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Spring is one of the best times of year for riding a motorcycle in Florida. The weather is warming up (but it is still not too hot), it is staying light later, and hurricane season is still months away. But, since motorcycle riders face risks year-round, it is important to be careful any time you hit the road on your bike. With this in mind, here are 10 springtime motorcycle safety tips from Cape Coral accident attorney Randall L. Spivey.

Tip #1: Check the Weather Forecast

While most modern motorcycle tires have tread patterns that are designed to give riders grip in the rain, it is still a good idea to check the weather forecast before you go riding. Even if you have good tires, the road will still be slipperier than normal, and heavy rain can drastically reduce your visibility on a bike.

If it is raining, you should not necessarily leave your bike at home. However, you should assess your comfort level with riding in the rain and make an informed decision about your mode of transportation.

In addition to checking the forecast for your current riding plans, it is also a good idea to check the forecast when you’ll be riding home. If the forecast is calling for a thunderstorm during your evening commute, you may not want to ride your motorcycle, even if it is sunny with blue skies in the morning.

Tip #2: Check the Traffic Conditions

Along with checking the weather forecast, it is a good idea to check the current traffic conditions as well. Not only can sitting in traffic on your motorcycle get uncomfortable (especially as it warms up in the afternoon), but more traffic also means more risk of getting hit by a negligent driver. Here, too, a bad traffic report does not necessarily mean that you should not go riding—rather, it is just another piece of information that you can use to make an informed decision.

Tip #3: Make Sure You Know Your Route

Even if you have GPS or a phone mount on your motorcycle, it is still a good idea to make sure you know your route before you hit the road. There are a few reasons why:

• Looking at GPS Directions Takes Your Eyes Off of the Vehicles Around You – First, and most importantly, when you are looking at your motorcycle’s screen or your phone, you are not looking at the vehicles around you. When you are riding, other drivers are your greatest safety threat, so it is important to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
• GPS Directions Are not Always Accurate – Second, GPS directions are not always accurate. If your motorcycle’s GPS or your phone’s map app leads you astray, getting back on the correct route could be difficult on your bike.
• Checking Your Route in Advance Can Help You Avoid Potential Delays and Hazards – Third, by checking your route in advance, you can identify any potential delays or hazards that you want to avoid. For example, if there is a construction zone where there could be debris in the road and where drivers will be trying to merge at the last minute, you might want to look for an alternate route to your destination.

Tip #4: Make Sure Your Motorcycle is Ready for the Road

Whether you’ve been riding all winter or you are getting your motorcycle out of the garage for the first time in months, it is important to make sure your motorcycle is ready for the road. Following the Motorcycle Safety Foundation’s T-CLOCS checklist only takes a minute or two, and it can help you identify any potential safety issues before you ride:

• T – Tires, Wheels, and Brakes
• C – Controls
• L – Lights and Electrics
• O – Oil and Other Fluids
• C – Chassis
• S – Stands  

Tip #5: Make Yourself as Visible as Possible

Whether you will be riding at night or in broad daylight, it is always a good idea to make yourself as visible as possible. Again, the biggest risk you face as a rider is not that you will make a mistake, but rather that a negligent, careless, or aggressive driver will not see you.

To help ensure they see you, you can do a few things to improve your visibility. One option is to wear brightly colored clothes. Another option is to always ride with your headlight on (with most modern motorcycles, your headlight should come on automatically). A third way you can improve your visibility is to avoid riding in drivers’ blind spots (when possible) and try to remain in the direct line of sight of drivers’ mirrors in front of you.

Tip #6: Obey the Rules of the Road

As a motorcycle rider, you can do your part to keep yourself safe by obeying the rules of the road. Observe the speed limit, stop at all red lights and stop signs, and use your signals when preparing to turn or merge. Also, remember that lane splitting is illegal in Florida. When you need to pass someone, you must wait until you have room to pass in the adjacent lane.

Tip #7: Expect that Other Driver’s Will Not Obey the Rules of the Road

While it is important to obey the rules of the road when riding your motorcycle, it is equally important to expect that other drivers will not obey the rules of the road. As you approach an intersection or see traffic approaching from behind, you should anticipate that other drivers will not necessarily do what they are supposed to. Drivers break the law all the time—and while many drivers get away with it, it only takes one unlucky situation for a motorcycle rider to suffer life-altering or life-threatening injuries.

Tip #8: Expect that Other Drivers Will Not See You

Just as you should expect that other drivers won’t obey the rules of the road, you should also expect that they won’t see you in many situations. This does not mean that they should not see you, but the reality is that drivers often simply are not looking out for motorcycles on the road. If a driver does not see you until it is too late, it may not be possible to avoid a serious collision. If you can anticipate these types of situations—whether at blind corners or in heavy traffic—you can help keep yourself out of harm’s way in some (but not all) cases.

Tip #9: When in Doubt, Slow Down and Leave Room

This brings us to our next tip: When in doubt, slow down and leave yourself plenty of room to make an evasive maneuver if necessary. Of course, you also need to watch for traffic behind you, as you do not want to get rear-ended by a distracted driver or someone who is trying to “beat” a yellow light. While it can be frustrating to give way to a negligent driver, this is ultimately the best choice if it means keeping your two wheels on the ground.

Tip #10: Know What to Do if You Get Hit on Your Motorcycle

Finally, if you get hit while riding your motorcycle, going down in the middle of the road can be an extremely dangerous situation. Other drivers may not see you, and getting hit again once you are off your bike is a very real risk. With this in mind, if you are able to do so, you should quickly assess the circumstances around you. If the accident is blocking traffic, you may be okay with staying where you are. But, if cars are still passing by, you may need to try to get yourself out of the road in order to avoid the risk of further injury.

What if You Cannot Avoid a Motorcycle Accident?

While following these tips can help you avoid motorcycle accidents in many scenarios, there will still be just as many scenarios (if not more) where there is nothing you can do to avoid a serious crash. If you get hit while riding your motorcycle in Florida, here are some steps you should try to take as soon as possible:

• Get to Safety – As we mentioned in Tip #10, you should try to get yourself out of the road if you are still in danger.
• Document Your Motorcycle Accident – If you are able to do so, you should take plenty of photos and videos at the crash site and write down the names of any witnesses.
• Report Your Motorcycle Accident – Virtually all motorcycle accidents must be reported under Florida law.  
• Get Medical Care – After getting injured in a motorcycle accident, getting medical care for your injuries should be your top priority.
• Talk to a Cape Coral Accident Attorney – Since you may be entitled to financial compensation for your motorcycle accident, you will want to speak with a Cape Coral accident attorney as soon as possible.

Injured in a Motorcycle Accident? Speak with a Cape Coral Accident Attorney for Free

Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. helps injured riders seek financial compensation after serious motorcycle accidents across Florida. If you have been injured in a collision, we encourage you to contact us promptly for more information. Call 239-337-7483 or statewide in Florida call 888-477-4839 or contact us online at SpiveyLaw.com to schedule a free consultation with Cape Coral accident attorney Randall L. Spivey.

Randall Spivey is a Board Certified Civil Trial Attorney. While all lawyers are allowed to advertise, only certified attorneys are allowed to represent themselves as "Florida Bar Board Certified," as an "expert." Certification is the highest level of recognition by the Florida Bar of the competency and experience of attorneys in the areas of law approved for certification by the Supreme Court of Florida. At Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., there are no costs or attorney fees until we receive a monetary recovery for you.