If you’re a motorcycle rider, you understand the importance of staying safe on the road. Even the most seasoned riders must take the necessary precautions to ensure their ride remains safe and enjoyable. However, when it comes to protecting yourself on your bike, there’s still a great deal of misinformation about what reduces your risk of an accident while riding. Here are some of the most common motorcycle safety myths that bikers believe:
1. Loud pipes save lives
Because many fatal motorcycle crashes result from a motorist failing to see a motorcyclist, many riders think that noisy exhaust pipes will help other drivers notice them in traffic. While it might seem logical, the reality is that any noise generated from your exhaust pipes are directed rearward. This likely won’t help the drivers in front of you hear you or see you any better on the highway.
2. Lay down your bike
There’s a standard piece of advice that riders should attempt to lay down their bike in anticipation of a crash. In most accidents, there usually isn’t enough time to react and complete this action. However, even if there was enough time, laying down your bike could result in even more severe injuries. Ultimately, the best thing you can do in anticipation of a collision is brake or attempt to swerve out of the way.
3. Helmets hurt more than they help
Sometimes you’ll hear riders argue that they don’t wear helmets because they think they limit their visibility or put them at higher risk of a severe neck injury. Neither of these arguments is correct. Countless studies illustrate how helmets drastically reduce head injuries by absorbing shock and impact. Helmets also don’t affect your peripheral vision and protect you from the elements on the road.
To ensure you always stay safe on your bike, be sure you can separate fact from fiction. Remember to drive defensively and always wear your helmet when you’re on two wheels.