Safety Tips for Two-Wheelers

When you are riding a two-wheeler, you are vulnerable and susceptible to danger as you are quite unprotected. In case of an accident, the damage to the vehicle as well as to the driver is much more in case of a two-wheeler than a four-wheeler. The rate of street accidents in India is threateningly rising and everyone should learn to keep themselves protected. The National Crimes Record Bureau records a yearly average of 1.4 million cases of collisions or road accidents in India. More than 50% of these accidents occur due to the carelessness of the driver. Rash overtaking, reckless driving and speeding are the most common causes of such accidents. One small mistake can be fatal. Adhering to traffic rules and following a few safety precautions can be very beneficial to those who drive two-wheelers. Here are some quick tips to help you stay safe on the streets.

• Keep the vehicle safe: Regardless of how safely you drive, your two-wheeler must always be in perfect riding conditions. Well, it cannot promise to save you from accidents, but can definitely reduce the chances. Some basic maintenance of tyre condition, brakes, and engine oil can considerably reduce the risk of accidents. Vehicles owners must ensure that the tyres have the right amount of pressure at all times and also keep an eye on the wear and tear of the tyres. The engine oil must be filled whenever required and the brakes should be perfectly functional. Make sure that your vehicle is in proper working condition before you are on the move.

• Avoid Distractions: Be extremely cautious and alert when you ride your two-wheeler. Listening to music or talking over the phone or smoking or doing anything that might distract you can be quite dangerous. Using phones while riding is a common cause of accidents these days. Although it might seem harmless to receive a call during your ride, it can prove to be fatal. Moreover, it is also a violation of traffic rules. If the call is extremely important, you should pull over to the side of the road and receive the call only after you have stopped. You should also ride with only one pillion rider.

• Don’t jump traffic signals: Breaking the traffic signal, especially by two-wheelers, is a common occurrence in India. You can never be in such a great hurry that you risk your dear life for it. Traffic signals are there for a reason - they ensure that you stay safe and avoid collisions; they ensure smooth movement of traffic. When you jump a signal, you not only invite danger to yourself but also to the lives of others present on the road. Innocent law-abiding people often fall victim to someone else's mistake. Therefore, every driver and rider should follow the traffic signals as well as all other road signs.

• Change lanes carefully: Indian traffic, again, is known for its fair share of rash and reckless drivers. Bikers rarely follow the basic traffic rules while changing lanes or overtaking, which can have severe consequences. You must be extremely careful while changing lanes and overtaking. Do not wander all over the road, use the indicators whenever you change the lane, stick to the concerned lane as per your vehicle type and your speed limit. Always look out for other vehicles. You might ride carefully but everyone else might not. Keep your focus on the vehicles in front of you as well as on the ones on either side. Check your rear-view mirrors for the vehicles that are approaching you from behind.

• Be extra careful during bad weather: Bad weather conditions can be a huge setback for bikers. It obstructs your vision and also distracts you. Be additionally cautious when you are riding on a foggy or rainy day. Avoid skidding on the road during rainy days by riding at a lower speed.  Use the fog lamps or the low beam lights during foggy or smoggy days.

• Maintain distance from other vehicles: It is always advisable to keep a handsome gap between your two-wheeler and the vehicle in front of you. It helps avoid collisions. In case the car in front of you stops abruptly, you should have enough space ahead of you to control your vehicle without hitting the one in front. Keep a greater distance if the weather conditions are rough.

• Never over-speed: Overspeeding is one of the most common reasons for accidents in India. Although all roads have predefined speed limits, drivers rarely adhere to them. Some exceed the speed limit fun, some do so for meeting deadlines and some just over-speed to show off. The possibilities of losing control over your vehicle multiply when you over speed. Over-speeding also increases your chances of skidding, reduces your ability to judge the traffic and may often lead to deadly overconfidence. Keeping under the speed limit is another traffic rule that every driver must strictly follow.

• Do not drink and drive: Many Indians seem to believe that driving after consuming a ‘little bit’ of alcohol is fine - and mostly, they aren't able to define what ‘little amount' means. The Indian government has a legally permissible level of Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) in a person’s blood, exceeding which is considered to be drunk driving and is punishable by law. The BAC level should strictly be under 30mg per 100ml or 0.03%. Most adults, after the second drink, will cross that legal mark. Moreover, many Indians also believe that consuming food after drinking alcohol reduces the alcohol level in the body. This, again, is just a myth. Therefore, never assumes that drinking and driving is fine, as it might result in severe accidents. Moreover, drunk driving, when caught, can lead to a heavy fine and imprisonment as well.

• Do not avoid the safety gears: When you are riding a two-wheeler, you are barely protected. In case of a collision, you would take a direct hit. Therefore, using protective gears is a must. A helmet reduces the intensity of the impact in case of an accident. Therefore, both the driver and the pillion rider must compulsorily wear a helmet. This is a legal requirement too.

These tips are not new to most experienced riders and drivers but only a few put them to use. All riders must learn to be responsible and implement these tips. It is not just for their own safety but also for the safety of everyone else on the road.