Riding a motorcycle can be quite dangerous, even on a good day, but in the cold winter months, your bike could become even more hazardous when you take to the road. Between freezing temperatures, black ice, and stormy weather, the winter months hold their fair share of hazards for any vehicle. However often you use your motorcycle, if you plan to drive it at all during the fall or winter months, make sure you’re safe and prepared.
Follow these key safety tips to ensure your winter rides go off without a hitch:
1. Maintain Your Bike: Cold temperatures, especially those below freezing, can have a significant impact on your vehicle. Always check your bike’s brakes, fluid levels, and other key mechanical components before you ride to ensure everything is in working condition. If you store your bike outside, it is especially susceptible to winter damage, so try to keep it in a garage or shed if possible.
2. Always Check the Weather: Winter storms can be devastating, especially if you live in an area where it snows. Bad weather can decrease visibility, create hazardous road conditions, and it can impede your ability to safely control your vehicle. To protect yourself from a potential rain, wind, or snowstorm, make sure you’re always aware of the coming weather changes and avoid riding your motorcycle whenever a storm approaches.
3. Wear the Right Gear: Cold weather can be punishing, so be prepared to protect yourself from the extreme temperatures. Wear a protective jacket and pants that will keep you warm and dry in the winter weather. Moreover, make sure your helmet has a protective face shield to guard your eyes against rain, snow, or icy wind.
4. Familiarize Yourself with Changing Traffic Patterns: Towns and cities affected by freezing temperatures often close certain roads during the winter months to accommodate the weather changes. For example, winding mountain roads may close when temperatures drop below freezing, preventing drivers from endangering themselves on icy pavement. To ensure you aren’t restricted by these changes, plan your routes out ahead of time and make sure you know which roads close near you.
5. Know the Roads: When the weather gets cold, roads may become slick with black ice, making it impossible for motorcyclists to get the traction they need to drive safely. Make sure you’re prepared to drive slowly and cautiously in the cold weather, or, better yet, avoid the roads altogether when temperatures drop below freezing.
Do You Have a Case? Let Us Help.
As helpful as these safety tips may be, sometimes they aren’t enough to prevent an accident. Motorcycles are especially susceptible to damaging crashes, which is why it’s important to act fast to seek justice and compensation after an accident. Our firm can help identify the liable party after your accident, and we can use our legal resources to build a solid case on your behalf. If you need legal help after a crash, we’re here for you.
Call (516) 628-6402 or contact the Law Offices of Charles R. Gueli online to schedule a free consultation.