9 Road Safety Habits That Can Save Your Life!

Riding safely on the road is a matter of being aware of all the dangers existent on the roads, and taking necessary precautions to avoid them. At the end of the day, it all boils down to personal riding habits, which can save your life in the event of a mishap. So, let's check out the 9 of the most important road safety habits that you need to develop starting today in order to stay safe.

Stay aware

The first and most important habit that you need to start developing from today itself is being aware of the traffic situation evolving around you. If you ride during the peak traffic hours, make sure to keep an eye on the rear-view mirrors and keep your ears open for vehicles moving in your vicinity. Try not to be distracted on your phone, or fiddling with the infotainment system on the motorcycle. Keep 100% of your concentration on the road and the traffic so that you can know and anticipate any problem about to happen and take evasive maneuvers.

Ride sober and aware

With a lot of things happening simultaneously, your brain needs to be in the game at all times! Riding under the influence of alcohol, or with a fatigued mind prevents the brain from making the right calculations thereby jeopardizing your safety on the road. So, never make the mistake of riding a motorcycle if you had too much to drink at a party, or if you are completely exhausted after a difficult day at office. It might be a better idea to keep the motorcycle safely parked, and take a cab home.

Use the best riding safety gears

Irrespective of whether you are planning to ride a short distance come out go on long road trip, always where all the riding safety gears at all times as soon as you leave them safety of your home. Not only is it mandatory to wear a branded motorcycle helmet while riding a two-wheeler, it is also extremely necessary to protect your head from an injury. In addition to wearing motorcycle helmets, you are also going to need other riding safety gears like jackets, gloves, and boots. Look for the latest options in the market which come with additional safety and comfort features such as Bluetooth enabled premium helmets which let you take calls on the go and listen to music on long distance trips to stay entertained. Also look for the latest safety certifications because those are extremely important and validate the safety of the helmet as per the rules and regulations mandated by the local authorities in your country.

Keep the engine tuned

Another safety habit worth developing is to keep the motorcycle in its optimum operating condition. Ignoring the health of the motorcycle can result in problems while riding. You don't want to be stranded in the middle of the road because of a mechanical problem that could have been easily avoided! Take the bike for regular maintenance and pre-emptive repairs so that you have the vehicle in its perfect operating condition to tackle any problem on the road. In addition to that, also keep an eye on the tires of the motorcycle. It needs to have all the treads to maintain traction on the road. Depending on the weather condition you anticipate, change the tires accordingly.

Get the right tires

Continuing from our previous point of having the right motorcycle tires, you need appropriate tires in order to give your motorcycle the best chance at gripping the road during inclement weather conditions. If you're going to ride in muddy or snowy conditions, go for the relevant tires available at any motorcycle accessory shop near you. Even for normal road riding, see that there are treads on the tires present and it is not gone completely bald!

Look before you leap

A common habit among motorcyclists and two-wheeler riders is that they make sudden movements on the road without checking the rear-view mirror for vehicles approaching behind them. Always make it a habit to check everything around you before making a maneuver. If there isn't enough space for you to make the lane change safely, wait until the opportunity presents itself, or slow down your pace so that the vehicle approaching behind you overtakes, and generates the necessary space and opportunity to make the lane change.

Stay calm

Never ride angry! A common mistake many riders make is to ride in an angry state of mind which makes it very challenging for them to tackle problems on the road. If you happen to find yourself in an aggravated mental state, take a few deep breaths, and consider postponing to ride until you feel calm. Road rage is another common problem in most countries across South East Asia because of the high population density. Although there isn't much you can do to avoid road rage, you can definitely stay calm and focus on reaching home safe.

Avoid the traffic, start early

There are multiple benefits of avoiding the traffic and starting early to your destinations. First, you don't have to inhale the pollution and particular materials floating in the air, and second you don't have to become angry because of the traffic jams and people riding rudely. Make it a habit to start at least 20 to 30 minutes earlier then your normal writing time and you will find yourself reaching the destination with a calm and composed mind.

Be Visible

Finally, make it a habit to make yourself as bright and visible to other motorists as possible. It is quite common for motorcycle riders to think that they're clearly visible to other riders in taller vehicles. Spotting two-wheelers becomes particularly challenging in low lighting conditions, or on a foggy or cloudy day. In order to be visible to others, always wear brightly colored premium motorcycle helmets, and bright safety gears that can be easily spotted from afar. You can also use reflective tapes on the surface of the two-wheeler particularly on the rear so that you light up bright when a headlight shine on you.