When you ride a two wheeler, you will often see boards that say ‘Wear Helmet, Drive Safe’ or ‘Speed thrills but kills’. These are to be taken very seriously. The worst and most unfortunate thing that can ever happen to someone on the road is an accident. Given the rate at which traffic is increasing on the road, collisions are common these days.
According to a report f NCRB (National Crimes Record Bureau), every year above 1.4 million collisions or road accidents take place in India. The shocking fact about this is more than 50 % of these road accidents happen due to the carelessness of the driver or rider. Bad overtaking, rash driving and speeding are some of the most common causes for accidents these days. It is of utmost importance that you drive / ride safely on the road. One small mistake can be fatal to you, someone with you or someone else on the road. The best method of avoiding dangerous accidents on the road is to  follow safe driving rules. Here are a few tips that should help you drive / ride safe, provided you follow them and do not break rules.
Keep the vehicle safe:
It does not matter how safe you ride. Unless your two wheeler is in perfect riding conditions, you cannot guarantee that an accident will not take place. Maintaining your two wheeler is not just important to give it a longer life span. If you wish to be safe on the road, you will have to maintain your vehicle. However, this is one of the most ignored things when it comes to safety measures. One of the common maintenance issues that leads to accidents on the road is wrong tire pressure. If the tire pressure is uneven, it can lead to a blowout which might make the two wheeler fall and crash. You must check the pressure in your vehicle’s tyres using a pressure gauge at any of the auto parts shop. Uneven wear and tear on the tyres must be checked too. The brakes on the two wheelers are extremely important. Make sure that they are in proper working condition before you’re on the move.
Avoid Distractions:
You must be extremely careful and alert when you wish to ride safely on your two wheeler. Handling children, listening to music, talking over the phone, eating, etc. are some the distractions that can lead to dangerous accidents. Phones should never be used when you are riding. It might seem to be a harmless activity to pick up a call but when you are on the road and riding, this can definitely prove to be fatal. However, if it is extremely important for you to receive the call, you must pull over the two wheeler to the side of the road and then take the call. In several countries, talking on the phone while riding has been banned. This step has been taken to reduce the number of road accidents that take place every year. To avoid distraction, you should only ride with one pillion. If you carry more than what your two wheeler can take, you might get distracted while riding, which is not advisable on the road.
Don’t beat traffic lights:
In India, breaking the traffic signal is a very common thing. At every other road intersection, you will see someone jumping the signal. Most people think that jumping the red light will save them some time. However, studies have revealed that if people follow road rules and the signals, reaching on time will never be a problem. The traffic movement will also happen safely and smoothly. Accidents can happen in a fraction of time, so think again when you plan to jump a signal. When you jump a signal, not only are you posing threat to your own life and vehicle, but also to the lives of other individuals on the road. The traffic signals are not the only road signs that you must know. There are several other road signs, and knowing them well and following them all the time is the key to ride or drive safely on the traffic filled roads on this country.
Change lanes with caution:
Different accidents on the road can happen due to the rash and careless driving of the drivers. One must be extremely cautious while changing lanes. Overtaking and changing lanes can cause immense damage. While riding, you must never wander all over the road. The white dashed lines are drawn for a reason, so you should stay between them. You should also keep an eye out for other drivers. Even if you ride carefully, someone else might not. Always stay prepared for reckless lane changing by other drivers or riders. Your focus should not be only on the road are the car in front of you. Focus on the side lanes too and keep an eye out for sudden brakes or stops.
Be careful when the weather is not right:
If you are a highway rider, bad weather can be definitely a problem for you. You should be absolutely careful if you are riding on a foggy or rainy day. If you do not wish to skid on the road when you must ride at a slower pace than usual. The tread depth of the tyres must be checked. Never slam on the brakes even if your vehicle skids. It is a very difficult situation when you ride or drive in fog. Use the low beam lights if your vehicle is not equipped with fog lamps.
Keep your distance from the car ahead of you:
If you wish to avoid sudden collisions, keep some gap between your two wheeler and the vehicle in front. In case that vehicle stops all of a sudden, you will need reaction time to stop. There must be enough space ahead of you to stop without bumping into the vehicle in front of you. In order to maintain safe distance from the vehicle ahead, you should maintain a gap of 2 seconds. If the weather is foggy then the gap should be of 4 seconds.
Do not over-speed:
Several accidents take place on the roads as the two wheeler riders over speed. The reasons for over speeding can be fun, meeting deadlines or just to show off. The risk factor is multiplied when you over speed on the roads. It can lead to several injuries when you meet with an accident. At high speeds, a two wheeler will be needing more space than usual to come to a sudden stop. Chances of skidding are also more when you are riding at a high speed. Your ability to judge the traffic will also be reduced when you ride at a high speed. If you wish to avoid unwanted collisions then you must obey the traffic rules properly.
Do not drink and drive:
If you have consumed alcohol then it is not advisable to ride or drive. Even if you feel that you are capable of riding, you should never do it. According to studies, drunk drivers are the cause of 30% deaths for road accidents. In India, it is a crime to drive or ride after drinking or consuming drugs. If you are found to have more than 30 mg of alcohol in 100 ml of blood you can be imprisoned for a period of six months. A fine of Rs 2000 will be charged too.
Do not avoid the safety gears:
If you are riding a two wheeler, you must always wear your helmet. Ensure that the pillion has a helmet on too. In case there is an accident, the helmet will definitely reduce the intensity of the injury to a great extent. In India, it is mandatory for the two wheeler riders to wear helmets. The pillion must wear a helmet too, as per the law. Ignoring these things will invite danger and penalty.
Be Responsible while riding Two Wheeler:
Most riders and drivers are aware of all the tips that have been given here. However, that does not reduce the number of accidents that take place on the road, every year. This is mostly cause because the riders and drivers are irresponsible. It is of utmost importance that you be a responsible rider or driver on the road. If you are careless, you are putting your life and someone else’s life in danger too. Be responsible and do the right thing.
information credit : bankbazzar
