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Florida is a wonderful place for riding motorcycles year-round. This is why there are so many registered motorcycles in our state. In 2016, Florida had 582,648 motorcycle registrations and ranked second in the United States behind California, according to The Statistics Portal.

“Planning trips to visit many of our beautiful and fascinating sites either by oneself or in groups is the pastime of many. When planning, safety must always be considered. The Sturgis Rider News asked seasoned riders for their safety tips. We would like to share 12 of their suggestions here,” said Fort Myers Motorcycle Accident Attorney, Randall Spivey.

1. Ride with people who know how to ride and that you trust. 
   This may sound like a no-brainer, but ask yourself how often have you ridden with someone who was intoxicated, showing off or didn't know how to handle their bike or the situation they were in? I ride alone a lot because there are only a few people in this world I would share a lane with. No amount of safety will save you from someone else more than this one. (Masyn Moyer, Rider for 25+ years) 

2. Be seen. 
   Brown and black apparel is not our friend on the road. If you blend in, others cannot see you. Wear something bright, or safety neon apparel that is offered by many motorcycle companies. One of my favorite equipment pieces is a nylon mesh vest with neon reflective taping.
   (Diva Amy Skaling, Put 70,000+ miles on her Diva Glide in five years) 

3. Wear the right gloves. 
   My smaller hands have a harder time maneuvering the clutch. This is important when you think about what elements affect your reactions in an emergency situation.  I look for thinner leather gloves for better control...but then my fingers often get cold.   Heated grips fixed that problem.  In the summers, I dig out my old horse riding gloves, as they are made of a thinner leather and are reasonably priced. I love my Harley gauntlet gloves for cool weather riding.
   (Michelle Radcliffe, Rode her Street Glide through South Africa, Rome, Malaysia and Singapore with Davidson family in 2013) 

4. Never ride tired. 
   Never ride tired. And I mean NEVER! Stop every 75-125 miles. Every rider knows their tolerance. And we all seem to like to push it. Set your rule. Stop. Stretch. Refresh yourself and your brain. (Joan Krenning, Logged over 32,000 miles in the past 10 months, taking focus to a new level.) 

5. Always keep at least a 20-foot cushion between you and fellow riders. (Lisa Bone, Logged 52,000 miles in the past four years.) 

6. Feather your clutch on slower tighter turns. 
   All clutch, or no clutch, leads to tipping your bike when making moves such as turning into a parking lot, making a u-turn, or following a group of slower-moving riders. By feathering your clutch, it allows you to have the perfect amount of momentum you need to make the turn. (Jessi Combs, Rider for 24 years.) 

8. Use the "outside, inside, outside" path of travel.
   When riding in a curve, remember to start at the outside part of your lane, move to the inside part in the curve, then back to the outside.  It straightens out the curve. (Christine Paige-Diers, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame) 

9. Leave room for an escape route.
   When I come to a signal and stop, I stay in gear and watch the traffic coming up behind me.  I will always leave room for an escape route. (Tigra Tsujikawa Powersports Industry Professional and Enthusiast) 

10. Always look where you want to go. 
    If you are looking at a curb, you're most likely going to hit the curb. If you’re looking off the cliff you don't want to ride off of, you’re bound to freak out and hit the brakes or go over the edge. If traffic suddenly stops and you're staring at the cars in front of you, you may become their new rear bumper. Instead, look for a clear spot, look through the turn, look where you want to go... it never fails and will keep you confident and up on two wheels. (Jessi Combs, Rider for 24 years) 

11. Ride your own ride. 
    If you're in a group and they're riding faster than you are comfortable with, hang back and go your own speed. (Christine Paige-Diers, Sturgis Motorcycle Museum & Hall of Fame) 

12. Be wary of semi trucks.
    I do not ride next to semi trucks, and when I go to pass I make sure to get in the driver’s mirror so he/she knows I'm there. I will go when I can pass quickly and safely. Large trucks cause wind turbulence and other drivers have trouble seeing a motorcycle around a large vehicle. (Tigra Tsujikawa, Powersports Industry Professional and Enthusiast) 

Safety is everyone’s concern; not just motorcyclists but all vehicle drivers. Sharing the road and being responsible are important. Part of the responsibility is having insurance coverage.

When prospective motorcycle riders first think about acquiring a bike, they should also think about insurance coverage because one never knows when an accident may occur. Insurance is important, and we at Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. suggest that motorcycle owners always carry at least $300,000 BI (bodily injury) and UM (uninsured motorist) motorcycle coverage. This insurance should be “stacked insurance.”  Never waive this option. The advantages of “stacking” are that motorcycle owners will have higher coverage limits after an accident which is caused by an uninsured or underinsured driver. Without “stacking”, the  UM and UIM (underinsured motorist) limits can be capped.

“On Wednesday, March 21, I will be making a presentation on motorcycle safety and insurance coverage issues at 7:00 p.m. to the Abate of Florida Southwest Chapter at the Shell Factory in North Fort Myers. I look forward to seeing everyone at that time and covering these very important issues,” said Randall Spivey

Fort Myers Motorcycle Accident Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839, or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.