unexpected! Check your speed when filtering past queuing traffic there maybe a pedestrian crossing the road between the vehicles and you won’t see them until it’s too late. Going slower means that at least you can stop in time!

2)      2) Again when filtering past queuing traffic try to look ahead up the road and not just the few cars in front of you. If there’s a junction coming up slow down in case the traffic has left a gap for someone to pull out. It maybe better to stay in the queuing traffic where it’s safer!

3)      3) Check your mirrors at all times before manoeuvring in case another vehicle is about to overtake you and indicate to let them know you are about to overtake.

4)      4) This is very important and has often killed bike riders! Cancel your indicators when you’ve made a manoeuvre. Make it a habit of cancelling your indicators twice just to make sure! A vehicle may pull out in front of you if they think you’re about to turn into a junction

5)      5) Slow down when approaching a blind bend. There maybe a vehicle pulling out of a driveway or junction around the corner that you can’t see so again going slower means that at least you can stop in time!

6)      6) Watch out for uneven road surfaces including manhole covers in the road that can throw you off balance and into the path of oncoming vehicles or into a lamppost on the other side of the road

7)      7) Often fuel or oil is spilt on the roads especially at junctions and roundabouts so again look for the rainbow colour tell tail signs of petrol or diesel in the road which can catch you out. Go slower to try to avoid coming off

8)      8) Slow down in wet weather conditions as the road surface can be very slippery when wet and try to avoid aquaplaning

9)      9) Slow down in poor light conditions and always have your lights on so other road users can see you’re coming

      10 There is no protection on a bike like there is in a car so take great care and wear extra clothing if you can. Feeling cold can affect your judgement so wrap up well and take a break on long journeys when you feel tired

These tips may sound obvious but hopefully they will help prevent you having an accident or injuring somebody else on the road. Also take note of road signs such as speed restrictions as they’re there for your safety too. There are many more hazards on the road than we’ve pointed out here and although many of us have been riding for years we still find that we need to remind ourselves that riding a bike can be  dangerous. With little protection it only takes another road user to make a mistake and you can be in big trouble

We often say treat everyone as idiots but the truth is that we all make mistakes so be prepared for them! Please take care on the road and we hope that these tips will be of help to you

TORBAY MODS SC