Many teenagers prefer the idea of driving a motorcycle, but it is crucial to ensure that they have a firm understanding of all of the safety risks that accompany this form of transportation. After all, statistics indicate that there is a much higher ratio of fatal motorcycle accidents than those that involve a standard passenger vehicle. Additionally, almost half of the motorcycle accidents that occur in the U.S. each year are classified as single vehicle crashes.
In other words, maintaining control of a motorcycle can be very difficult for inexperienced drivers. The following are some tips that you can teach your teen about motorcycle safety.
1. Discuss the Importance of a Helmet
The best thing that any motorcyclist can do is always put their helmet on before they start driving. Keep in mind that head trauma is one of the most common motorcyclist injuries, and the risk of dying from a fatal head injured will be reduced by 37 percent if the driver is wearing a helmet.
2. Remind them to Never Drink and Drive
Although teenagers should not be drinking to begin with, everyone knows that people in this age group often imbibe at parties. Therefore, it is always a good idea to have an honest discussion with your teen about drinking and driving. Make sure that you let them know that alcohol is a factor in 29 percent of all fatal motorcycle accidents.
3. Make and Utilize an Accident Safety Plan
If your teen is in an accident, they will need to know what steps to take to get assistance. Let them know to always call the police, and encourage them to take photos of the accident scene if they are physically able to do so. Having a set plan in place is not only important for their safety, but in case of a pending law suit.
If this happens, it is important to hire an experienced accident attorney for legal representation. One motorcycle accident attorney in Orlando FL states “For injured victims of motorcycle crashes, claims can be resolved through an out-of-court settlement or through a lawsuit.”
4. Talk about Speed Limits & Road Conditions
It is important for every driver to follow the speed limit and to react properly to unusual road conditions, but these factors are even more crucial for motorcyclists. After all, the majority of single vehicle motorcycle crashes are caused by speeding, and driving too quickly around a sharp curve is especially dangerous because it makes it more difficult to maintain control of the bike.
5. Make Sure they are Aware of Blind Spots
Driving a motorcycle can be very dangerous because other motorists tend to focus more on paying attention to standard vehicles. Because of this, it is common for motorcycle accidents to occur when the motorcyclist is attempting to pass another vehicle. Therefore, your teenager needs to understand exactly how blind spots work so that they can more carefully pick the right time to pass other vehicles.
Unfortunately, many motorcyclists do not walk away from accidents without death or serious injury occurring. For example, Tarrick Charlton was killed near Orlando on September 27, 2013, when the driver of an SUV crashed into him. Charlton’s family now has the option of hiring a motorcycle accident attorney to help them file a lawsuit against the responsible party. It is important to stress the importance and teach our teens to practice safe motorcycle safety in an effort to prevent such tragedy and injury.
As a mother to 3 teens, Lisa Coleman understands the importance of teaching our teen’s motorcycle safety and law. She recently researched online and read about how a motorcycle accident attorney in Orlando can represent a client who has been involved in a motorcycle accident.
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/attilamarosi/5435911280/
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