How to Avoid an Accident on the Road

Being motorcyclists makes us more vulnerable on the road. Given the traffic and road conditions in India, the risks of riding a two wheeler are always more than ever – bad roads, little or no traffic sense and pedestrians (and animals) surprising road users with their sudden presence.

In many occasions, it is nothing short of a feat to complete the commute and arrive at the destination safely without a scratch.

Here are few basic tips on how we can avoid an accident especially when on a motorcycle:

1. Be Aware of Everything that is Around You: Yes, no matter how difficult it seems but be aware of every other vehicle when riding on the road. Be watchful of the movement of other vehicles so that you can react to any uncertain situation.

Two way roads are especially tricky since they do not have a proper divider and the vehicle coming from the opposite direction could enter your lane and end up right in front of you. As always, be aware and careful of such situations.

2. Use Rear View Mirrors Effectively: Please, treat this as a request if you will, but do not ever remove rear view mirrors from the two wheeler. Their use and importance is often underestimated and people end up paying for this mistake many times.

Rear view mirrors provide a nonstop view of what’s behind you and they should always be used before changing the lane you are riding in. They can prevent you from suddenly arriving in front of another vehicle which is coming from behind and overall avoiding the need of sudden braking by the other vehicle.

3. Use Indicators: Use of indicators and rear view mirrors often go hand in hand. Even on their own, use indicators while changing the lane and taking a left/right turn at an intersection. However, make sure to not use them when there is no reason to do so as it would only confuse other road users and they might misjudge that you might want to make a turn or change the lane.

Also, as obvious as it might sound, use the right indicator when you intend to turn right and likewise for the left.

4. Ride at a Pace that You Can Be in Control: Always be aware of your limits and that of your two wheeler. Never ride at a speed higher than you can be in control of no matter how empty the road appears. Many accidents occur primarily because of over speeding and the inability of the rider to avoid a collision as a result.

5. Slow Down at Intersections: This is another thing many road users fail to follow. It is indeed surprising to see many people simply speeding through an intersection. It is only natural to slow down in such vulnerable areas on the road, once again, no matter how deserted it appears.

6. Make Sure Your Two Wheeler is in Top Condition Especially Brakes: One of the basics to be safe on the road is to ensure that you motorcycle or scooter is in the best possible condition especially the brakes so that when the need arises, they can perform up to their potential.

7. Maintain Safe Distance from the Vehicle in Front: Do not ride too close to the vehicle in the front. While there’s nothing much can be done in stop-n-go traffic in which case vehicles are anyways moving too slow, it is always best to maintain a safe distance in normal traffic conditions from the vehicle in front so that if it suddenly brakes or changes lane unexpectedly, you have time and distance to react accordingly.

8. Wear Basic Safety/Riding Gears: Always wear a good quality helmet. Indian law says that the helmet should be ISI marked so make sure of it in case you are getting a helmet from an Indian company. However, if you can spend more then there are several international brands that provide extremely good helmets meeting world safety standards.

Also, wear gloves ideally providing at least knuckle protection. Same goes for shoes as well. Consider it mandatory to not ride a two wheeler without shoes no matter what.

9. Do Not Drink and Ride: Yes sir, there is no replacement for an active mind and body. Irrespective of the condition of your two wheeler, an alert mind and an active body can save you in many tricky situations. Also, remain active and healthy in general.

Ride safe.