A Social Monters author wrote this article for resqme:
According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, in 2012, motorcyclist fatalities were up nine percent nationwide. Operating a motorcycle safely goes far beyond wearing the proper helmet and safety clothing. These tips can help prevent a serious injury, keeping you safe on the road.
1. Get treated if you’ve been injured or experience back pain
Operating a motorcycle safely requires a healthy, agile driver. If you’ve been injured, especially if you’ve experienced a back injury or regular back pain, consider undergoing an evaluation before you continue riding. If you suffer from a sore back, how will you quickly—and safely—rotate or maintain equilibrium on your motorcycle? Common motorcycle injuries such as fractures and road rash can possibly be prevented by taking a proactive approach to back pain. Worried you’ll be laid up in bed unable to ride for months if you seek medical attention? New advancements can help put your worry to rest. Forward thinking medical centers such as Laser Spine Institute understand the importance of offering minimally invasive surgery options.
Surgery centers like LSI are great resources. They offer video tutorials that can help you focus on nutrition and stretches to help guide you to recovery quickly. Try a stretch that will open you up to help increase awareness of your surroundings:
- Stand with feet hip-width apart
- Raise arms over your hand, grasping hands together with fingers pointed upward, bring hands down into a “praying position”
- Bring one foot up to knee to make a triangular pose, then switch legs
- While holding, stretch head side-to-side
- With arms still overhead, stretch in an arc from side-to-side
2. Great vision matters
One of the most common accidents on the road is when a car or truck turns left in front of you and fails to see you. While drivers should be fully aware of their surroundings, drivers of cars are accustomed to look for the absence of other cars, not the presence of motorcycles. Keep your health in working order and take charge of preventing accidents the best you can.
Avoid as many accidents as possible by:
- Having your vision checked regularly to help you think fast on the road
- Consider taking nutritional supplements such as lutein, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids to support ocular health. A recent study in the Journal of Optometry showed that while these nutrients have been shown to elicit ocular support, few people are still aware of their benefits. These nutrients also help the aging eye, and that might spell staying on the road longer and safer if you start now.
3. Invest in anti-lock breaks
According to the Insurance Institute For Highway Safety, motorcycles equipped with an anti-lock break system were 37 percent less likely to be involved in a fatal crash than motorcycles lacking them. When a motorcyclist panics or has no other choice but to hit the breaks, they suddenly lose all maneuverability. Having steering ability could either prevent a crash or lessen the blow with driver guidance. Consider a high-end model that will likely feature the anti-lock break system—the extra splurge could save your life.