Alcohol is involved in nearly half of all cases of motorcycle fatality. While getting on a bike after consuming any alcohol at all is a bad idea, for legality’s sake, one should know how to calculate their approximate Blood Alcohol Content (or BAC). Riders can avoid motorcycle accidents by knowing their BAC.
Calculating Blood Alcohol Content varies for each individual according to weight, gender, and amount of body fat. In general, however, a good measuring stick to use is .02% per drink. Knowing one’s limits is important: if a rider is a “lightweight”, they should stay well below this amount to avoid a motorcycle crash or motorcycle injury.
Learn more about how to calculate your Blood Alcohol Content.
One common cause of motorcycle accidents is an improperly loaded bike. Ideally, a rider would never have to put anything other than himself on the machine. Sometimes, however, carrying additional material is necessary.
Here are some tips to help avoid a motorcycle accident:
- Practice with a light load before heading onto the streets
- Never hold something in the lap; always tie down extra items
- Having large amounts of weight off-center can result in a motorcycle crash. The best place to keep stuff is in the tank bag, near the center of the bike.
The best place for stowing items is in saddle bags on the sides of a bike. These relatively inexpensive accessories keep things stowed away safely.
Following these steps when loading your bike will reduce your risk of an accident. A poorly loaded bike could lead to a motorcycle fatality.
The risks associated with riding a motorcycle are considerably higher during the twilight and nighttime hours than they are during the day.
The following tips on motorcycle safety can minimize your risk of an accident:
- Riders can improve their visibility by using reflective strips worn on protective clothing.
- Adding reflective elements to bikes can draw drivers’ attention, further reducing the risk of a motorcycle crash.
- It’s also important to recognize the need to improve riding habits.
- All parties on the road should maintain additional distance at night to allow more time to avoid a crash.
Learn more about the risks of riding at night, and what you can do to avoid a motorcycle accident after the sun goes down.
There’s nothing like the thrill of cruising down the highway, and having good friends riding alongside only makes the experience more enjoyable. It’s important, however, to ride safely in groups so you can avoid motorcycle accidents.
Here are some tips to help avoid a motorcycle crash:
- Never ride with more than five in a group
- To avoid a motorcycle accident, the motorcycle operator should always give him or herself at least two seconds of space from the nearest rider.
- When waiting at a stoplight, pause with a fellow rider.
Riding in a group, when done correctly, runs no higher a risk of motorcycle fatality than riding alone. As long as proper precautions are followed, riders can safely enjoy the thrill of motorcycling with friends.
Learn more about riding in a group.
Hospitals in the area have prepared for this year’s Motorcycle Week and are expecting a busy weekend as the week comes to an end.
According to an article in the Union Leader today, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Lakes Region General Healthcare made preparations months ago for the increase in injuries that are treated in their emergency rooms during the festivities of Motorcycle Week.
To get ready for motorcycle-related accidents, the hospitals have:
- Increased staffing for doctors, nurses and assistants
- Based a helicopter nearby for the week
- Stocked blood supplies
- Rented extra hospital equipment
- Ordered extra burn dressing supplies
- Denied vacation/time-off for some employees
- Maintained a second on-call team for trauma and neurosurgery
Last year, approximately 151 motorcycle injuries occurred – down from the previous year’s 161 injuries. In 2007, five motorcyclists lost their lives during Motorcycle Week and ten riders were killed in 2006.
Hospital workers are well prepared for the trauma they might see as a result of injuries this week.
To read the full article on how area hospitals have readied their staff for the Laconia Motorcycle Week, click here.
