Safety Tips for Winter Motorcycle Riding

 Posted on February 02,2015 in Personal Injury

Motorcycles are one of the summer's most popular modes of transportation. The wind in your hair and the lure of the open road are hard for many riders to resist. However, this great United States tradition becomes highly dangerous in the wintertime and the risk of fatal motorcycle accidents increases. Motorcyclists are 35 times more likely to be in a deadly accident than passenger car drivers and 11 percent of accidents in the United States involve motorcycles. Furthermore, almost half of all fatal accidents involving motorcyclists do not involve another vehicle. Motorcyclists are even more vulnerable to winter weather conditions and road hazards. There are, however, steps riders can take to ensure they travel safety in winter conditions. Wearing Protective Winter Gear The cold is one of the biggest dangers riders face in the winter. The cold weather and the wind can lead to frost bite. The key to protecting your skin and face is base layers. Base layers will allow your skin to breath, wick away moisture, and keep you warm without creating unnecessary bulk. Preparing Your Bike for Winter Motorcycle Riding Motorcycles can be prepped for winter riding, particularly touring bikes meant for long distance travel. Larger windshields and heated sport guards are basics that will maintain good visibility and keep your hands warm in wintery conditions. Foot pegs with reinforced grips will keep your feet secured in the slippery conditions. Furthermore, it is important that you make sure the antifreeze (if your bike is liquid cooled) is replaced at the start of the winter season. Check Your Tires Cold weather also does a number on tires. As the temperatures drop, so does a tire's temperature and pressure. Not only does low tire pressure cause mileage problems, but it can also cause traction problems for motorcyclists. It is a commonly held idea that lower tire pressure will give motorcyclists greater traction in the snow. However, a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that vehicles, cars and motorcycles, are more likely to be involved in an accident when their tire pressure is low. Salt on the road can also cause traction problems for riders, which is why it is important to monitor your tire treads as well. Worn down tires will have a much harder time gripping onto ice or salt covered roads. Beware of Dangerous Conditions Salt, ice, and snow plows damage the roads. The expansion of water when it freezes in spaces in the road creates cracks and larger potholes. In snow and ice conditions where road visibility is at a minimum, riders need to be doubly wary of potholes. Snow plows also damage the road and exacerbate the problem of potholes. Salt on the roads is also a problem beyond its effect on tires. Motorcycles are just as prone to rust as cars and salt can damage the metallic parts of the bike. Unfortunately, many motorcyclists are not prepared for winter weather riding and often travel in dangerous snowy conditions. Contact Our Experienced Accident Attorneys If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident with a motorcycle, you may be entitled to compensation. Please contact an experienced DuPage County motorcycle accident attorney at Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices who can help ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. Reach out to us today for help.